As you may be aware, there is currently a court case in California that is now entering its third year. It was brought by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who alleges that Heartbeat International, a national pro-life organization, and RealOptions, a pregnancy resource center (PRC) much like Next Step, violated California’s False Advertising Law and Unfair Competition Law by making false or misleading claims about Abortion Pill Reversal (APR), a service that Next Step also offers.

In other words, the State is seeking to prevent Heartbeat International, RealOptions, and other pregnancy resource centers from offering or promoting Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) as an intervention for women who have begun a medication abortion and wish to continue their pregnancy.

I won’t go into the court case in depth, though I will include a link and encourage you to learn more about it. Instead, I wanted to highlight one recent development. So far, one mother who received the APR protocol has testified, with two additional mothers scheduled to take the stand in the coming weeks.

“Erika Carrillo—a mother of three from San Mateo—testified about the intense pressure she faced to abort her child, her immediate regret after taking the first abortion pill, and her late-night search for a way to save her baby’s life.” This is from a press release published by the Thomas More Society.

What Carrillo did is exactly what countless other women have done, including those who searched online and found Next Step Pregnancy Services.

We began offering APR in August 2023 under the direction of our Medical Director, Dr. Stoke, and our Nurse Manager, Barbara. It is truly a 24/7 service. 

As you can see from Carrillo’s story, there are women desperately searching in the middle of the night for a way to turn back the clock on their decision to take the first abortion pill. I placed “decision” in quotation marks because, when you hear these stories, it becomes clear that the choice is not always made freely or solely by the woman. Dr. Stoke and Barb are literally on call – at a moment’s notice – typically at night – and historically on or around the weekend. 

The widespread use of chemical abortion pills in our state is staggering. As a result, the need for immediate intervention is significant, and Next Step stands ready to respond. This is why court cases like the one being fought in California are so important. Whatever the outcome, it could directly affect the work we do here at Next Step.

Carrillo told the court she chose to share her story because “every woman should be able to advocate for themselves” and because she believes women in similar situations—pressured, isolated, and without support—deserve to know that APR “is an option for them.” According to the Thomas More Society, on cross-examination, her account was not materially challenged.

The Thomas More Society also stated, “These success stories of courageous mothers who chose life could cease to exist if California prevails in suppressing the speech of Heartbeat International and RealOptions.” The outcome of this case could also have implications for organizations like Next Step Pregnancy Services.

Here is a link to the court case details – definitely a must read for all of us in this battle. https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/case/apr

Please keep Next Step, as well as those fighting this case in California, in your prayers.

In 1998, an idea was brewing: the need for a ministry centered on assisting women and families facing an unexpected pregnancy with tangible resources, trusted service referrals, and, most importantly, compassionate, open-ended advocacy and encouragement.

This was not a novel idea. Since the first recognized pregnancy resource center in California around 1968, communities have recognized this need. Even here in Washington State, by the early 1980s, a handful of pregnancy resource centers dotted the landscape. The mission itself was not new.

In 2010, it was decided that Next Step—known then as Angelorum, for those of you who have been with us since the beginning—would begin offering medical services. Essential care such as pregnancy testing and early obstetric ultrasounds became available to the women and girls in our community. They received accurate, evidence-based early pregnancy care, a transformative first look into the womb, and compassionate support that extended beyond practical assistance.

But what about the practical?

What about the diapers, wipes, blankets, onesies, strollers, swaddles, books, and little hand-held stuffies? What about nursing bras, breast pumps, formula, and Dr. Brown’s bottles?

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, many pregnancy resource centers began shifting their model, broadening their focus from primarily material support to medical services. Some moved away from the traditional diaper pantry model altogether in favor of a comprehensive medical approach.

And that’s not to suggest it was the wrong decision. The strategy of strengthening life-affirming pregnancy care through compassionate medical care, innovation, and reliable information is a valuable one.

But the gaps in support—and the very reason Next Step was founded more than 28 years ago—still exist today.

That is why Next Step continues to live out its original mission: serving the immediate needs of those facing unplanned pregnancies by providing practical resources that help create a safe, healthy home for both mother and child.

All of this is to say that Next Step Pregnancy Services believes in caring for the whole family. Offering a wide range of material goods, referrals to community resources, our newborn layette program, and filled diaper bags alongside our accredited, compassionate medical care remains an essential part of our whole-person approach.

