Unexpected Choice: An Abortion Doctor’s Journey to Pro-Life

by Patti Giebink, Kimberly Shumate (Primary Contributor)

She’d made her choice. Then God surprised her.
Dr. Patricia Giebink once performed abortions for Planned Parenthood. Now she is a passionate pro-life advocate. How does a pro-choice doctor wind up on the opposite side of such an embattled issue?
Unexpected Choice is the emotional and powerful true story of how one doctor was overpowered by God’s perspective and repented before millions for her part in the abortion industry. Heartbreaking and inspiring, this memoir will give you a new appreciation for the complexity of life and the power of transforming grace.
Chronicling her journey from pro-choice to pro-life, this book uncovers:
The reality and risks of abortion
How God pursued Patti throughout her journey
Quotes and verses to encourage and inspire
Prayers for the reader at the end of each chapter
Be encouraged by the amazing story of one woman’s decision to break free from the abortion industry and help women choose life – a testament to the power of prayer, and the greatness of God’s love and forgiveness.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography, Christian

208 pages, Paperback

Published July 6, 2021

About the author

Patti Giebink, M.D., is an OB/GYN physician who has over 30 years’ experience delivering babies here and in hospitals overseas. While working in her private practice in Sioux Falls, SD, she began working part-time performing abortions at Planned Parenthood, the only abortion clinic in South Dakota. Eventually she closed her practice to work full-time at Planned Parenthood but left one year later in September 1997. She has not performed any abortions since.
Her book, Unexpected Choice, chronicles her career, her journey and her transformation and gives readers insight into both sides of this divisive issue. Dr. Patti now spends her time helping people find compassion and sensitivity to those affected by abortion.
Dr. Patti lives in South Dakota along the Missouri River with her cat. Her hobbies include bicycling, reading, and prairie gardening. Unexpected Choice is her first book. Please visit her website: https://unexpectedchoice.com/
Connect with her on:
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/patti.giebink
Email: DrPatti@unexpectedchoice.com

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly loved this book. The author wasn't preachy, but didn't hide the fact that her religion and belief in God changed her mind on abortion. She highlighted the fact that so many people are sucked into the world of abortion without even realizing it. She thought she was helping women, etc. She didn't start out wanting to perform abortions, but the abortion side slowly won her over with their lies. This book is about her journey there and back. It is moving, and shows that there is hope for anyone involved in abortion.

Thanks to Net Galley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Caroline David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an unbelievable story of an abortion doctor who turned pro-life. I enjoyed the writing overall but just know, this isn't a book to change your mind on abortion. It simply is stating the journey one MD took. I think it's also important to note that a lot of the reasoning for her change was religion so if you don't believe in that reasoning, this isn't the book for you.

[sheila haanen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very well-written and compelling to read. I admire the author's bravery in sharing her story.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was shorter and very different than what I anticipated. It did tell of Dr. Patti’s journey to become an OB-GYN and of her time working for Planned Parenthood. And it chronicled her transformation from pro-choice to pro-life. The timeline was not always linear and the reason for her firing from PP was vague.

I did appreciate how the author was honest as a physician and told of the many complications of abortion as a medical procedure. She even compares what is told to patients who undergo appendix removal vs. an abortion. At the very end of the book she made a statement to the effect of times have changed in regards to societal norms (the shame of being pregnant out of wedlock) and medical technology (ultrasounds). I cannot remember how she stated it or if it was implied that the “need” or acceptance of abortion must change too.

[Marsha Ronquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative

I learned a great many facts I was not aware of. Abortion is explained in detail, along with any complications that might happen. Death threats from pro life zealots while she worked for PP. Death threats from pro choice zealots when she became pro life. So much emotion on both sides. Yet at the heart of the issue are two human lives, a woman and a child. We always have a choice. That choice may not be want we want or how we would like things to be. It is still a choice. Often, after we muddle through a difficult time, we see more clearly. There is always a choice.

[Emily P · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've read "Unplanned," by Abby Johnson, you will have some understanding of the theme of "Unexpected Choice." This book shares the personal journey of a doctor who changed the way she viewed abortion after choosing to follow Christ. Her life and story are interesting, but at times this can be a difficult read, so be aware of that in advance. While it might take some time to get through, it was a book that will stick with me.

