My grandmother Polly was a Jewish immigrant. She escaped the pogroms in Russia and came to the U.S. She made a life for herself here and had three children.

She also had a heart condition. Pregnant again in the 1930s, she chose to end the pregnancy and had an abortion in her kitchen. I can’t imagine how she must have felt. Was she scared? Did she fear for her safety? Fortunately, she survived. She was one of the lucky ones.

Decades later, when I sought my own abortion, I had a very different experience. I went to a local doctor and had the procedure in his office. I felt very safe and well taken care of. I received excellent follow-up care.

But now with Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court, safe and legal abortion is in jeopardy. We could be returning to my grandmother’s time. I don’t want that for my daughter. If she needs an abortion, I want her experience to be like mine, not her great-grandmother’s.

We should not have to go back to the 1930s. I urge Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King to oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination.

Sara Gilfenbaum

Portland