By Annie Jeschke, Office Administrator, NOVA Pregnancy of Fairfax,
Sometimes at SLM, the privilege does not come in helping a young woman choose life; it comes in walking along with her in any way during the most painful decision of her life. At 19 years old, it can be impossible to see beyond the circumstances even with all of the resources and support we can offer her. Even if she understands that she is carrying a life inside of her.
Recently, I met “Kayla” and immediately recognized that she was an intelligent, sweet, and caring young girl. She had ambitions that included doing well for herself as well as her family back in her home country… and then a free ultrasound exam revealed she was 20 weeks pregnant. She, like many of our clients, went into a survival mode. Although she knew the heartbeat on the screen belonged to a new life, the fear of telling her family and of losing her ability to finish her university studies was too much to bear. She made an appointment at a clinic out of state where doctors perform late-term abortions.
The morning of her appointment, our staff prayed for her heart, for her doctors, and for a miracle to take place in her life. On the long train ride to the abortion clinic, “Kayla” called our Nurse Manager, Michelle. They spoke three different times that morning. As I watched the clock tick past her appointment time, grief and sadness built up inside me. I spoke to my colleagues of my worry for “Kayla” after the procedure.
“Would she be alright?” I wondered.
Then I began to write this post. I wrote as much to help others understand the realness of late-term abortion as much as I wrote to try to work out all of my emotions. So I would be ready to assist other clients with my full attention and undivided heart.
Soon a new email flashed onto my computer screen. It was from Michelle and the subject line read, “Patient’s Change of Heart.” I audibly gasped and refused to let my breath back out. I opened the email and read the brief content:
“God changed her heart. She now has [an appointment] at a local OB/GYN tomorrow to continue her pregnancy. She will need significant support to carry through with this plan. Please keep “Kayla” in your prayers.”
Replies of praise and thanksgiving filled the second floor office and my gaze went back to what was supposed to be a post about the honor I felt being able to work here and love on all of our clients no matter what they chose. I sobered at the thought of all the work that still must be done. In just 16 short weeks, so many lives will be changed. “Kayla” will have to be the bravest she’s ever been. She will need tremendous support from not only SLM, but from her entire community. Most of all, she will need unceasing prayers.
Please consider praying for our courageous clients and donating whatever you can so that we may be able to continue helping young women like “Kayla” find Life in Christ…Life in the womb.