The very real circumstance of a young father who needs an emergency supply of diapers for his newborn while waiting three more days until payday is the reality for many of the families who walk through our doors. The mother of four whose children are outgrowing their pajamas faster than she can hand them down and who simply needs a few extras is another story we hear again and again. The new mother who, through no fault of her own, is unable to breastfeed and quickly discovers that even generic infant formula costs more than her limited paycheck can cover? She comes to us, too.

Because of you—your generosity, your prayers, and the faithful service of our volunteers—we are able to provide diapers, pajamas, formula, and so much more to anyone who needs them, whenever they need them.

And we’ll continue to offer the Diaper Pantry alongside our exemplary, servant-hearted medical care—always.

I can vividly remember the long nights as a new mother, awake and caring for my newborn, whispering in the dark. Sleep was such a fleeting thing and, as I’m sure other mothers will agree, its almost as if you are not ever really asleep. Just ‘resting your eyes’ really. So in tune you are with your baby. Their heart and yours – truly beat in simultaneous rhythm. 

I recently learned something so beautifully profound I was eager to share it with you. There is a cloistered community of nuns in the hills of Tehachapi, California who, among the many things they do such as making cheese, breeding dogs, and selling sheep, goats, and cows, they also rise each and every night, at midnight, to pray.
Not just any prayer that comes to mind or for just any person but specifically to pray together for an hour for new mothers who are also awake, caring for their babies. 

What a beautiful act of love. 

This is the statement from the Sisters on this practice;
“By waking in the middle of the night, we are expressing our readiness to meet [Jesus] when He comes. But, for so many, midnight can also be a time of darkness, loneliness, and fear. Like the selfless mothers whom we hear from, who wake up at this hour because their children are in need, we also wake up to attend to the spiritual needs of souls all over the world, and especially to those most in need of a mother’s caringlove.”

As Catholic Review writer Rita Buettner says,
“Next time you wake up during the night, maybe you can send your own heartfelt prayer into the darkness. God is listening, and he knows who needs it most.” (https://catholicreview.org/praying-through-the-night/)

You can learn more about this community of Sisters here : 
Norbertine Canonesses of the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph

Every time a woman chooses life we rejoice. For her, for her baby, and for life itself. And every time there is new life there are new possibilities, new challenges, new everything.
And that’s where Next Step comes in. At least, for some of it. 

I came across this animated video that had been posted on X by, frankly, a group I tend to not always agree with. But I’m always one for respectful discourse and learning new things. 

https://youtu.be/9Orm24xknIc?si=jA_dX_xUFmqGcIql

The video struck me and successfully hit upon what so many young women go through when faced with an unexpected pregnancy. And those are many of the young women who find our clinic.
In fact, to date this year we’ve had 23 women find our clinic with the intention of aborting their child. Not necessarily uncertain and seeking answers but women who were very aware of what is growing inside and set on their intention to terminate.
Women who are being convinced they are not ready, not experienced, not capable enough. Being convinced abortion is ‘your best option’, that ‘you deserve a future’. Every reason under the sun to simply make it go away. Those are the conversations our nurses are up against. 

These are women and girls who have been surrounded by the devaluation of life long before motherhood was part of their story.

We need to change the story.
That is our vocation. That is the sacred calling of
Next Step Pregnancy Services. 

Truer words have never been spoken!
On June 8th Next Step Pregnancy had its 3 year AAAHC Accreditation Survey. For those not familiar with AAAHC, which stands for “Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care”,  the survey functions as an external review demonstrating that an organization follows established healthcare quality and safety standards. 
Standards such as patient safety, quality medical care, physician and medical staff credentials, organizational governance, financial oversight, and a demonstrated commitment to quality care and patient safety. 

Well we passed. Passed with flying colors I might add!

Despite battling a smelly burst pipe issue the day before the Physician surveyor was to be on site! I arrived at the clinic at 6am to open the windows in the hopes of airing out our loved clinic before he arrived! He never said a word!
It was clear from the get go he was not familiar with a clinic such as ours. As evident by the questions he asked and the insistence he needed to observe an ultrasound procedure. After a few back and forths with AAAHC headquarters we managed to educate him on our unique brand of care.
For all the “Not Applicables” marked there were one hundred fold “Fully Compliant” ratings and he ended his 9 hour stay with the words,
“For what you have here, very nice job. Keep up the exceptional work.”

