HBI
Janai
Every morning I wake up to my precious human alarm clock. There’s no need to set any other alarms because she’s on a two hour wake schedule. Then it is time for a diaper change, bottle feed, burp, feed again, burp, then sleep again. Finally, this is my chance to get dressed! I rush to take care of myself before her next wake up. This is when it hits me, my life is not about me anymore, and I wouldn’t change it. I made the best decision to parent my child, and I am thankful for the help and support that I received from Houston Pregnancy Help Center.
Before I found out I was pregnant, I was living my life happily. I had just reconnected with God and was pursuing my life dreams. I grew up in one of the poorest neighborhood in Washington D.C., so my father always motivated my sisters and I to achieve higher education and plan for a career. With only one semester left, I was preparing to graduate from Texas Southern University in Houston with a degree in Marketing. I was excited to be the college graduate in my family! In my opinion I was on top of the world, but in reality, someone else’s world was just beginning.
After a few suspicions about being pregnant, I found the Houston Fifth Ward Pregnancy Help Center and went to confirm my pregnancy. I met with the case manager there and she welcomed me with a smile and encouraged me that they were there to help. When she told me that my pregnancy test was positive I was in complete denial because pregnancy for me equated to homelessness, no support, and an obstacle to finishing college! I also knew that my family would be extremely disappointed because this is the last thing they would expect from me. The case manager was very helpful and was willing to listen to me. I never felt judged. Even though I tried to keep it together on the outside, I was overwhelmed with emotions on the inside. She brought a proper perspective to my situation by giving adequate information on all my options, and I never felt rushed.
I knew that if I ever was to conceive a child I would choose life, but there were still many important decisions to be made. Would I be able to care for this child? Can I support him/her? Will I be we willing to make myself second for the rest of my life? The choice for me was the hardest decision I would ever have to make because the innocent baby blooming inside my belly was the outcome of date rape. This created emotions I’ve never experienced before, and I didn’t know how to cope with this situation of being violated, so I didn’t tell anyone. The pregnancy center helped me see what reality would look life if I were to choose either route of parenting or adoption. They even told me about the abortion procedure and the risks involved. I also expressed concerned about housing because I knew I couldn’t keep a baby on campus, and the case manager provided several maternity housing options. I visited the help center again the next week to get a free ultrasound, and I got to see my little baby for the first time. I had never met people who were so genuine and caring. The pregnancy center staff drew me in and made me feel comfortable enough to ask questions and sign up for their birthing and childcare classes the center offered. The classes were very helpful because before them I didn’t even know how to change a diaper! I went to all six classes and learned how to provide love, praise, and discipline to my child. Furthermore, the Fifth Ward Help Center also helped me by providing necessary infant care items.
After I decided to parent my child and for the last 4 months of my pregnancy I went to live at Lifehouse, one of the maternity homes the Pregnancy Center referred to me. There I was able to open up, receive counseling, and learn to heal. The people in these two organizations changed my perspective on life and people by making me feel loved and appreciated. This impacted my life in undescribed ways because I’ve never had that support growing up. It also allowed me to learn to love myself again and have room to also fill the heart of my child with love.
Currently, my child is 2 months old and is the most precious gift I have ever been blessed with. Even though she is now born, I continue to communicate with the people at the pregnancy center and maternity home. Not only because they offer post- partum resources, but because I feel connected with the people I will keep in contact throughout my life. I know that life would have been different and more difficult without the resources and love I was given. My precious one and I were able to honorably walk across the stage during graduation with pride knowing we have made it this far. I am always happy to share about the Houston Fifth Ward Pregnancy Center to any woman in need!
Babies Go to Congress FAQs
Q: What is Babies Go to Congress?
A: Babies Go to Congress is one of the most powerful pro-life events on Capitol Hill. It’s a great way for you to connect with your Lawmakers and share the great work you are doing to serve women in their state or district. It’s also an opportunity for your Lawmakers to hear directly from a client (their constituent) who has been served by your center.
The Babies Go to Congress sometimes coincides with the March for Life, providing a unique option to attend both the pro-life and pregnancy help missions.
Q: Who can attend Babies Go to Congress?
A: Any pregnancy help organization currently affiliated with Heartbeat International may participate in Babies Go to Congress. We recommend the Executive Director or President of the organization attend along with a client and her child. Due to limited space on each team and in the Congressional offices, we discourage large groups of center staff and families from attending.