I was an early reader, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Michelle]

Dr Patti is my Aunt Patti…. My Uncle Mike was her second husband. This book fills in many gaps from the narrative we were told by our family growing up that Aunt Patti “delivered babies”.

My heart shattered hearing her side of the story and all she had to endure having lost everything. She was an amazing role model for me in those formative years and certainly blazed a path for her seven nieces to pursue education and careers. I hope she knows was devastating it was to lose her as part of our family as well.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Appreciated the author’s transparency and thankful to God that she eventually surrendered to God and let Him heal her spirit of the guilt she carried. Recommend this book for all who work at crisis pregnancy centers and those that have had an abortion or are thinking of having one. God is faithful!

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was hard to rate because while I appreciate this woman’s vulnerability and willingness to share her story, I felt that the book was poorly organized and haphazardly put together. In my opinion this book could have used a really good copy editor to help organize and synthesize the information. I may have enjoyed this book more if I had read it and not listened to it. I found the narrator to be insufferable and made the author come across as cold and robotic.

[booklady]

Read a good article about her. Hope I can read the full book as well....!

[Suzanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful, eye-opening read.

[Jeffrey McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much needed voice in today's divisive age.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will not change anybody’s mind about the contentious subject of abortion. However, if the reader is willing to read with an open mind, they will be able to understand the conversion experience the doctor had, even if they don’t share those same convictions. What struck me most was her compassion for women facing a crisis pregnancy, and her desire to help them navigate ALL their choices by understanding the consequences of each decision.

I was surprised to find out she is in South Dakota, and her conversion took place during the time I lived there. A little personal connection….

[Michelle Ule · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straight forward account of how an OB/GYN made the transition from performing abortions to explaining why they aren't a good idea.

I've heard stories like this before, this isn't a particularly long book, but it was interesting to read how a scientist made the emotional and spiritual transitions.

I envied her the healthcare work she did in the third world. Fascinating that in serving so many poor, she came to see how we all reflect and deserve God's love.

[Marisa Maloney]

Rating: 3.75- borrowed this book from a friend about an abortion doctor,in South Dakota, journey to Pro-life. I love reading how someone can get from one end of the spectrum to the other and I would say in the case “ But God” .
This book also talks about the Vote Yes for Life campaign so it brought back lots of memories from that time in our church and community.

[Aurelia Mast-glick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a doctor who went from performing abortions for Planned Parenthood to becoming a pro-life advocate. The story, in itself, is amazing. Patti shares the story of a nun who prayed for her for ten years that she would have a change of heart. She didn't know Patti, just sensed a need to pray for her. That was pretty inspiring.

I will be honest though, I struggled with the book. I like a linear time line in a story like this and it didn't feel like there was one. One day she was fired from Planned Parenthood and the next she was pro-life. I know it didn't happen that fast, but I never got a clear sense of when she began to feel a conviction against abortion or when she met Jesus and He changed her. I'm sure reading it in an ebook form didn't help for me because it's not as easy to flip back and forth and keep track of things either.

She definitely seemed committed to God and to following His way and yet almost seemed to applaud the strength of unwed mothers who have a faithful companion without being married, which is not consistent to God's intent for life.

"The true test of our faith is meeting people where they are --physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually --and persuading them that love will prevail. True faith realizes that anger, resentment, and vengeance won't help women needing love and support during a fearrful and often confusing time in their lives." This is a quote I can get behind. No matter the situation, people need love and understanding, not anger.

I did enjoy the transformation of Patti, but the style of writing didn't quite work for me, but it might be the perfect book for you. I received this book from Tyndale House via NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review.

[Bogens Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I would like to thank Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers for allowing me to review this book. Keep in mind that my review, however, is my true opinion on this book.

"Unexpected choice" is about a pro-choice doctor who once performed abortions for Planned Parenthood - or at least used to be. Dr. Patricia Giebink suddenly found her way to becoming a pro-life advocate through God's grace.

This is an emotional story of an extremely important topic. I would recommend everyone reading this book, whether you are pro-choice or pro-life. This book will give you the inside to understand yourself and this topic better.