I’ll take it! And the passing grade!

I’m heartily proud of my staff, my board, and my volunteers, all of whom put in the time and talent to help us achieve the win!
Each standard reflects our commitment to honoring God through excellent care for clients and their families, faithful stewardship of resources, responsible service to our community, and accountability to you, our supporters and ministry partners.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your unfailing commitment to our mission and to our work.

None of this happens without you. 
Now, onto the next three years!

Thank you for helping us continue serving women, families, and our community with compassion and care! 

P.S.
You are cordially invited to our annual Next Step Gala!
Being held on Saturday September 19th at Holy Rosary in Edmonds. 

Dinner, desserts, music, our signature NSPS drink, client stories, unique silent auction experiences, a charismatic keynote address, and much more!

Invitations and a Registration link will be made available on July 15th!

Questions? Email heather@nextstepnw.com

 

My earliest memories of my father, my pop, are of him on the driveway, in a white undershirt, listening to Led Zeppelin, tools in hand, under a car. Other memories include him setting up our pop-top trailer in the rain, trips to the junk yard to “play”, home movies on the old 8mm projector, and him building our swing set complete with white hot melt the skin metal slide. I had a very enjoyable childhood and cannot recall a time I did not feel loved, safe, and wanted. 

I know that is not the case for so many children and that loss is deeply evident. What is also deeply evident is how very vital fathers are to their children and to society as a whole.

In 2025 there was a study done by an organization called the “Vitae Foundation”. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses behavioral research to develop pro-life messaging strategies. For over 30 years these guys have been researching the emotional dynamics behind abortion decision-making. Some really cool stuff. 

The study was called “A Few Good Men” and was done back in 2025. The motivation behind this was as significant as the results themselves. The past 11 studies they’d done interviewing women had found that men play a significant role in decisions to choose abortion. So how do men emotionally perceive unexpected pregnancies and abortions? 

Vitae began their study by interviewing three segments of men. 

1) Men who had faced an unexpected pregnancy and told their girlfriend/wife: “I’ll support you, whatever you choose.”

2) Men who had faced unexpected pregnancy and took a stronger position: “I want you to have an abortion” or “I want you to have the child.”

3) Men who had not previously faced an unexpected pregnancy/abortion. 

There were several questions Vitae came up with that they hoped would be answered via the study. In the interest of space I won’t list them out here but will touch on two of them. 

“What is the man’s perception of his influence on the woman’s decision when facing an unexpected pregnancy/abortion decision?”  

“Why do men say: “I’ll support you either way” when facing an unexpected pregnancy?”

Both these questions stood out to me because of what I have seen the times, which are not as few as you may expect, men have accompanied women into Next Step for a confirmatory test and/or ultrasound. How they act. What they say. Or don’t say. Their reactions to a positive result and a beating heart. 

Regarding his ‘perception’ of his influence over whether or not to move forward with a pregnancy most of the participants felt it “primarily a woman’s decision”. That he has no “right” to make the final decision because at the end of the day “she is the one carrying the baby and has to go through the difficulties of pregnancy.” Despite how the situation arose (“it takes two to make a baby”). 

However, almost all participants, ideally, wanted to have the opportunity to help make the decision – together. 

In the case of the commonly used line. “I’ll support whatever decision you make”, the study found that while most men truly desired to ‘support’ the woman, what that support looked like was up for debate.  A few genuinely believed it to be the most supportive thing to say while most fully recognized that it unfairly placed the whole burden of the decision upon the women’s back. Others stated it seemed “like a way to avoid responsibility” but they also admitted a desire to avoid conflict and aggression. 

There were many more very telling and not especially surprising outcomes of the study. But I wanted to share some of the ‘implications’ as well. These suggestions are an essential starting point for how the results of this type of study can be utilized.

Guide men in understanding that despite the burden of the pregnancy falling on the woman, it’s their privilege to help shoulder that burden and support her.  

Understand man’s self-perceived readiness, identify gaps, address concerns, show support–empower men to believe they are capable of having and supporting a child. 

Frame fatherhood as meaningful and fulfilling. 

And finally, reprogram men’s responses from “I’ll support you, whatever you choose” to other, truly supportive statements such as:  

“I don’t know what this looks like but I will help you be the best mother you can be, and I will be the best father I can be.” 

