Success Stories

Ally

This six day old baby’s mother, “Ally”, came to the Women’s Care Center after being referred by Planned Parenthood.   The referral occurred because another former client took a job at Planned Parenthood “just for the money.” Upon realizing that Ally was considering abortion, the former client sent her to the Women’s Care Center instead.

Only 18, Ally was an adorable blonde and very friendly. Estranged from her family, she was moving from friend’s house to friend’s house. Our nurse Anne remembers that Ally looked very thin and said she hadn’t eaten much in the last two weeks. Ally said, “I don’t know what I’m going to do with a kid. I think I really need to get an abortion.”

Anne offered Ally some peanut butter crackers, feeling bad that she didn’t have something more substantial on hand. Ally wolfed them down saying, “Oh man, that’s great!”  Anne also offered her an ultrasound. When Ally saw her baby on the screen, she was astounded. “I didn’t know it was going to be that big!”

After seeing her tiny baby on the ultrasound screen, Ally decided to carry her baby to term. She left that day with a bottle of prenatal vitamins and a food package. Ally came back the next day and many more days after that. She received maternity clothing and prenatal education. We helped her enroll in prenatal medical care and worked with her on finding emergency housing. She also participated in parenting classes.

Today, life is much better for Ally. She has reconciled with her mother who has been very supportive. She is also living in a stable home, with her brother in Warsaw. And best of all, she has Daniel James, who is the light of her life.

Carla

Carla was not our typical client. Happily married, Carla was actually hoping to be pregnant. Our counselor Jacque met with Carla. The two women were the same age, both 23, and they hit it off right away. As Jacque administered the pregnancy test, she couldn’t help but wonder why Carla had come to the Women’s Care Center.

The results came back positive, and Jacque rejoiced with Carla when she heard the news that she was pregnant. Carla told Jacque, “Thank you so much. You know you guys saved my life.” Jacque was perplexed and gave Carla a quizzical look.

Carla said, “No, I mean literally. Twenty-four years ago, my mom came here when it was the little blue house. She was going to have an abortion, but you helped her choose life. My mom is the one who told me to come to the Women’s Care Center.”

Jacque was astonished. Carla’s mom had to have been one of the very first women to walk through our doors when we opened 24 years ago. Carla is here because our very first counselors helped Carla’s mother choose life all those years ago. And Carla’s baby is here for that same reason. Carla, her baby and her baby’s babies would all have been lost without that vital intervention 24 years ago. It is a legacy of life that will continue for all time.

Sheri

Sheri was one of the first young women to visit our new Women’s Care Center in Niles. When she found out she was pregnant, she was terrified and told our counselor Bernadette that she would have to have an abortion. Sheri said that she had no idea how to raise a child and was sure that the father of her baby would not be supportive.    Bernadette determined that Sheri was at least 20 weeks pregnant and that this would mean she would have to have a late-term abortion.

Bernadette assured Sheri that there were plenty of resources available to help her through her pregnancy. She invited Sheri to come back for one-on-one goal counseling and let her know about our classes and Crib Club program. As Sheri spoke with Bernadette, there was a marked change in Sheri’s attitude about the pregnancy. She became very concerned for the wellbeing of her baby, worried that she had not had proper prenatal care, wanting to be a good mother and do things right.

When Sheri left that day she told her boyfriend about the baby. She was surprised by his positive reaction. He came faithfully with Sheri to goal counseling appointments. Together, they completed three books on pregnancy, breastfeeding and child-rearing and they attended birthing classes at the hospital. He went back to school for his GED and is now working full-time, helping to support Sheri and the baby.

Sheri recently delivered a healthy baby boy weighing in at 9lbs. 1oz. Sheri and her boyfriend feel much more confident about parenting now, and Sheri is successfully breastfeeding her baby. She continually thanks Bernadette and says “You guys are great.”   She is so grateful for her precious little boy and that she was able to stay on the path of life.

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