I Couldn't Do It
Family Planning Associates, Miramar Road, San Diego - August 21
There were 16 to 18 prayer warriors this morning, including a Catholic priest, plus four sidewalk counselors.
Terry was able to identify Family Planning's nurse practitioner who is on probation with the nursing board because of drug abuse and falsifying documents at a hospital. We started sharing this information along with the abortionist's litigation and probation record with the women going in.
Luis stopped a couple in their late teens at the main driveway. The girl was carrying a teddy bear. They listened to the information about the abortionist and the nurse practitioner. The girl covered her face in horror and started weeping. The boyfriend/driver thanked Luis for the information, but they went in.
Roger stopped a Hispanic couple in their late 20s at one of the side driveways. The man understood English, so Roger explained the litigation history of the abortionist, and the risks and side effects of an abortion. Roger asked her if she knew how far along she was. The man had to interpret the question in Spanish to the woman, and then replied, "seven weeks." Roger showed them both a photograph of a six-week-old preborn baby, and told them "This is what your baby looks like." Her eyes teared up, and Roger asked in broken Spanish if she understood anything he was saying, even a little. She shook her head "No", but clearly she knew what the subject matter was. He then showed them both a life-sized rubber model of a twelve-week-old preborn baby, and the man put his hand over his face and looked down in dismay.
He told Roger that this was not his girlfriend or wife and that he tells women not to do this, but that she has no boyfriend or husband, and she lives in Tijuana and needs to work. Sensing that the man was not going to translate what he was saying, Roger convinced the man to follow him over to the main driveway where Luis could continue speaking to her in Spanish. Luis explained to her about the abortionist's suspensions and malpractice cases as well as the nurse practitioner's problems. She listened and appeared concerned, but the boyfriend said that that they were late, and a relative was waiting for them in the clinic. They drove up to the building and went in.
Terry intercepted a young man, heavily covered in tattoos, on his way out. As she was beginning to talk with him, a Catholic priest who had just arrived and was walking toward the prayer group, stopped on the opposite side of the driveway about thirty feet away to pray for Terry's efforts.
While most drivers leaving the parking lot will only talk for a few minutes, at most, Terry was able to talk to this man for at least twenty minutes. This is almost impossible, between Family Planning's guard and others who interfere. Yet, the Holy Spirit, through the power of prayer opened a window to allow this young man to stay and talk the entire time. Several cars backed up behind him, but gladly went to another exit when Roger told them what Terry was doing. When Terry showed the young man the horrific litigation history of the abortionist and informed him that he had a nurse practitioner on his staff who was on probation with the California State Medical Board for narcotic abuse and falsifying nursing records, he became very upset and said, "Why didn't you show me this two hours ago before I let her go up there?". Terry replied, "I wish I had the opportunity. However, you entered a driveway where none of us were."
He told Terry they had a five-year-old girl now and couldn't imagine having another child come into such poverty. Terry replied, "Could you imagine allowing someone to harm your five-year-old because of financial problems?" Looking shocked, he said "No, way!" Terry replied that there was no difference. "One you know, and one you haven't met yet - who is even more helpless and in need of protection." Terry showed him who and where they could get help from, with the needs they have now with their little girl, and with the child his girlfriend was carrying. Becoming despondent, he said "I think it is too late. She's been up there two hours."
Terry said "You are a strong man, a man of conviction and deep love. I hear it, feel it, and see it in your eyes. Please go back into the clinic and tell them you want to talk to her. He said they wouldn't let him in the back room when he wanted to the first time. Terry said "Do not let them tell you what you are allowed to do. This is your baby, your girlfriend, your life. Have no fear. Go back up there and tell them you need to speak to her."
He said "What if they call the cops?" Terry assured him Family Planning would never call the authorities, that the last thing they wanted was the police to come because a father wanted to talk his girlfriend out of an abortion. In fact, the police would be on his side. She told him if it was too late to save his own unborn child, it was not too late to save another, and that this date - August 21- could be the beginning of changing his life (for the good) forever. She handed him the six-week-old preborn baby picture. He told her he practiced no faith and that his parents were Muslim and he knew he didn't want that. Terry handed him a rosary, telling him to ask the Mother of God to reveal her own Son to him, and assured him she would.
He then said, with conviction, "Okay I am going back up there right now." He was in there for quite a while and came out with another young man on the balcony. Sadly, two hours had been too long for his girlfriend, but perhaps not for anyone else who may have heard him inside, and the young man he was now in conversation with outside Family Planning. She gave him information on Culture of Life Family Services, all the pregnancy centers in San Diego, and Rachel's Hope.