“I will help, provide, love (you and/or our child).”
 
“We have a good support system (family).” 

“We will figure this out together. You are not alone in this.”

“I know this wasn’t the plan, but we’ll make a plan.” “I’m not going anywhere.” 

I know this is a lot of info and I tried to narrow it down. It was an extensive study! I did include the link to the study and I highly encourage you to check it out. https://vitaeresearchinstitute.org/afewgoodmen/

Back to my pop, like I said, I have an awesome dad so I know how good it can be. Growing up he was present, committed, practical, safe, and no matter what was happening, I knew my dad would protect me and our family. 

The role of a man is vital to the well-being, health, self-worth, and happiness of his child as well as the mother of his child.

Men need to believe that.

And that charge falls to us. All of us who believe it. There is something so fundamental about the role of a man and the way his presence encircles the family.

As the mother is the center, the heart, the father is the shelter – the home.

Thank you for your unfailing support for our work here at Next Step Pregnancy Services
If anything I said resonated with you please let me know. Especially if you are a man, a father, interested in seeing how your experience and expertise can help guide the young men who come into Next Step.

Quiet and nervous, unsure of themselves and their place in this moment. Their place is with their emerging family. 

Happy Father’s Day to all those who are Fathers, Grandfathers, adoptive Fathers, and Father figures.
And of course most especially to my pop, Rich Buyce, best dad ever! Love, your kid

P.S. Save the Date! 

The Next Step Pregnancy Services Gala is on September 19th at Holy Rosary in Edmonds. Invitations and registration available mid-July.
You are cordially invited!

P.P.S. Vote! Vote! Vote! 

Next Step is on the ballot! Please vote for us in the Best of the PNW! https://www.votethepnw.com/

Look for the following main categories: 

Health&Beauty → Women’s Clinic 

Services → Non-Profit Organizations. 

As I was cleaning out my old filing cabinet in my home office / older daughter’s bedroom I came across an old paper I wrote back when I was still in school working towards my Bachelors degree in Human Services Management probably circa 2008 or 2009. It was titled “Single Parent Advocacy” and as I read it over, complete with penciled comments and grammar fixes courtesy of my then instructor I was struck by my own insights into single parent statistics and research and what I thought needed to be ‘done about it’. As some of you may know I was (and still am) a single mother myself so I felt ‘justified’ in making judgements. Little did I imagine over 12 or 13 years later where I would be working. 

I cited a few single parent statistics and to be honest as I look at some of the same studies now, well, I can’t say things are trending in a positive way. In my paper, back in 1998 I noted there were “7.7 million single mothers maintaining their own household and most of these mothers, 69% to be exact, had no other adult in the home to help them.” (Census Bureau, 2000). 

Now, well, in 2023 anyway, the Census Bureau noted that there were “15.18 million families headed by a single mother” and that trend seems to be matching current 2026 analyses as well. About “80% of those households are headed by the mother and about 66% of those households have no other adult living with them.” (Census Bureau, 2026)

But the bulk of my paper was not about the number of single parent households there were but about much needed advocacy and understanding for and towards the “circumstances” of single parents. The innards for lack of a better word. 

The study I went over asked a panel of single parents (most of which were mothers)  to list their most “pervasive need”. Not surprisingly things like finances, kids medical and dental care, household tasks, and meeting the emotional needs of the child(ren) were among the top responses. None of these things related to the emotional wellbeing of the parent yet when asked “86% of the parents could relate to the statement: “I feel isolated from other people – like I’m the only one who really cares about what’s going on in my life and with my children.”

I could not believe how closely this statement resembled my own feelings as a single parent. 

I vividly recall picnicking with my daughter, going to the zoo, the park, the library. Trying to inject joy and presence into my child’s days.  A lot of times the single parent does these things alone, without a partner or a companion to enjoy these activities and outings with. Yet they (we) do these things to feel normal, to feel included, to “make it up to her/his kid”. To make up for the lack because it is a lack when the other parent is missing, for whatever reason. It’s a missing piece no matter how you look at it. 

Society’s picture of a single parent is at times presented in a false light. Low income, possible alcohol and/or drug use, multiple partners, unemployment. In reality the average single parent works full time and spends her or his time doing the same things any parent would do.