Q: What happens after my interest form is submitted?
A: In the fall, as we begin preparation for Babies Go to Congress, all interest forms received will be reviewed by Heartbeat staff. Those selected will be contacted to gather key details and to learn more about your client. Once we have received those details, you will be emailed a commitment form to fill out for your staff and client's information, including travel details. As we get closer to the event, you will be emailed more information to help you and your client prepare!
Q: What is the cost to attend?
A: There are a few things to consider when budgeting to attend Babies Go to Congress. Heartbeat International will cover two meals (orientation dinner and closing luncheon) and accommodation for one night for your client's room. We will also cover travel around Washington, D.C. specifically needed for Babies Go to Congress (i.e. transportation to and from Congressional office buildings).
The pregnancy help organization is responsible for covering the cost of travel to Washington, D.C., any meals not covered by Heartbeat, and the remaining hotel nights (approx. $200-250+tax per night).
In short, the cost breakdowns are listed below.
Heartbeat International will pay for:
- Orientation Dinner - for up to 4 people, including center staff, client, and baby
- Closing Luncheon - for up to 4 people, including center staff, client, and baby
- Hotel accommodation for client's room for one night
- Transportation to and from Babies Go to Congress events
The pregnancy help organization is responsible for:
- Travel to and from D.C.
- All meals not covered by Heartbeat
- Hotel stay, minus one room for one night for the client
Q: How do I choose a client for Babies Go to Congress?
A: When choosing a client, we recommend identifying someone who has a compelling story and has had an opportunity to share her story publicly (on camera, at a banquet, etc.). It is best to choose a client who is well-spoken and not extremely shy. If the client you choose has not had practice sharing her story, you can coach her before Babies Go to Congress and we will practice on-site the night before. Also, be sure the client you choose is available to attend the Babies Go to Congress dates.
There is no age limit for the client and her child. We have had clients with teenagers and clients who are pregnant. Please use your best judgment and pray about who you should bring.
Each client must sign a release form and submit their story along with a picture of herself and her child. These stories and pictures will be used for the event and to promote the event online and through social media. The client may choose to opt out of sharing their story publicly.
Click here to fill out the release form
Q: Who will I meet with at Babies Go to Congress?
A: Heartbeat will schedule appointments for you to visit your Senators and two members of Congress (the districts your center is in and the surrounding area). We make our best effort for you to meet the actual Senator or Congressman. At times, when Congress is not in session or the Legislator is unavailable, we will meet with key staff members. It is very important to meet with staff members as they decide what to present to the Legislators.
Click to download the Capitol Hill Map
Q: How will our meetings flow at Babies Go to Congress?
A: Each team will have a Heartbeat representative with them. Meetings will begin with your Heartbeat representative explaining who Heartbeat is and our work very briefly. Then the Heartbeat representative will introduce the client and the client will share her story. After that the Heartbeat representative will introduce the center director, who will then speak about the work the center is doing and how it is impacting their community. At that time, it is appropriate to hand over your community impact report (samples below). Each meeting is about 15-20 minutes long. Please bring business cards to the meetings to give to the office.
Click to download the meeting pointers page
Click to download suggested talking points
Click to download Community Impact Report Sample
Q: Where will I stay at Babies Go to Congress?
A: Heartbeat International secures a block of rooms for Babies Go to Congress at a local hotel. All you need to do is let the Babies Go to Congress coordinator (Jessica) know your arrival and departure dates and how many rooms you will need via the commitment form, and she will secure your rooms within the block.
All rooms are charged to the Heartbeat International master bill. When the master bill is reconciled you will be sent an invoice from Heartbeat International for your accommodation expenses (typically one month after the event). You will need a credit card for incidentals at check-in.
Q: Which airport should I fly into?
A: You have three airport options when flying to the D.C. area, Reagan National Airport (DCA), Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), and Dulles International Airport (IAD). You can easily take the train or metro from DCA or BWI to Union Station. You can take a taxi or Uber from all three airports.
Map with Hotel from Union Station
Q: What should I wear to Babies Go to Congress?
A: Weather in Washington, D.C. is unpredictable. We have had anywhere from 75 degrees and sunny to a blizzard. Please watch the forecast and be prepared.
Orientation/Dinner: Business Casual
BGTC meetings: Business attire (please be sure your client is dressed appropriately, no jeans please). Please wear comfortable footwear. You will be walking a lot!
