Abortion. That’s the only option she was considering. Knowing that the Cameron clinic did not perform or refer for abortions, Holly* decided to make an appointment and get some much-needed information about her pregnancy before taking the next step. During her first appointment, Holly shared that due to a seizure disorder, she had concerns about the medications she was taking and their effects on her pregnancy. She was also separated from her husband (the father of the baby) and they were planning to divorce. Even though she had taken Plan B (not the abortion pill) to prevent the pregnancy, it clearly had not had the effect she hoped it would.

During the ultrasound Holly cried and covered her eyes. She did not want the pictures that were offered to her. When she left the clinic that day her intention was still to have an abortion, but she made another appointment to come in the next week to get STD results and confirm the pregnancy was still progressing.

Holly came back for her second appointment and shared with the advocate that she had discussed the pregnancy with her neurologist, and they had made a plan to treat her seizure disorder during her pregnancy. Still stressed and nervous, she had decided to continue the pregnancy with the support of her neurologist. Holly received another ultrasound that day and
heard her baby’s heartbeat for the first time. She accepted pictures of the baby and looked at a baby model the approximate size of her baby. She also made an appointment for a third ultrasound.

Weeks passed, but during follow-up phone calls, Holly reported that she was feeling better about the pregnancy. She was happy, and the baby was healthy. One final follow-up call was made to check on Holly and the baby after her due date. She reported that she and the baby were doing well. Before the call ended Holly shared, “I have a beautiful, baby boy asleep on my chest right now. You guys are the difference between him being here and not being here, and I thank you.”

Because Holly’s first visit was with the Cameron clinic and not an abortion clinic, she was able to take the time to gather information from the staff and her neurologist to make a life-affirming (and life-changing) decision. She chose life, which seemed impossible at the time; but now Holly couldn’t possibly imagine a life without her son.

*name changed to protect patient’s privacy