Helping her with homework and making dinner, reading bedtime stories, doing housework. Yet again they do these things without the support of a spouse or “second parent”.
I believed then and I still believe that single parents are a steadily rising population that require more attention, respect, compassion, and understanding. No matter the reasons for their ‘predicament’.
Only God can truly know one’s heart. 

The face of the family unit is changing and has been. And I am not saying it’s ok. It’s not. But it is a reality. Our reality. My reality when I was 22.  And there are reasons and cultural shifts and failings and any number of other fallacies in our society that have caused this end result where there are children without fathers and in some cases, mothers.
I’m not here to debate that. 

It is mothers and fathers going it alone for a myriad of reasons and circumstances. 

Although many resources are out there to assist financially or with job placement and even basic needs of food and shelter, those things are unlikely to provide anything deeper.
Anything that touches on the inner sense of isolation, guilt, loneliness, fatigue, worthlessness, and anxiety of a parent simply surviving from one day to the next. 

There are programs that do in fact strive to bind these wounds. I will highlight one in particular that, had I known about it when I was a young single mother, oh how different things may have been. 

Founded in Texas in 2012 – Its called Embrace Grace. https://www.embracegrace.com/ 

Their mission? To inspire and equip the church to love on single and pregnant young women and their families. And their vision? For every girl with an unplanned pregnancy to have a church to go to for spiritual, emotional, and physical support. 

I’ve since been to an Embrace Grace meeting and it was a beautiful representation of Christ’s love for His children and His children’s children. Tenderness, attentiveness, intentional gifts, words and prayers. All for a young woman and her child, in the womb and without. No guilt, no fault, no ‘brave faces’ required. Just reassurance of community and prayer. 

Unfortunately there are not many Embrace Grace Groups North of Seattle. The one I visited and will be visiting again is well South of downtown. And there is an Embrace Group for fathers as well – called Embrace Legacy. Is there one around here? Nope.

Like Next Step, programs like Embrace Grace need someone to take up the cross, and create the space. Like so many essential intentional ministries – it just takes one person to see a need and step forward. Because we need it. Single parents need it.
I needed it. 

If this has touched you in any way I encourage you to check out their website and look at the details to start a group. I would be more than happy to offer the Next Step clinic as a home base for an Embrace Grace ministry.

P.S. Save the Date!
The Next Step Pregnancy Services Gala is on Saturday September 19th in Edmonds.
Invitations and registration coming mid-July.
If you are interested in providing an item, experience, or dessert for our Auction
or by being one of our event sponsors please – drop me a line!
heather@nextstepnw.com

Dear friends – I promise to keep this brief. 

Earlier this week there was a flurry of posts about a new website that the Federal Government launched. You may have heard of it? https://www.moms.gov/

The home page says this; “Addressing the needs of mothers and fathers who face difficult or unexpected pregnancies and ensuring the wellbeing of mothers and the health of American families.”

Who could argue with that? As you scroll down you will see a link to – wait for it – Pregnancy Centers, among several other resources. There are links to nutrition, pregnancy care, breastfeeding, fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs), IVF information, and more. 

The section on Pregnancy Centers is what I wanted to highlight because, well, as you know, I am the Director of one such place so this definitely caught my attention. When you click on the link that says “Find Pregnancy Centers near you” it links you to Optionline optionline.org/center-locator?zip_code=

Optionline is a pregnancy help contact center, available 24/7 and part of Heartbeat International. Once there if you type in say, 98036, you can see Pregnancy Centers near that zip code and surprise! 

We are there! I was so very pleased to see Next Step and the many other exceptional centers here in WA, many of whom I work with and speak with on a regular basis!

This new website was unexpected for sure but no less essential and welcome. Some commented on the controversial IVF Programs and information linked and expressed disappointment it was included. And I am not wholly in disagreement. However, I simply could not refrain from celebrating the fact that Next Step, and many other stellar pregnancy help clinics, are now, more than ever, at your fingertips. Those men and women and those families who are seeking care, resources, answers, and compassion, have yet another avenue to connect with us and thus families are cared for, pregnancy is celebrated, and lives are changed. 

As the quote so aptly says, if you have knowledge, if you have information, if you have resources, that can better the livelihood of those around you, let them light their candles in it.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this new development. What do you think?

~ Heather M Vasquez, Executive Director

P.S. Save the Date!

