PEOPLE OF PPRM: MEET SVETLANA STORY BY SVETLANA | ART BY ISAAC BURTON When I was 18, I was undocumented, uninsured, and juggling full-time work as a restaurant manager while attending college classes at night. Most days, I left home before sunrise, returned after 9 p.m., and collapsed into bed — barely surviving, let alone thriving. That’s when I found out I was pregnant. This was not a life conducive to motherhood. My partner was also undocumented and the sole caregiver for his sick, non-English speaking mother. Neither of us was ready. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but I had no family support, having fled an abusive home after immigrating from Russia. That’s how I found myself at Planned Parenthood. I walked into the clinic expecting judgment. In Russia, we had a saying: you don’t go to a doctor unless you’re dying. Public health care there was notoriously harsh, and I carried that fear and skepticism with me. But what I experienced at PPRM was the complete opposite — compassion, dignity, and thorough, thoughtful care. They walked me through the abortion process stepby-step, checked on me afterward to make sure I was okay, and even provided financial assistance to ease the burden. For the first time in a long time, I felt so truly seen and supported. That choice changed my life. I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. I obtained a green card, and just a few months ago, I became a U.S. citizen. None of it would have been possible if I had been forced into motherhood at 18. Planned Parenthood gave me more than health care — they gave me the power to choose my future. Today, I’m proud to stand alongside them as a volunteer patient escort and fundraiser, giving back to the organization that once stood so powerfully with me.
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