A UK woman who wasn’t sure about continuing her pregnancy got abortion pills mailed to her home after just one quick telephone consultation. And after taking the first of two pills, she felt instant regret. However, she was lucky enough to be able to reverse the abortion drug’s effect and save her baby’s life.
Though Kaur lost a lot of her friends when she decided to keep her baby, the mom is thankful to have her precious “little cheerleader” in her life.
“I believe it is so important for women to have access to this [treatment],” Kaur said. “This has definitely lit a fire in me to share awareness of pregnancy, the [abortion] reversal pill ... and how abortion isn’t as easy as just taking a pill.”
Starting the Abortion
When a test in 2020 confirmed Kaur was pregnant, she felt like her world was falling apart.“All my life plans and goals started going through my mind,” she said. “My eyes instantly filled up, and I cried for 20 minutes going through the things that I would never be able to do again if we kept the baby.”
Kaur and the baby’s father talked over all their possible options, seeking the advice of trusted family, who encouraged them to make their own decision. “The weight of this decision was so, so heavy for us,” Kaur said. “We both cared about each other and didn’t want to feel like each other was forced to do anything, but we also didn’t want to tiptoe around our beliefs.”
The couple called the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) and booked a consultation to talk through their moral concerns, waiting a week to speak to someone. But the call with their counselor was unexpectedly brief.
“We had a list of questions ready, and the lady on the phone did not answer one,” Kaur recalled. “As soon as she heard the dad’s voice, she asked him to leave and simply said that it’s either I want the tablets or not. Out of fear of it becoming too late to get an abortion, I said yes. Within a couple of days, the abortion pills were at my door.”
Terrified, Kaur held onto the pills for days. She read articles about other women’s experiences of infertility after taking abortion pills, and their experiences of loneliness and long-term regret. Kaur’s friends suggested she take the pills, because the baby would stop them “having fun.” Coupled with her fear of financial instability and not having a job, Kaur panicked and took the first of two pills to abort her baby.
“Within seconds, I was overwhelmed with regret,” she said.
The Abortion Reversal
Kaur immediately began researching reversal options and discovered a progesterone treatment available in America; she thought there was “no chance” of getting it in the UK. She called BPAS in a panic. But all they told her was that her feelings were normal, and that if she didn’t have any bleeding, she “should be fine” and need not take the second pill.“I didn’t feel they took my urgent situation seriously,” Kaur said.
Kaur called and spoke to Kearney’s assistant. Within an hour, Kearney had returned her call and sent progesterone pills to her closest pharmacy. He also referred the expectant mom to a support service for the remainder of her pregnancy.
“Dr. Dermot was very caring and understood my worry and pain,” she said. “The following morning, I started to lightly bleed and took the pill.”
Being a Mom
Kaur battled shame for taking the abortion pill, and feared that she had harmed her baby. But after taking progesterone for a week, she felt “more pregnant,” and her 8-week checkup confirmed that her baby was developing well.“It was an amazing feeling, carrying a child, and providing for this little being inside me,” she said.
Baby Ahri-Storm Kaur Garrett was born at Warwickshire Hospital on Nov. 2, 2021. Kaur’s mothering instinct, and awe for all women who bear children, kicked in immediately.
“I am incredibly grateful that I was lucky enough to find Dr. Dermot and reverse my decision, as I could not imagine my life without my little girl now,” Kaur said. "My view on pro-life is that fetuses are living, no matter how far along someone is ... I think there needs to be a lot more information out there about pregnancy, the side-effects of the abortion pill, and the reality of having a child; not just the negative view.
“Having a baby does not change your life for the negative.”
Advocating for Others
Months after Kearney helped Kaur save her baby, and 31 other babies, the doctor was suspended for promoting the abortion reversal pill. In March, the General Medical Council lifted his suspension and decided to conclude the case “with no further action,” determining that complaints against him were “hearsay” from an abortion provider, and that none had originated from the women he treated, according to Life News.Kaur met Kearney in person for the first time when her daughter was 2 months old. She has since helped his mission by writing a statement about her positive experience with abortion reversal and joining him for interviews to spread awareness.
“My advice is to not hold onto guilt ... once you have a baby, it will always work out, as you have this protective fire to provide for your child,” she said. “The reality is that you are still your own woman, not just a mom, and have the ability to do anything you want to do. You just have a little cheerleader with you at all times!”
Kaur is in the process of returning to university to finish her degree. She holds that the power her daughter gives her to strive for a good life is “so much stronger than any doubts.”
