Nikki Pinkley

I had just graduated high school, and in many ways I was about to be a typical freshman in college, entering the academic world with my own dreams and ambitions. But, I found myself in disbelief of the results from the pregnancy test that I held in my hand.

Thousands of thoughts were racing through my mind: “How would my parents react? What would my Church youth group do? How was I supposed to have a life? What about college? How would I have a career?”

My parents encouraged me to go to Options Pregnancy Clinic when I was only a few weeks pregnant. Little did I know how my experiences there would help shape my future. The staff and volunteers were very supportive of every decision, and with me every step of the way.

Options Pregnancy Clinic helped me prepare for successful parenting by encouraging a healthy pregnancy and then by providing parenting education for my newborn. They even helped supply baby items (which was a big financial help). I gained a new perspective, knowledge, and confidence in my ability as a parent through my experience at the clinic.

A major part of my story is how Options helped me continue with my plans for college.

As a single mother, I struggled with being a new mom and a college student. But because I had the benefit of family support and my cheerleaders from Options encouraging me to “hang in there,” I was able to push through.

I so respect and appreciate the volunteer mentors who helped me find balance in my life. As I watched them model professionalism and grace, it further solidified what I had always known about myself—someday I hoped to work in a helping field like this.

So, as a sophomore I declared a major in psychology, marking the beginning of my long pursuit to becoming a professional counselor. I wanted to help others in the way I was helped at Options.

I worked hard to earn my bachelor’s degree in psychology, before earning a Master’s of Science Degree in Counseling Psychology. Especially when I think back to the beginning of my life as a college student and a new mom, I can hardly believe that now I am currently working toward a doctoral degree. I have loved my 8-year career as a Licensed Professional Counselor, and I currently have a private practice counseling center, Restoring Wellness Counseling, LLC.

As a mother to a beautiful 14-year-old daughter and wife to a great husband, I view life from a new perspective. My relationship with my daughter has taught me how to be patient, hard-working, and motivated. I am thankful for everything, especially my little girl, Alexis, who is growing into a beautiful, talented, smart young lady (and I’m not just saying that because I’m her Mom!).

My hope is that every young woman facing an unplanned pregnancy will find the help she needs to face the challenges of being a single mom. It’s not easy, but I am living proof that your future is what you make of it.

Sometimes you just need someone to believe in you. In Branson, Missouri, I found the help I needed—plus a lot of inspiration—at Options Pregnancy Clinic.

Acacia Boyes

My name is Acacia Boyes; I live in Casper, Wyoming, where I work as an administrative assistant at an oilfield company.

When I first found out I was pregnant, I thought it was a mistake. I was instantly overwhelmed by fear and anxiety, and thought maybe it was too early on for an accurate test. Either way, I needed to know for sure.

My concerns about having a child were mainly focused on issues going on in my life at the time. I was no longer seeing the child’s father, I’d recently lost my job, and I didn’t even have a consistent roof over my head.

My greatest fears about bringing a child into this world were the fact I was going to be doing this 100 percent by myself, and fear of how my friends and family would react to the news. They knew I wasn’t ready, either physically or mentally, to bring another human being into this world.

When I first saw the blue positive symbol on my pregnancy test, the thought of having an abortion immediately crossed my mind. I had never been one to consider abortion, but that changed the moment I found myself staring at that positive test.

In all honesty, I wasn’t even considering parenting this child in those early moments. I started looking online for abortion clinics and information, while the father of my child pushed for an abortion, reinforcing my persistent fear of failure.

In fact, my child’s father kept reminding me of how chaotic my life already was, and made it clear to me that choosing to parent my child would be the worst decision I’d ever make.

As I searched for options, I ran across the website and phone number for True Care Women’s Resource Center. I called and made an appointment, hoping against hope that I my test was a false positive and I would have to carry out the only decision I felt I had.

While my pregnancy test was being confirmed, I had time to talk with the client advocate at True Care. As emotions flooded every inch of my body, she listened to me. She heard all about my fears, my worries, and my struggles—both past and present.

