As we edge ever closer to celebrating with family and friends around the dinner table and give thanks for our health, our family, our homes, our delicious meal, and our country (as I will be) I pray that each of us, in some small way, keeps in the back of our hearts, those that are perhaps not celebrating. Those who may be or feel alone and question what there is to be thankful for.
Late last year Next Step Pregnancy Services began offering Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) services. This is a process sought out when a woman takes the first of two pills to end her pregnancy and realizes she has made a terrible mistake. Can she go back? In some cases, many in fact, yes, she can. That’s where Next Step comes in.
These services include tangible support, a prescription medication of progesterone (a natural hormone produced during pregnancy that nourishes baby), and ultrasounds to check on pregnancy progress. It is a bright beacon of hope. The brightest. While we are so very blessed to have this service to offer like any medical process there are no guarantees. And while there have been successes, 68% success rate in fact, not every story ends that way. I would like to share one of those.
This past year a woman found us and was en route driving to us (~ 2 hour drive) even before confirming we could help her. She was in the military and felt pressure to take the abortion pill from not only the father of the baby but her coworkers as well. Her one friend helped her find us to see if there was a chance to save her baby.
She had gotten the pill online and never had an ultrasound done. We didn’t know the exact age of baby – possibly 7 or 8 weeks? She was in her late 30s and had never been pregnant. She was horrified she may have ruined her only chance at having a baby.
Sadly, it was a long drive home for this woman. We could not tell her she had a viable pregnancy. But we could tell her she was no longer pregnant – she had likely miscarried earlier in her pregnancy – about 2 weeks prior. We provided as much tangible and emotional support as we could.
“At least I don’t have to live knowing I killed my baby.”
While this story still ends on a sad note – I am very thankful we could give this little bit of comfort.
Because please know, the very real emotional trauma and heartbrokenness of knowing you caused the death of your unborn child can never be undone. Forgiven yes! But not forgotten, Although in her case her baby was still lost. She was not. Not to the trauma of abortion.
Being able to be with her during this time, to hold her, to listen to her, to know her and let her know we saw her was Christ’s work and Will expressed and shared. Thank you for your continual support. We are so very thankful for each and every one of you. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.