This book certainly puts life and choices in perspective. And you get to hear about abortion from one of those human beings in this world who knows the most about it. And that is what I love about this book as well. Dr. Patricia Giebink knows all about this topic and creates reliability when you read the book. At the same time, you can feel her emotions through the book as well, which I really like. You can tell that this is something she has thought a lot about and that she is now very passionate to tell you her experiences.

This could be a life-changing book for you!

[hannah cottrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

|| 3.5 ⭐️ ||

I watched an interview with Giebink a few months ago and was really interested in hearing more of her story, so I picked up this book. It was a mixture of beautifully written reflections about God’s love and redemption and compassion, and tales of the disturbing realities of the abortion industry that brought me to tears on multiple occasions. It was very interesting to hear the perspective of a woman who was vehemently pro-choice and even performed abortions herself, and who was totally transformed and brought into the light when she met Jesus.

Each chapter of this book emphasizes out a certain lesson that Giebink learned in her journey out of the abortion industry and into God’s kingdom. I was expecting more continuity in the storytelling of her testimony, but she chose to lay out God’s work in her life a little differently, and that’s okay.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ I listened to the audiobook. I appreciated the book and was glad to hear the real life story of how an abortion doctor was transformed by God and became pro-life, but the book itself wasn’t very well written. There was a constant flipping back and forth in the time line that was hard to follow. I kept having to stop to try and figure out if the current chapter was before or after other events she had talked about. I would have preferred a chronological approach with backstory woven in. Some chapters were hard to get through because of the subject matter, but were necessary. Overall I would recommend it to others.

[A Busscher · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting read about how Giebink when from pro choice to pro life. From a medical reasoning to the benefit of finding faith about the killing of babies. The legal battles that still are being fought, the vagueness that abortions are--how gov't and other agencies are burying the data to help it look better from their stand point. IT was a little frustrating to read about all the time that she used to work for Planned Parenthood and each group that she conferenced with was shocked and she had fear that she was going to be shunned.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. It was interesting to read about her beliefs, and how she got into the abortion industry, and why she got out. Some of the details of abortions were so aweful I had to stop and just cry. I appreciated the honesty of what goes on inside of planned parenthood, and how the language for the abortion procedure is intentionally vague. However there were definitely some theological disagreements. Other than that, it was very informative.

[robert pellegrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questions about Abortion? Read this book!

If you have any questions about the matter of abortion, then you should read this very well written book, a book that looks at the issue critically from both sides of the argument. Dr. Patti is a remarkable woman who writes in a clear and non-preachy way to help anyone understand more clearly where we as a people are and where we are heading in regard to abortion.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a riveting, first person revelation by Dr. Patti Giebink, who shares how she became a staunch pro-life advocate after she had formerly performed abortions for Planned Parenthood. The author writes her impassioned story, and it will give readers a new perspective into the risks of abortion, the complexity of the decision, and finally, the greatness of God’s forgiveness and love for those who have made the choice to have the controversial procedure.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Giebink was once an abortion provider, but is now a pro-life advocate. This is her story of her journey to embracing the unique value of every human life. Her style is simple and conveys her points gently and earnestly. I would have appreciated more description of her thought process as her thinking changed on this issue, but this is still a good read.

[Leigh Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! She gives her story in the abortion industry and then after. It is so good and eye opening to hear both sides and to see what they were thinking and why. This is an awesome book to learn about abortion and why it is not good from a nonjudgmental/noncondeming voice. I love how she presents it because she was there at one time and does not condemn those struggling or misinfomed.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

True story of a doctor in South Dakota who performed abortions for Planned Parenthood but then came to realize the value of all human life (even the smallest and poorest among us) and is now a pro-life advocate. Amazing woman, amazing journey.

Listened on Overdrive.

[Lydia Donnell]

Powerful memoir of a former abortion doctor to Pro-Life advocate. My only critique is I prefer when stories, especially memoirs, are told in chronological order and this one seemed to jump a bit. Still enjoyed the read!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complex issue. I appreciated that someone dared to look at both sides of the coin.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story of God's forgiveness and redemption! So grateful for the work she is doing now!

[Gina Cummings · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Listened on audio. There were some really lovely parts but some parts were VERY hard to hear.