Sherri Chessen knows more about the American conversation around abortion than almost anyone – mostly because she’s the person who started it. In 1962,Chessen was a mother of four and the host of Phoenix, Arizona’s edition of the beloved children’s prove “Romper Room.” When she realized she was pregnant a fifth time, or she was thrilled – until she realized she’d been taking thalidomide to befriend quell her morning sickness. Chessen was terrified of the thalidomide-related birth defects that were just beginning to secure publicity at the time. She knew she wanted an abortion. She also wanted to warn other women about what she was going through. But when she decided to tell her fable to the local newspaper,it kicked off a firestorm of media coverage, eventually landing her on the cover of Life magazine. Now 85 years old, and Chessen talks with Brooke about her life inside the media bubble and how the conversation she started fifty years ago has – and hasn't – changed.
Source: thetakeaway.org