She knew what I was facing. She listened attentively without passing judgment on my thoughts and concerns.

I told her I felt God had given me a second chance at life because I had recently survived an accident. Maybe this pregnancy had something to do with what God was doing. She handed me a Bible, as well as pamphlets on abortion, adoption and parenting—all three of which outlined the physical and emotional affects abortion can have on women.

I began to see I had purpose. The people at True Care ultimately helped me choose to carry my baby to term as I realized my purpose along the way. No matter how alone I felt at the beginning—and, at times, throughout—there were people there for me.

True Care gave me hope in my future. They helped me see that my decision regarding the outcome of my pregnancy would affect me for the rest of my life. The obstacles I faced at the time were only temporary. This child was the best gift I could ever have been given, and this was all happening for a reason.

I knew my child and I were destined for great things, whether we were alone or not.

The moment I saw what looked like a little poppy seed on the ultrasound and the little flicker of the heartbeat, I felt so sad that I had even thought about aborting this child. I had a sense of hope—everything was going to be okay.

My experience True Care is something I can’t put entirely into words. They helped me every step of the way, providing referrals for doctors, apartments, health and emotional issues, counseling, even exercise tips, nutrition facts and other resources. I was so blessed to be a part of the Baby and Me program, which educated me on every stage of my pregnancy. True Care also provided me with prenatal vitamins, as well as other things I lacked.

They gave me the hope and determination I needed to be the best parent possible.

As my pregnancy progressed, my relationship the father of my baby dwindled. Yet, as that relationship fizzled, my strength and ambition grew. I was given a sense of empowerment: I was carrying a child who would ultimately save my life.

Having my baby made numerous differences in my life. Everything from who I hang out with to what daily decisions I make have changed since I became a mother. My child’s needs come before my own, and they have ever since I first saw him on the ultrasound screen. What I saw that day was the beginning of the rest of my life.

My hope for my son is that he never gives up, that he never takes the easy way out—no matter how difficult the process may be. I hope he grows up to believe in himself as much as I believe in him.

My dream is that my sweet baby will fulfill his purpose as I’m fulfilling mine in raising him. My little boy brightens a room with his contagious smile, and his laugh makes my world a better place.

Everything happens for a reason. Axton is my reason.

If I had not come to True Care, I know I would now be filled with regret. Between parenting and abortion, I know I would’ve chosen the latter. True Care gave me all the resources I needed to make the best decision not only for my future, but for the future of my unborn child.

To any woman who is going through an unexpected pregnancy, because of pregnancy centers like True Care, you are never alone. From the second you walk in their doors, there is someone to talk to, as well as programs and resources that offer hope that transform your fears into confidence.

They help you to know you are never alone. The love and attention True Care gave me and my child provided a sense of comfort and relief in making a decision that will change our lives forever, and that is true for every woman who finds help at True Care and other places like it.

Now that my son is here, they have continued to be a part of our lives, and they’re still available to answer any questions I have.

The day I walked into True Care, I walked into a facility full of strangers. Now, when I walk through those doors, I enter a place filled with family.

Laura Lysek Spagur 

When I realized I was pregnant, I was ashamed and didn’t want anyone else to find out.

I had gone back to school to get my nursing degree, and I already had two children. I was done having babies. When I told my boyfriend, he encouraged me to get an abortion, so we made an appointment together.

On the sidewalk in front of the abortion clinic, a kind woman approached me and spoke the words that I already knew were true: “There is hope.”

She took me to Life Choices Women’s Clinic, where I saw Cash for the first time on the ultrasound.

Life Choices gave me the help and support I needed to stay in school. Today, I’m a nurse, and I know that for Cash and myself, there is so much hope for both of us.

Kynnedi Brown 

I was 17 years old and halfway through my senior year of high school when I found out I was pregnant. My boyfriend was leaving for basic training in a month and my parents were going through a divorce at the time.

I felt that telling them I was pregnant would be a burden on their lives. I was petrified at the prospect of having to tell all three of the most important people in my life that I would have to give up three track scholarship offers I had worked so hard for to raise a child.

