Joyce Zounis     Bio /Story

 

  

                                                      

 

 

As the creative force behind other than bandaide productions, llc, Joyce Zounis draws together her experiences as an event planner, national spokesperson, activist, marketing director, media trainer, radio and TV producer & talk show host and interior decorator to offer an array of unique products intended to enrich experiences to engage  our culture, the Church and the media through the expression of words, events and the arts.

 

I sat in a room waiting for my name to be called just like any other doctor's appointment but this was like no other. They said it won't hurt; it did! They said it would be over real quick; it has lasted 29 years!

Eleven years after my first abortion, I was having my seventh. I was in the same waiting room, walking the same hall, wearing the same gown, taking the same pill, and laying on the same table. To this abortionist's disgust, my pregnancy was further along and required more of his time.

Several hours later the vacuum-like noise broke a decade-old-trance - "what have I done?" I began to weep uncontrollably, and this enraged the abortionist. His gestures were rough, and he was morbidly pleased to have me see his bloody garments when he was finished. The nurse quickly moved me to the recovery room and gave me crackers. Within 10 minutes I was rushed out the back door and nauseous on my way home.

Eleven years, three clinics, two states, seven abortions, and not once was I told of the physical risks I would suffer later: the necessity of bi-lateral mammograms and fear of breast cancer; ovarian cysts; being bed ridden for five months in my last pregnancy and having to explain the possibly of "mommy dying" to my four young children due to placenta previa, which resulted in my loosing all but two pints of blood; and, a partial hysterectomy at delivery.

Not once was I told of the emotional trauma I would suffer; uncontrollable anger flamed by betrayal, unspeakable seclusion, and the inability to trust men. That child loss through choice would devour my dignity as I justified the twisted truth. Or that deception would slowly creep into all areas of my life including the need to discretely reveal several of my abortions as miscarriages. Desperate and deplorable I did become.

I was never told I would feel like I was the only one going crazy. Everyone talks about the "right to choose;" but no one talks about the choice; which in my case led to sabotaging many life joys. I will never forget hearing my firstborn's heartbeat. Instead of joy I was in shock, terrified that the nurses could see right through me and what I had done to my other children.

I was never told you would need to grieve and cry for your unborn. That your life would be forever altered by the horrors of your 'chosen' loss, tormented by the innate longing to hold and know your dead children and their dreams. Or that five living children would suffer with an impossible mom; trapped by the hidden sadness of her gullible past.

Through divine intervention in 1990, I participated in an abortion recovery program. Awestruck, I was able to face and be released from my secret sorrows. And finally, I was able to mourn my seven baby boys publicly.

Today my mom joins me in telling others that abortion hurts women. I was wrong, too. Abortion was not the right answer for my untimely pregnancies. This mom of 12 children chooses to be a Voice of Truth. Abortion is a private pain that sucks the life out of you and your children, and their children, and their children. . .  

Learn how Joyce lives beyond abortion through a series of events including calling a wrong phone number, the prayers of strangers and  falling into the arms of Jesus Christ.  Her story was featured on the Life Today with hosts  James and Betty Robison.   Did you miss it? Watch it online at:     Guest: Joyce Zounis Topic: Living beyond abortion Webcast: LifeSource, MP3, Transcript