The Next Step Pregnancy Services annual Gala is on Saturday September 19th at Holy Rosary in Edmonds! A beautiful evening is planned. We can’t wait to see you! Invitations will be in the mail and online mid July!

If you are a business and would li

ke to sponsor the event or if you would like to donate an item, dessert, or experience for the Auction please, reach out! heather@nextstepnw.com

**This is my mom, Patricia, and me, circa 1984 (not 2009)**

Back in February of this year I decided to create a “Family Call” using zoom so that my parents, my daughters, and my brother and his small family could meet up once per week and see each other’s faces and hear each other’s voices. The older daughters are all out of state I might add. What prompted this you might ask – I was scrolling around in between various activities and heard a passing video where a woman was talking about the last time she’d heard her mother’s voice. And that brief, maybe 30 seconds if that, felt like a punch to the gut. When had I last heard MY mom’s voice? We’d gotten so used to texting and group chats and Instagram shares that not only had I not heard her voice but I had not seen her face on a regular basis. The kind of regularity that slowly fades as you get older, leave home, and build a family of your own.  It really hit me hard and I began to imagine my own daughters leaving home and my voice slowly fading from their minds! I admit I can be a little melodramatic but in reality I think we can all agree the age of ‘chat’ and ‘reels’ has really taken a toll on real human connection. That disconnect can be felt in so many areas of our lives, from family and friends, to telehealth appointments, driving school, even bible studies and book groups. Heck even the self-checkout line is a solitary interaction. So it’s no wonder that our younger clients coming in have such a hard time looking our nurses in the eye, verbally expressing their concerns and questions, and even looking past their immediate fears and obstacles, sometimes imagined, sometimes not, and seeing a future with the child they are carrying. That future is too far into the distance to comprehend and certainly not in 30 second to 1 minute blocks of stimulation. The bond between mother and child, in utero, is stronger than anything on record. Even in the animal kingdom the link between mother and child in the womb is astonishing in its depth. Penguin parents recognize their chick’s unique call among thousands of others, dolphin calves recognize their mother’s signature whistle during gestation, Mother elephants communicate with calves in the womb through low-frequency vibrations and sounds. And last, whale calves hear their mother’s calls and rhythms before birth, helping them recognize and stay close to her after delivery. But trying to convince a young woman that her child can hear the sound of her voice while still in her womb? A child she cannot see or feel especially during early pregnancy, which is much of what we see? Life is so very precious, from its earliest moments to the very last breath. Our family had to slow down and really see and hear each other again. And not take for granted the sounds of each other’s voices, more, not take this life He has given us for granted. I’m so thankful my family, spread out as we are, have our weekly zoom call. Even just for a little while, eating dinner, in between work and sports, and bed times, just to check in. And I can hear my mother’s voice, more familiar to me than almost anything and anyone else, as far back as I can remember, and even before then, in her womb.  Happy Mother’s Day to our heavenly Mother, Mary, and to my mom, Patricia! And wishing all of you and all of the beautiful mothers and mothers to be we see every day at Next Step a beautiful Mother’s Day, P.S. Save the Date! The Next Step Gala is on Saturday September 19th, at Holy Rosary in Edmonds!Visit https://nssupport.org/event-details/ for more information. Invites and registration coming in July. If you are a business or organization and would like to be a sponsor for our event or if you have an item, service, or experience you’d like to offer for our Silent Auction or our world famous Dessert Auction drop me an email! heather@nextstepnw.com

You may recall several blog reflections ago in December I shared that there was a very important legal case going before the U.S. Supreme Court that involved a Pregnancy Clinic in New Jersey very similar to Next Step. The case is First Choice Women’s Resource Center vs. Platkin. Oral arguments were heard and after months of work and deliberation a verdict has finally come down and it is a win. A big one! I said I’d keep you posted and I am happy to share! 

