Char Andrews
Client Services Director
It has been a difficult year for Holly. Her 97-year-old grandmother, who had served as a mother figure in her life, died earlier in the year. COVID has brought additional challenges in obtaining childcare and attending church.
Finding herself pregnant again was a cause for concern for Holly. She arrived overwhelmed and not confident about the choices before her.
She confessed that she wanted more children, but the timing right now was not ideal, and she didn’t feel ready. The thought of parenting another child was more than she felt she could handle.
The memory of a difficult last pregnancy plagued her. She had experienced complications during the delivery of her premature daughter, requiring two blood transfusions and almost bleeding to death. The trauma of another difficult pregnancy loomed in her mind.
Abortion was definitely being considered for this pregnancy. However, she was fearful that she might damage her uterus and affect future pregnancies if she went forward with the abortion.
During our conversation, I discovered that Holly had an abortion in her past which would put her at even greater risk of choosing abortion again.
After the ultrasound exam, Holly shared with me that seeing her baby on the monitor made the pregnancy real but a decision for abortion was still on the table.
Because Holly had expressed a belief in God and a desire to be in church, I shared with her the good news that God is with us whether we are at church or at home. With her permission, I asked if I could pray with her before she left and she welcomed it. I let her know that I would continue to pray for her and invited her back to LivingWell if she needed to talk.
When I asked her if she would mind if I stayed in touch with her and check in with her occasionally, she wholeheartedly agreed that she would like that.
As she left, my heart grieved for her. Would Holly pursue an abortion giving in to her fear of another pregnancy and raising another child, or would she make a decision to continue her pregnancy? Once again, a life hung in the balance.
In the ensuing days, attempts were made to reach her but were unsuccessful. All we could do was pray and trust that Holy Spirit would continue to soften her heart regarding the abortion.
To my amazement, a month after our initial meeting,
I received a call from Holly. She went on to share that she had left LivingWell undecided about her pregnancy because it was high risk and unplanned. Nevertheless, she had decided to have her baby and she feels good about her decision and has established OB care with a doctor.
I was certain to encourage her by telling her that she made a courageous choice, and that God will honor it. Holly shared that she feels good about having her baby and is thankful she loves her OB doctor.
She has even agreed to come back into the clinic as an ultrasound model for one of our registered nurses who is in training.
We give all glory and honor to our Creator God who moves on hearts and connects mothers with the heartbeat of their babies.
We continue to pray for Holly that her decision to continue with her pregnancy will solidify in her heart and mind and that her fears about her pregnancy will dissipate.
Won’t you join us in praying for Holly and women like her, who find themselves with an unexpected pregnancy, will hear about LivingWell and make their way here? We are ready to inspire hope in the unexpected.
Note – Photos throughout this newsletter of clients may not have been clients considering an abortion and may not be the client in the story.