(Optional) March for Life: Dress in warm and comfortable, casual clothes with comfortable footwear.
Q: Will I have time to explore Washington, D.C. at Babies Go to Congress?
A: Babies go to Congress concludes around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. You are free to explore the city on Thursday afternoon and to extend your stay in D.C. over the weekend to explore.
Babies Go to Congress Schedule Overview
Wednesday - Orientation
- 5:30 pm - Orientation
- 6:30 pm - Dinner and Testimonies
Thursday - Babies Go to Congress Event
- 7:30 am - Meet in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency
- Travel to the House/Senate office buildings
- 8:00 am - Prayer and Photos on the Hill
- 9:00 am - House Meetings
- 10:30 am - Senate Meetings
- 12:30 pm - Luncheon on the Hill with Testimonies
- 3:00 pm - Dismiss
More Questions? Email Jessica Warner (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Nikki Pinkley
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
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
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
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.
Halie Hale
Halie Hale
It was Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, a normal day like any other. I got out of school at 10:25 a.m., went to my internship and worked. When I got off work, I went home and waited for my boyfriend, Jordan, to get off work and come home.
It had been over a month since I’d had a period, so Jordan was bringing a pregnancy test over. I took it, and it was positive.
How could it be? I was 17, worried and scared.
I called Your Choice Pregnancy Resource Center and made an appointment, and thankfully, Jordan stuck by my side. My first appointment was Feb. 20. I walked in, filled out the forms, and was called to the back to see a nurse.
Another positive test.
But, before we took the test, the nurse opened her Bible and helped me to understand that—no matter what—God still loved me. Then, we looked at the different stages the baby goes through in the womb. What a miracle!
After our talk, where the nurse answered my questioned, prayed with me and helped to calm my fears, I went into another room to get an ultrasound. There he was: eight weeks in the womb, a tiny little peanut. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
I left feeling like I was on top of the world, but as the day wore on, I was worried about Jordan and I telling our parents. Still, I knew I would live, and it would be alright in the end. When we did tell my parents, my mom took it lighter than I thought she would, but my dad didn’t speak to me for a little while.
There were times I wanted to give up, but I knew God was with me, and so was Jordan. Our baby boy was born Sept. 10, 2015—three weeks early, but healthy, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. We named him Jordan Colin Hale, “J.C.” for short. He’s healthy, happy and our little miracle.
I hope that every pregnant, worried and scared teenage girl has the opportunity to go to a pregnancy center. I had a great, helpful, and unforgettable experience. Everyone was so helpful and kind.
Jordan and I got married Oct. 3, 2015. I was a senior in high school when I got pregnant, but I made straight A’s and graduated. Now, I’m going to college. To all the worried pregnant teenage girls, do not give up. A baby may change your life, but that doesn’t mean your life is over.
We’re active members of our church and we are putting God first in our family. I thank God for a place like Your Choice PRC. Without them, who knows what path I would’ve taken?
Magalia Frazier
Magalia Frazier
Having a baby changes everything—physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. Even though having a baby is challenging, it has its rewards too.
After you’ve had a rough day at work, for example, and you come home or pick your child up from school, their excitement at seeing you is the best feeling in the world. Or, when you child is ill and under the weather, all they really want is to be near you as a parent and have you nurse them back to health.
As a parent, it’s a pleasure to watch your child learn to put into practice an everyday activity you’ve taught them that will be useful to them the rest of their lives.
I’m enjoying every bit of this roller-coaster ride with my 4-year-old daughter. But, our journey together hasn’t always been gumdrops above the chimney tops. I’m taking the good with the bad, and I have Elizabeth’s New Life Center to thank for that.
I’ve come a long way—far from the verbally abusive relationship with my daughter’s father, far from the dependence on government assistance to take care of my child and myself.
It all began when I found out I was pregnant. I was terrified and didn’t know where to turn or what to do next. Both of us come from strict families with strong moral and religious beliefs, so we were both afraid of what they would say once it came out that we were pregnant.
So, we Googled places nearby to make sure that the home pregnancy test was correct. That’s when we found Elizabeth’s New Life Center in Dayton, Ohio. We scheduled an appointment where they verified that we were indeed pregnant. We received an ultrasound and heard her heartbeat—it was so strong and fast-paced.
I couldn’t believe I had a little person living in my body I was suddenly responsible to care for. I started to cry, knowing that as a mother at the age of 22, I would not have to explain this to my own mother.
