It was a very bad day for Susan*. The last thing she wanted or expected was to be pregnant in her teens, and the last place she wanted to be was in a crisis pregnancy clinic, but she had to start somewhere.

After searching online, Susan found the number for Willowbrook Women’s Center and placed a phone call inquiring about the abortion pill. She was informed that Willowbrook Women’s Center didn’t provide the pill, perform procedures, or give a list of referrals, but what they could do was provide critical information about her pregnancy that would help her decide her next step. 

Susan arrived at the center and was visibly irritated with her situation. The advocate and licensed medical staff walked her through each step of her appointment. Then came the ultrasound. Tears welled up in Susan’s eyes as she watched her 7-week-old baby on the screen and heard his heartbeat. She took ultrasound pictures and looked at a fetal model the size of her own baby. It was an overwhelming moment for Susan, and she knew there was more to process than just where she could get abortion pills. An appointment was made for the following week to receive STD results and check for further progression.

Sometime between her first and second appointment, Susan really started to think. She found a pregnancy app on her phone where she could hear a baby’s heartbeat. During a follow-up contact after the first appointment, she admitted, “[Listening to the heartbeat] is getting me emotional and somewhat attached.” Then she went on to confess that she was afraid she would fail as a mother. The following week, at her second appointment, Susan said she was strongly considering abortion. During the second ultrasound, her face was stoic, and she remained quiet. She scheduled a third appointment but later canceled it. The situation seemed bleak.

A few weeks passed, and another attempt was made to connect with Susan. A text message came back—Susan had moved forward with prenatal care and was very excited to tell the staff member at Willowbrook that she was going to have a baby! She commented, “I do want to mention that I’m super appreciative and thankful you guys were there in the beginning of my pregnancy because I was leaning toward abortion, until I got attached. Your information really helped.”

Several months later, Susan, her grandmother, and her newborn son arrived at Willowbrook so the staff could meet him in person. It wasn’t until then that the staff learned just how much this baby had made an impact. Before her pregnancy, rebellious and out-of-control behavior had been ruining Susan’s life. Sitting beside her grandmother, she looked at her son with adoring eyes. Then her grandmother shared this: “Actually, he saved her life. I mean it. She was going down a bad path. Who knows where she would be today if he hadn’t been born? Maybe she wouldn’t be alive.” This baby that Susan thought was a curse turned out to be the biggest blessing of her life.

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19

*Name changed to protect patient.