42, Mother, Wife
South Seattle, WA
Meihong (May-hung) and her family immigrated to South Seattle six years ago to be closer to their extended family.
As a 42-year-old mother and wife, Meihong has struggled to adjust to her life in America, especially since she doesn’t speak English. To get by, she relies heavily on her extended family.
Both Meihong and her husband want to be more independent and financially secure, and Meihong wants to move on from her part-time position as a cashier.
With her children in elementary school, Meihong begins ESL classes at a community college. After weeks of feeling ill, she takes an at-home test and confirms she’s pregnant.
She tells her husband and they agree it’s best to terminate the pregnancy to create more stability in their lives.
Because she’s not confident with her English, Meihong is worried something will go wrong during her appointment; or that she’ll be coerced into making another decision.
Although Meihong is close to her extended family, she doesn’t feel comfortable asking them to be a translator during her appointment. This is her business, not theirs.
The Planned Parenthood in White Center provides interpreter services, but when she shows up to her appointment, Meihong has to confront anti-abortion protestors as she enters.
Meihong’s overwhelmed by the shouting and starts to second-guess her decision. The interpreter reassures her that the protestors can’t get any closer to the clinic, but she can’t help but feel shaken. When her husband asks how the appointment went, Meihong simply replies, “Fine.”
Resources for Meihong
Many clinics offer interpreter services (either in-person or by phone) for patients seeking abortion services. Let your care team know if you need an interpreter during your visit.
Members of Apple Care are eligible for free interpreter services. Tell your health care provider and they can reach out to the Health Care Authority (HCA) to schedule an interpreter.
Planned Parenthood offers free telephone interpretation in multiple languages. Some of their health clinics also have staff who can speak Spanish.
Know Your Rights: Washington law (RCW 9A.50.020) prevents anyone from stopping or blocking you from receiving medical care, including abortion care.
If protestors try to stop or threaten you, tell the clinic and document what happened. You can also contact Legal Voice for help at [email protected].