I was in college full-time, working part-time. Things were going great until this happened. What would my mom think of me? What about the rest of the family? I knew I’d brought shame upon my mother and myself.
With all these thoughts running through my head, the only thing I could think of was to keep it a secret and see about an abortion. I Googled abortion clinics and found the clinic in Kettering, Ohio. We drove to the clinic together. As I spoke to the receptionist, she told me what to expect, including the fact I’d have to pay a $200 down payment, with the remainder due the day of the procedure.
After my boyfriend and I paid the down payment for the abortion, I had one more question for the receptionist: “What do you do with the babies after the procedure?”
“We throw the fetus in the trash,” came the reply.
In that moment, I remember thinking how inhumane that sounded. Whether or not I felt ready to raise a child, I knew my baby was not going in the trash. Even the thought made me sick to my stomach.
Our appointment was scheduled for a week later. Even though I did my best to hide my pregnancy from my mother, she knew something was wrong. A mother always knows her child. When I told her I was pregnant and that I had already scheduled an abortion, she said, “You cannot abort my grandchild!”
On the day of the procedure, I felt sick to my stomach, my knees were buckling and I could barely stand. I called the facility to see if I could cancel the appointment and get my down payment back, but the receptionist told me I couldn’t.
I had had a change of heart. Something had come over me. Plus, I wanted my money back to help take care of my baby—the baby I was going to now raise.
Almost immediately, I began searching for baby names and dreaming of the sex of my baby. When we found out we were having a daughter, I was excited and nervous at the same time—because I know girls can tend to be a bit much at times—but I was ready for all the loops I would endure with her.
Now that I had experienced this change of heart, I remembered Elizabeth’s New Life Center offered parenting classes to help me prepare for my baby’s arrival. I called and spoke with Meg at the center and signed up for classes right away. I went every week, whether my boyfriend came or not.
Nothing was going to keep me from providing from my child—not her father or anyone else. As my body started to change, I was excited to read up on the different weeks and stages of her gestational growth. I never missed a prenatal vitamin or a doctor’s visit. I was so proud to be a mom.
The staff at Elizabeth’s New Life Center and myself grew close. They called to check in on me and steered me to programs in our community that would benefit us. I received clothes, baby formula, socks, wipes, a car seat with a matching stroller, pacifiers, baby powder, baby shampoo, wash clothes and more.
On the day I gave birth, I called the nurse on duty at Elizabeth’s New Life Center almost 30 times. I had started labor and I was scared. The nurse helped to walk me through the early stages of labor, and never once grew impatient or irritated with me—even though I kept calling back.
When I went to the hospital later that day, to give birth to my daughter, Meg came to the hospital to meet my daughter. She brought along an Easter Bunny onesie with a matching hat and a card, and asked me if there was anything she could help me with.
Once my baby came, the relationship between her father and I broke down quickly. He became verbally abusive and had fits of anger where he would break things in our house that my friends and family had given us.
It has been hard to accept that I would need to raise my daughter as a single parent, but the support I’ve received from Elizabeth’s New Life Center has helped so much. I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t have them in my life.
7 Moms to Tell D.C. Lawmakers Why They Chose Life
"This is one event Planned Parenthood could never dream of pulling off."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday | December 12, 2016
Contact: Jay Hobbs, Director of Communications and Marketing
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COLUMBUS, OHIO – In what it hails as the most powerful pro-life event on Capitol Hill, Heartbeat International is bringing seven mothers—and their children—to Washington, D.C. this January to tell elected officials how they chose life with the help of a community-funded pregnancy center.
The event, “Babies Go to Congress,” takes place Jan. 26, the morning prior to the annual March for Life, and is Heartbeat International’s 15th such visit to the nation’s capitol since 2009. In the previous trips, 113 mothers and their children have visited a total of 265 offices—including those of both Democrats and Republicans.
In each visit, a mother who has rejected abortion with the help of a pregnancy help organization has the opportunity to tell her story, alongside both her child and the staff from the center that helped her choose life.
“This is one event Planned Parenthood could never dream of pulling off,” Heartbeat International president Jor-El Godsey said. “Pregnancy help centers empower women to make the healthiest choice for everyone involved in an unexpected pregnancy. This is a powerful platform for us to both show and tell the truth that pregnancy help centers are good for America.”