Here is the article that the ADF, Alliance Defending Freedom, Firm has just released describing the victory and its far-reaching implications for pregnancy clinics just like YOUR local PRC – Next Step Pregnancy Services. Please read on.

https://tinyurl.com/ADFVictory

And while I’m on my soapbox and if you need another reason to celebrate ADF is not alone. Another dynamic legal firm standing by our side is The Thomas More Society, a not-for-profit, national public interest law firm dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, and freedom. This week this principled legal firm is also working diligently to defend our work.  Currently a Summary Judgment hearing in People of the State of California v. Heartbeat International & RealOptions (a PRC like Next Step) —is in the works on a lawsuit in which California seeks to prohibit pro-life pregnancy centers from sharing information about Abortion Pill Reversal (APR), a protocol that uses progesterone to counteract the effects of the first abortion pill (mifepristone). A service that Next Step Pregnancy Services has been offering to women since 2023! The state targets the First Amendment rights of Heartbeat International and RealOptions, which connect women with APR treatment after they begin a chemical abortion, change their minds, and seek to save their children’s lives. Women deserve to be informed of every option and to know that hope remains—even when a decision feels final. Below is a link to the article for the full details as well as a link to the St. Thomas More Society page.  https://tinyurl.com/TMoreSocietyPendingJudgementhttps://www.thomasmoresociety.org/ As always, Next Step does not shrink from speaking clearly about who we are. We are unapologetically pro-life and pro-family. We invite you to join us in a prayer of thanksgiving for those in the legal field who diligently work to protect pregnancy resource clinics and stand firm in the face of injustice.Thank you for your unfailing support for our work and the work of clinics like Next Step.  ***The image you see is of Next Step Baby Rose and her mom Rahad courtesy of GlimmerGlass***P.S. Save the Date! Our annual Gala will be held on Saturday September 19th at Holy Rosary in Edmonds. Invites are in the mail in July!  Interested in sponsoring the event or donating an item to our Silent Auction or Dessert Auction? Drop me a line! heather@nextstepnw.com P.P.S. If you are new to the mailing list and want to check out past blog reflections let me know or visit nssupport.org

Thank you for reading on –
I heard this quote during the talk on current Pro-Life policy given by Jamie Dangers, Director of Federal Affairs at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America (sbaprolife.org) while in attendance at the AAPLOG Conference downtown a few weeks ago and it stayed with me.
As you may recall from my previous post, AAPLOG stands for American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists. A group of medical professionals who truly believe in the sanctity of life and putting their patients, born and unborn, first.  

Jamie’s talk touched on something called the “Shield Law” which, at the time, I was somewhat familiar with but had not really thought about. In researching more about it I learned that it was originally formed for the purposes of protecting journalists from being compelled to reveal their confidential sources and has been in place since 1935!
In the 1970s the Shield Laws were also used to protect rape victims from public exposure and other aspects of their privacy. 
In theory that reasoning is, well, reasonable.

Fast forward to 2023.

In the aftermath of the reversal of Roe some states decided to hijack and use “Shield Laws” for the protection of abortion providers, among others, involved in the procedure.
In effect, this created ‘safeguards’ for abortion providers to continue to give access to abortions for women who lived in states where new laws and protections against abortion were now in place. 

So states, such as Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, among others, where abortion is either completely illegal or nearly so still have to contend with their citizens obtaining the abortion pill via the mail and telehealth services and there is absolutely nothing they can do about it. 

You would not be surprised to learn that states such as California, New York, Massachusetts, and, of course, home sweet home, Washington are the ones shipping these drugs that end a developing life into those states whose residents voted against the legal murder of the unborn. 

I think what struck me the most was the blatant twisting of a law that came about in protection of victims and those who sought to expose the perpetrators of abuses and injustice.
And now, 90 years later, the “Shield Law” is a refuge for those who exploit others and cause life-altering harm. 

Going back to the quote by President George Washington, which is an exact excerpt from a letter written by him to Benedict Arnold on September 14, 1775, I am struck by the blatant disregard of one state’s leadership over another and their labor to block the consciences of those in office, and by extension and legal vote, their Constituents, to further their own ends – their ends being unfettered access to terminating the unborn with impunity. 

If you know your American history then you know who and what Benedict Arnold was. It is not lost on me at all that Washington felt the need to remind Arnold about respecting freedom of conscience.
And yet here we are…..

In Lynnwood, just outside of Seattle, offering, free of charge, early pregnancy care, compassionate guidance, and a heart in service of and for women and girls in our community. ~ Heather M Vasquez

Thank you for your unfailing advocacy of our pro-life mission. 

P.S. Save the Date!
The Next Step Gala is on Saturday September 19th! We welcome
Evie West as our Keynote. More info coming!

P.P.S. Have a green thumb?
Spring cleanup to beautify the clinic and welcome families with Spring planting is just around the corner. We’re also in search of monthly landscape and parking lot maintenance.
Contact heather@nextstepnw.com for more information.