Terry stopped another older man who said he had dropped a friend off. Terry notic
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Terry said, "What matters is that you have brought a young woman here to the place that kills children. This is your friend. You need to see a priest right away, today, because the blood of this baby is upon you and your poor friend who is up there, who is scared and alone." She said, "Please go back inside and ask your friend to come out so you can speak to her. Tell her she doesn't have to do this, that there is a lot of help, no matter what her condition, and that we could arrange to have her seen by another doctor for an ultra-sound today. This other doctor wouldn't hurt her or her unborn baby, and she wouldn't have to worry about cost. The man said, "Okay. I'll call her, but I have to go now". Sensing deception, Terry said, "You can lie to me, you can even lie to yourself, but you can never lie to God or His Mother. Please see a priest as soon as possible. God go with you".
The next couple Luis spoke to was concerned when he gave them the information. They drove on and Terry intercepted them by the Carroll Road exit. The driver looked as if he was lost. When Terry asked him if he was lost, and he readily showed her they had received the information at the main driveway from another counselor. Terry introduced herself to them and stated she thought the woman looked as if she were about twelve weeks pregnant. The woman shared with Terry that she was ten weeks. Terry asked her if she had any other children and she said she had a little boy, and that she couldn't afford another child.
Terry said, "Can you imagine hurting the little boy you have now because you are hurting financially?". Before, the woman could answer, Terry showed her what a six-week-old unborn baby looks like and said "The baby you are carrying is almost double this size, now." The man told Terry they had come from far away. Terry replied "Where? - Imperial Valley, Calexico, Mexicali, El Centro or Yuma?" Both looked at each other in disbelief that Terry had guessed where they came from. Terry informed them she had spoken to several couples who came from "far away" and one (a much younger couple) had left, received the help they needed, and are giving birth to a healthy baby. Further, she let them know that the young couple came here right after the big earthquake in Mexicali.
She told them she knew a doctor who could see them today, to show them a clear ultra-sound and talk to them about this decision that would change their lives. She asked them again, to please let her help them. She made it clear this other doctor (at Culture of Life Family Services) did not do abortions, but could provide them with the help they needed, including an accurate ultra-sound to make an informed decision, without regard to cost. She repeatedly asked them if they would like her to phone the doctor right then. However, the boyfriend kept repeating that they just wanted to go up to Family Planning, because Family Planning took MediCal and would do an ultrasound. Terry told them, "The M.A.'s first job is to sell you an abortion. They call themselves 'Medical Assistants,' but they are actually 'Marketing Agents.'
"This is August 21, remember that. This date will never be the same for you. It will change you, your son, and the way you feel about yourself forever. I know you are a good mother. Please let us help you. You are not in this alone." Addressing herself to the woman again, Terry said "I see a deep maternal feeling of love in your eyes" and turning to the man she said, "You seem detached." With that, he began to tear up. Terry said, "Mothers and fathers both feel strongly about their children, those born and those yet to be born". To the woman she said, "I know you want to protect the little baby you are carrying, because you will always be a mother to your first son, but if you have this abortion, your feelings about yourself as a loving mother will change, haunted by the fact that you deprived your son of a brother or sister. You will not always be in financial stress. However, you can never undo terminating the little life inside of you right now. Five years from now, your life circumstances will be different, but the fact you had an abortion on this date can never be erased. This will change you permanently."
Both of them began to tear up and said they wanted to go to Family Planning just to see the ultra-sound. Then, Terry said, "If you go upstairs you won't come down, again, pregnant". Insisting they wanted to go upstairs to Family Planning anyway, Terry said "If you do go upstairs, make sure he shows you the ultra-sound of your baby, and if the picture is grainy, get out of there immediately! If you do not see a clear image of the little baby you are carrying, you must get out of there!"
Before they left, Terry asked the woman what faith she practiced, and she said she was Catholic. Terry said, "God is our Creator and we are all his creatures. There is a little one inside you who is a creation of the Creator, just like you and me, and has a purpose in this life from the beginning of time, by God, and He chose him (or her) for you, remember that." Terry gave her a rosary and said, "When you go up there, make sure you never let go of this. Ask the Mother of God to help you. Make sure you see that ultra-sound."
They said okay, parked, and went upstairs. Within a few minutes, they came back out, his arm around hers. As they got to the car, the man waived to Terry with a smile on his face, and drove to the exit where she stood. The woman excitedly said, "I couldn't do it. I never even went in to see him. Thank you".
