We Choose To

A Memoir of Providing Abortion Care Before, During, and After Roe

By Curtis Boyd, By Glenna Halvorson-Boyd

SOCIAL SCIENCE

240 Pages, 6 x 9

Formats: EPUB, Trade Paper

Trade Paper, $19.99 (US $19.99) (CA $25.99)

Publication Date: September 2024

ISBN 9781633310872

Rights: WOR

Disruption Books (Sep 2024)

eBook Editions Available

Will it work on my eReader?

Price:	$19.99

Overview

"An invaluably intimate glimpse at a delicate subject. It’s a must-read."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“We Choose To is a story of love, shared humanity, and the power of choosing to stare injustice in the face and do something about it.”
—Cecile Richards, former President of Planned Parenthood

In this deeply personal account, Dr. Curtis Boyd and Dr. Glenna Halvorson-Boyd reflect on their lives in abortion care, from the childhood experiences that shaped their paths to the Supreme Court decision that forced the closure of their Dallas clinic.

Their stories begin in the 1960s, as Curtis opens a clandestine abortion practice while breaking with the beliefs of his Baptist family and Glenna pursues psychology while coming to understand the world of restrictive gender roles. When the two of them meet shortly after abortion is legalized, they bond over a common commitment to women, forming a professional and personal partnership that will weather the coming decades.

We Choose To is the story of that partnership, and the staff and patients that have shaped the history of modern abortion. In these pages, Curtis and Glenna share their holistic, morally rooted approach to their work. Led by a desire to empower patients, they advance abortion and mental health care further than ever even as they find themselves at the center of a controversial new issue in American life.

Sweeping, introspective, and deeply honest, We Choose To is a rare portrait of abortion providers and the world in which they work, where abortion is not a talking point in a culture war but a private, even spiritual, act.

Reviews

KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST INDIE BOOKS OF 2024

MS. MAGAZINE BEST BOOKS OF 2024

“Some books stay with you long after the last page; this is one. Having already dedicated their lives and careers to the cause of reproductive freedom, Curtis Boyd and Glenna Halvorson-Boyd have given the world yet another gift with this profoundly moving and beautifully written memoir. We Choose To is a story of love, shared humanity, and the power of choosing to stare injustice in the face and do something about it.”
—Cecile Richards, former President of Planned Parenthood and New York Times bestselling author of Make Trouble

"With empathy and urgency to spare . . . this book offers an invaluably intimate glimpse at a delicate subject. It’s a must-read."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"We Choose To: A Memoir of Providing Abortion Care Before, During, and After ‘Roe’ is the humble, at times blisteringly frank account of [the authors'] decades pioneering and providing abortion care in the American Southwest."
—Christine Henneberg, New York Review of Books

"[The authors'] commitment to women’s health, freedom and choice is unshakeable, and together, they created a holistic practice based on trust, wellness and empowerment."
—Ms. Magazine

"This intimate and moving account of the reality of abortion care tells a unique story. The authors poetically describe the love and compassion—for their patients, for their staff, and for each other—that drives their work and also grapple with the grim reality for their family of choosing this line of work, as the danger and violence of anti-abortion activists is ever present. Their humility and dedication provide a model that should guide the next generation of abortion providers and advocates."
—Nancy Northup, President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights

“This memoir from two of the National Abortion Federation’s founding members provides a valuable history of abortion provision in freestanding clinics and the pioneering development of abortion counseling amid the backdrop of our country’s changing legal landscape. Writing alternating chapters, Curtis and Glenna share the philosophy and rituals they used to establish a patient-centered way of providing abortion care. This book offers an accessible and engaging education about the evolution of in-clinic abortion care in the United States and reads as a love letter to the thousands of patients who taught the authors and their staff so much along the way.”
—Melissa Fowler, Chief Program Officer, National Abortion Federation (NAF)

Author Biography

Curtis Boyd, MD, is nationally known for developing abortion procedures and standards of care. He is also recognized for his expertise in pain management and minimizing surgery risk. Furthermore, Dr. Boyd was involved in establishing the National Abortion Federation (NAF) and is a founding member of the Federation’s Board of Directors. NAF serves as a forum for abortion providers and others committed to providing quality abortion services so that they remain accessible to all women.

Glenna Halvorson-Boyd, PhD, RN, served on National Abortion Federation’s Board of directors and as NAF’s president for two years (1984-1986). She is an accomplished counselor, trainer, and consultant with a national reputation for her training of professionals in this field. Dr. Halvorson-Boyd has a PhD in Human and Organizational Development. Her previous publications include the book Dancing in Limbo: Making Sense of Life after Cancer.

Academic and Media Requests

Request a Review Copy

Request an Examination Copy for Course Consideration