ST. LOUIS — In St. Louis, protesters for and against abortion are speaking out about the controversial abortion bill.
"I've cried a lot of tears and they've all been in grief not in regret. I know I did right by my daughter," said Jennifer Box.
For Box, her personal decision is now being thrust into the national spotlight.
"It's very bizarre to have your grief tied up in a very heated political issue," she said.
Thursday, Missouri lawmakers advanced a bill that would ban abortions after 8 weeks - when a heartbeat is detected.
Heartbeats like Box's little girl, Libby.
"I just remember saying to my husband, I don't think I can come back from that. Like if I have to deliver a dead baby or watch my child die…. I'll die too."
Libby had Trisomy 18, a chromosomal abnormality that often results in stillbirth or early death.
"I was 15 weeks pregnant when I had the abortion, and at 15 weeks the fetus doesn't feel any pain so we could grant her peace and end her life so she would never have to suffer," Box said.
But others see situations like hers differently.
"If you had a relative or someone who was given a diagnosis that they were going to die at that point instead of saying 'Let's just kill grandma,' instead we're gonna want to spend as much time as we humanly can," said Brian Westbrook.
Westbrook is the Executive Director for the Coalition for Life in St. Louis.
His group stakes out every day in front of the Planned Parenthood in the Central West End.
Unlike Box, he said any pro-life legislation is a step in the right direction.
"One of the more important things in the bill that was added just this morning was a tax incentive credit for pregnancy resource centers," Westbrook said.
Westbrook said these incentives will go a long way in helping expectant mothers.
But Box, a mother of two who has one on the way, sees things differently.
"These are personal medical decisions that women and families make with their doctors and they should be able to make those decisions for themselves," she said.
Box said at yesterday's session, Senator Schupp read her family's story in front of everyone.
She says she'll keep fighting for change, and Westbrook says he will too.