For a while, I was in denial. I couldn’t bring myself to accept that I would be bringing a new life into this world alone.

I was seven months pregnant when I told my boyfriend. He was out of state in military training, so there was nothing for him to do. He was just as scared as I was, if not more so. His first reaction was to “get rid” of the baby. He wasn’t ready to be a father and had no interest in becoming one.

For a pregnant woman, that was a hard pill to swallow—I had already fallen so deeply in love with my baby.

At eight months, I finally told my mom I was pregnant when I came home late one night after a 14-hour day of work. Even though I was still playing sports, my mom noticed that I was gaining weight like I never had before. I just felt like I couldn’t bring myself to tell her myself.  

When the truth finally came out, my mother fell to the floor and cried. She asked my sister and brother if they knew about the baby, but since I hadn’t told them either, that just brought on more tears.

After that initial shock, my mom was concerned that my stomach was still so small even though I was eight months pregnant. I hadn’t taken any prenatal pills, I hadn’t been to a doctor, I didn’t know if the baby was healthy or even what gender he or she was. I only knew my baby was alive by every single one of the heart-filling kicks.

My mom and I started calling clinics to find out about our options. I was so far along that there weren’t many options but to have this baby. Because I was so far along and hadn’t had any prenatal care, I was considered high-risk and couldn’t find a doctor to take me into their care.

That’s when we found Ms. Brenda at Pregnancy Decision Health Centers. She was able to calm my mom down and give her enough peace of mind to sleep—which she hadn’t been able to do for days. Ms. Brenda told us we wouldn’t have to pay to be seen, and that was a huge stress-reliever for us, especially because we didn’t have insurance.

Ms. Brenda could see how terrified my mom was about the baby’s health. She took us to do some measurements of the baby, and everything looked great. She also gave us some information about PDHC and how they could help us.

At one point, we were considering adoption. We knew a happily married couple that wanted a child but didn’t have the option to have one naturally. Ms. Brenda was extremely supportive, telling us that adoption could be as open as we wanted. She also reassured us that making an adoption plan would bring untold joy to a family.

Ms. Brenda sent me home with information I needed to navigate my situation, and she made it clear that there was no way in this world she was going to let me do it alone.

Before we left, she let me pick out something for the baby from their mom store, and I picked a pair of little white booties that I still have today. Those booties were the first sign of hope to me that I could be a great mom to this baby.

Ms. Brenda left me feeling that no matter what decision I made, I would always have support and someone to talk to without being judged or viewed as another teenage statistic. Ms. Brenda and PDHC also referred me to an amazing ob-gyn who helped me through the last month of my pregnancy with the utmost respect and care.

That doctor is one of the most kindhearted people I have ever met, and I truly thank him for saving Rowan’s life and my own. At my first appointment, we met Rowan, my beautiful and very healthy baby boy. He was absolutely stunning.

Rowan has turned my life around a complete 180. He is the biggest motivation when it comes to school or working I remind myself that everything I do is for him to live an even better life than I did. Waking up to his enormous bright smile reminds me to never give up, and to push through when things get tough.

Without a doubt, he is the most blissful blessing that was ever given to me. Seeing him laugh, play, and walk all through our home is so captivating. They’re memories I will cherish for the rest of my life.

I’ll be forever grateful for Ms. Brenda. She always told me that in life, we always have a choice, and that I didn’t have to give up my dreams and aspirations just because I was bringing a new life into the world.

I have decided to continue on with college, I married my U.S. soldier, and have celebrated Rowan’s first birthday.

Without Ms. Brenda and PDHC, I truly don’t believe my son would be alive. Ms. Brenda loves every minute of her job and it truly shows. God has given her a gift and it is a blessing to be around her. Her job is to empower and change the lives of women, and when I met her, she did just that.

A year later, she still contacts me to check up on my family and offer to help in any way that’s possible. She gave me the strength to follow my dreams of being an ob-gyn, and reminded me to never give up, because God will always make a way.