One of the counselors noticed a young woman getting out of her car and approaching the clinic. She was alone. The counselor immediately told her about Family Planning Associates and the record of the doctor. The young woman kept looking at the pamphlet that the counselor gave her. She seemed scared. Then she began to look up at the clinic as she watched the people going in. At one point the guard tried to stop the conversation and then one of the FPA medical assistants who had just arrived in the parking lot told the young girl she could go upstairs. She remained with the counselor and was unmoved by their words.
The young woman told the counselor she was nine weeks. The counselor showed her a model of what a 12-week-old baby looked like. The counselor told the girl, who already has a two year old, that she could see that she had a good heart and that this was not the solution to a problem but only the beginning. The counselor told her that she witnesses each week women going into FPA and leaving after the abortion in tears, their lives changed forever. The woman told the counselor that her sister-in-law did not want her to do it, and that she would pray for a sign for her not to kill her baby. The woman began to cry. She was frozen as she stood there for many minutes trying to decide what to do. Her tears were enough to move her towards her car and leave. She promised to stay in touch with the counselor. She did talk to the counselor again early this week and is setting up an appointment to go to Culture of Life Family Services.
Minutes later, a young woman was being dropped off in front of the clinic. One of the counselors told her about the horrible medical record of the doctor. She immediately got back into her car and the counselor talked to the young man driving, and gave them literature on the risks of abortion. They thanked the counselor and pulled into the far side of the lot to park and talk. Within minutes they left as the counselors said, “God Bless you.”
A couple drove in and parked close to one of the counselors. The boyfriend, in his early twenties, exited the car, and one of the counselors spoke to him for about five minutes while his girlfriend H. remained in the car. She finally came out, and the counselor repeated to her much of what was told to the boyfriend, then continued telling them that aborting their first-born child would likely end their relationship. The woman said she was 19 years old, and her family was out of state. The counselor showed them both a picture of a six-week old pre-born baby, and both were shocked at how developed the baby was at this stage.
The woman still had two years of college left, and the man, when asked, admitted that he had a steady job. The counselor told them that this child was unique, and the man was told that this might be the only son he will ever have. The counselor told them that they could raise this child, and that it might take a little longer for her to graduate, but that the best things in life are worth the hard work and sacrifice. They listened for about 30 minutes while the counselor talked about the joys of family and the emptiness and lifetime of regret they would have if they went through with the abortion, and encouraged them to call COLFS.
The woman said they wanted to go up and talk to the staff at the abortion clinic before making a decision. The counselor gave her a rubber model of a 12-week old pre-born baby and told her “Hold this in your hand as you think about what you are considering doing”. As they walked toward the stairs, the counselor told them, “Please make the right choice, I will be praying for you.” They went upstairs and the counselors assumed they were going to go through with the abortion when they did not come back our right away.
However, after about an hour, they walked out onto the balcony and took the elevator down to the parking lot. As they walked toward their car, the counselor asked them, “Did you change your mind?” The woman nodded “yes” with a smile on her face and a look of relief. The counselor shook their hands and said “Congratulations Dad! Congratulations Mom! You made the right choice, and you will never regret it.” The counselor put a white rosary in the woman’s hand and said “God bless you. I will be praying for you”. As they drove past the counselors towards the exit, they both gave a big smile and waved goodbye.
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Thursday, November 22, 2012
Congratulations Dad! Congratulations Mom! News from the trenches
via cal-catholic.com