The group this year is made up of two mothers from Ohio, as well as one each from North Carolina, Missouri, Arizona, Texas and Wyoming. Though six of the mothers are bringing with them children 4 years old and younger, one mother—Nikki Pinkley from Branson, Mo.—is bringing her 14-year-old daughter to the event.
Together, Nikki and her daughter, Alexis, illustrate the positive life-long impact of that nation’s 2,600 pregnancy help centers.
Nikki was raised in the church and had recently graduated high school when she found out she was pregnant. Finding help at Options Pregnancy Clinic in Branson, she not only chose life for Alexis, but the staff at Options encouraged her to keep pursuing her education and career goals.
Today, Nikki is a closing in on a decade as a licensed professional counselor and is working on her doctoral degree in psychology.
“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,” Nikki, who later married, said. “It’s not easy, but I am living proof that the future is what you make of it. Sometimes you just need someone to believe in you. I found the help I needed, plus a lot of inspiration at Options Pregnancy Clinic.”
About Heartbeat International
Heartbeat International is the first network of pro-life pregnancy help organizations founded in the U.S. (1971), and the largest network in the world. With 2,100 affiliated pregnancy help locations—including pregnancy help medical clinics (with ultrasound), resource centers, maternity homes, and adoption agencies—Heartbeat serves on all six inhabited continents to provide alternatives to abortion. For more information, see www.HeartbeatInternational.org.
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Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week - November 11-15, 2024
What is Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week?
Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week was designed by Heartbeat International to honor those working within the pregnancy help movement. Through their work, women and men receive the compassionate support they need when facing a life-changing decision. They walk alongside families throughout the pregnancy and beyond, blessing them with pregnancy tests, emotional support, ultrasounds, parenting classes, and so much more at no cost.
From volunteers to executive directors, nurses to receptionists, each person working in a pregnancy help organization has been gifted with the passion to advance the culture of LIFE! And for that, we thank you!
This year's Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week is November 11-15, 2024.
How you can thank a Pregnancy Help Foot Soldier:
- Pray. The emotional energy given by those who work in the pregnancy help movement is extreme. They give of themselves daily. Pray for spiritual refreshment for those who go into the center today.
- Volunteer. Connect with your local pregnancy help organization and see what their needs are. You may have just the right skills to fill a need.
- Donate items. Call your local pregnancy help organization and ask them what items they need to bless a new mother (such as diapers or maternity clothes) and start collecting. Not only will you bless a center, you will bless multiple families as well.
- Give. Without the generous donations of those within the community, pregnancy centers would not be able to provide their services for free.
- Share the love. Share the good work of the pregnancy help community with your social networks. Don't know what to post? Like Heartbeat International on Facebook and/or Instagram and you'll find plenty to share!
If you haven't heard of Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week before, you should expect special deals, thank-you messages, and extra prayers this week.
Plus! We'll be holding a drawing at the end of the week where one lucky winner will get a fun gift basket from us at Heartbeat!
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Shareables
Click on each image to view the full-sized version. Then, save it to your device and share on Facebook, Instagram, or tweet and show your love for the pregnancy help movement using the hashtag #ThankAPregnancyCenter
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Friday's Deal of the Day = ALL Deals + Free Resources!
We're bringing back all the week's deals for one last hurrah! Plus, there are a few Free Resources to check out. After today, you won't see deals like this again until *next* November.
Let's recap—today only you get...
$5 Monday Deals:
Changing Clients- Shifting Focus (housing)
Discussing the Adoption Option in a Post-Roe America
Onboarding Board Members for Successful Service
Postpartum Depression
Protecting Minors from Trans On Demand Interventions
Sex Trafficking & Abortion
The Truth About Backstreet Abortion
$2 Tuesday Deals:
Opioids and Pregnancy
How to Identify and Use a Media "Hit" Piece
Surviving Christmas: Healing Resident Trauma During the Holidays
Speaking at Churches in a Post-Roe World
Healthy Boundaries in Ministry
Abortion's Long-Term Negative Impact on Men
Healing from Medication Abortion Trauma
Special Considerations of Healing from Diagnosis Abortions
50% off Wednesday Deals:
Identifying Fake Client
Advancement Bootcamp
How to Identifying and Assist Victims of Human Trafficking
75% off Thursday Deal:
From an archive of our Conference recordings of the past 5 years, get the bundle on a topic of your choice for 75% off.
*PLUS*
Free Resources
Pregnancy Centers Affected by Louisiana Flooding
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Heartbeat International’s leadership and staff have checked in on our affiliate network, both to offer these vital partners help through our H.A.L.O. fund—which meets Heartbeat-affiliated organizations damaged by natural disasters with needed funds to replace training materials—and to let you know how you can be supporting these friends in prayer.
If you would like to contribute to Heartbeat International’s H.A.L.O. fund, you can do so at www.HeartbeatServices.org/fund-halo. You can also give directly to the pregnancy help organizations below by starting a fundraiser page at www.YouSaveBabies.org.
Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center – Thibodaux, Louisiana
Though Crossroads’ location was not damaged in the floods, the daughter of Executive Director Michele Beary was in the middle of moving into her college residence at Louisiana State in Baton Rouge when the storm hit. Her car was lost in the flood, but she was unharmed.
“The scope of the disaster is unreal and heartbreaking,” Michele, who formerly lived in Ascension Parish—which was badly damaged in the storm—tells us. “Please let everyone know how much their prayers for us are appreciated. God bless.”
The Women’s Help Center – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Barbara Thomas, founder of the Family Values Resource Institute, which runs The Women’s Help Center, tells us one of her team members has sustained damage to their home over the past week.
Pregnancy Help Center – Slidell, Louisiana
Thankfully, this center was unaffected by the storms. When Heartbeat International called to check in on these friends, they were in the process of deciding how they could actively support any life-saving that was affected by the disaster.
Women’s Life Ministries Pregnancy Center – Amite, Louisiana
Though spared from major flooding damage, this outreach reports having lost some of their office equipment in a lightning strike. Because the center is located in a high place, it is fast becoming a key location for flood relief in the community. CEO Teresa Ragusa tells us her organization is busy receiving supplies to help distribute to clients and neighbors.
Iberia Pregnancy Center – New Iberia, Louisiana
Iberia Pregnancy Center’s staff reports that, though their street was flooded and flood waters came almost up to their doors, the center itself was untouched. Praise God for this wonderful protection, and please pray for clients and neighbors who have lost homes and property.
The following pregnancy help locations were also undamaged by the flood, though leaders at the centers did ask us to pray for their clients:
Hope Restored for Life (Houma, Louisiana), Community Center for Life (Gretna, Louisiana), Women's New Life Center (Metairie and Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Northlake Crisis Pregnancy Center (Covington, Louisiana)
If you would like to contribute to Heartbeat International’s H.A.L.O. fund, you can do so at www.HeartbeatServices.org/fund-halo. You can also give directly to the pregnancy help organizations below by starting a fundraiser page at www.YouSaveBabies.org.
UPDATE: Care Pregnancy Clinic in Baton Rouge Reports Severe Damage
Dorothy Wallis, president and CEO of Caring to Love Ministries—which runs an unaffiliated pregnancy help center, reports having sustained an estimated $425,000 in damages to its building.
Although the rebuilding effort will take several months at the absolute minimum, Dorothy tells us a local abortion clinic was unaffected by the flood and Care Pregnancy Clinic continues to receive calls from abortion-vulnerable women.
Knowing the opportunism of the abortion industry that offered free morning-after pills in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and free abortions to New Yorkers in the days following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, Dorothy knows there is no time to lose in reaching women with life-saving help.
Dorothy is asking for an RV (loan or donation) her organization can to set up as a mobile ultrasound unit as soon as possible.
To find out how you can help Dorothy and Care Pregnancy Clinic, click here.
Do you know of more pregnancy help organizations affected by the recent floods? Let us know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
It's a Pleasure to Connect with You!
You can reach and rescue lives!
We are so excited to be able to connect with you! Heartbeat International is dedicated to reach and rescue as many lives as possible, around the world, through an effective network of life-affirming pregnancy help, to renew communities for LIFE.
With more than 2,500 locations in the U.S. plus 50 other nations, Heartbeat reaches well over 1 million clients every year with life-saving pregnancy help.
(That’s not including our 24/7 contact center, Option Line (1-800-712-HELP, www.OptionLine.org), which has reached nearly 3 million women desperately searching for help since we first answered the call in 2003!)
You can play a vital role in this life-saving mission by learning more about Heartbeat International and our partners all over the world.
We'd love for you to learn more about linking arms with us in this vital work. Please watch a short video message below to help you get a feel for Heartbeat and our mission, and you can always go to www.HeartbeatInternational.org to learn more on your own!
Watch a special message from Heartbeat Vice President, Cindi Boston!
Connect with Heartbeat International
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