“Truly, it is in darkness that one finds the light,
so when we are in sorrow, then this light is nearest of all to us.”

– Meister Eckhart

It was actually snowing a little this morning as I write this. Very gently and almost invisible unless seen in the slanting of the sunlight. And just the other day, for those of us who are Catholic, we began another Lenten season. Which will lead us into Spring and Easter!

I wanted to share with you about a new project Next Step has taken on and its already felt impact on our daily work and on how we speak to those reaching out.
Back before Christmas even I came across an article about how pregnancy clinics, like Next Step, may be “missing exactly who we are hoping to invite” just because those women and girls simply do not know we are here. I wondered if we fell into the category of
“well intentioned ministry but not truly actively seeking to change the culture from death into life.” 

I decided to reach out to the original poster and learn more. And boy, did I ever. The person I met is the CEO of a “pro-life marketing agency” called Life Advancement Group and they specialize in connecting abortion-minded and determined women to local pro-life pregnancy clinics, like us. We set up a call and I was very impressed with what they had to offer. 

Thus we began the arduous process of creating targeted google ads and landing pages, of learning how to use what’s called the “Life Lead App” which is a one-stop shop for communicating with women and girls searching terms on google like: Abortion near me, Abortion Lynnwood, Abortion Pill Lynnwood, and more. Because of the Google Ad words chosen we popped up, sometimes first, despite the clear disclosure stating that Next Step “Does not perform abortions.”

The first day we went “live”, we took several “calls and texts” from women and girls saying things like: “I need an abortion” and “I think I am pregnant and want the pill”, “My mom said to call Planned Parenthood to get more birth control.” and this one: “I don’t want to be pregnant. If I am, I want to abort my child. Asap.” My child…

I think out of all of us on the team I was the most shocked. And to be fair I do not spend near as much time with our clients as our nurses, and even our front desk folks, do. 
 Most, not all, of our clients had been women and girls who were vulnerable but unsure. Accepting abortion as an option but not ready to take the final step, hesitant but open to the possibility of life.

How could we have been missing all of these women and girls, scared, determined, impatient, and yes, sometimes seemingly indifferent. It really knocked me backwards a bit.

But that was last week. This week we are rocks. We are immovable from our mission of care and compassion – before and during pregnancy in these cases – no matter the circumstances. 

Out of all of the calls and texts only a few have made an appointment to come in, knowing up front we do not perform or refer for abortions nor prescribe the abortion or morning after pill.
I pray they do come to speak to our nurses. Confirm pregnancy (or not) and accept the ultrasound.
No matter the outcome they paused in their relentless pursuit of self preservation at all costs. They paused.

In all this darkness, that is the light. And we need to keep it burning. 
Please continue to pray for our team! In gratitude – Heather

P.S. Are you being called to step into  meaningful pro-life service?
Next Step is hiring for a paid, part time RN to train on early ultrasound and more. Reach out to:  heather@nextstepnw.com

P.P.S. Save the Date! The Next Step Gala is on Saturday September 19th!! Details to follow.

P.P.P.S. Not a RN but still want to be a part of the Next Step team?
Our governing board may be the right place for you! Email me! heather@nextstepnw.com

“We cannot allow the anthropology of the medical profession to slide from a sacred human one to a merely technical one
dominated by machine-like physicians.” 
~ Christopher O. Tollefsen

Last weekend I had the privilege of attending the AAPLOG Conference in downtown Seattle. AAPLOG stands for the “American Association of Pro-Life AAPLOG” and the organization was founded in April 1973.
“The reason AAPLOG exists is to encourage and equip its members and other concerned medical practitioners to provide an evidence-based rationale for defending the lives of both the pregnant mother and her pre-born child.”   (https://aaplog.org/)

The weekend was transformative, for me, as a non-medical person. Such a large gathering of intelligence, expertise, and education all united under one incredible creed.That every human life is sacred- from conception to natural end – and that no one has the right to intentionally end life.
There was such an air of purpose and “Courage is contagious,” as political philosopher and legal scholar Mr. Robert P. George, a guest speaker, stated.

Between the many young medical students in their 2nd and 3rd year rotations telling me about their plans and hopes to practice ethical and sacred medicine and the many speaking topics on subjects like “A Review of the latest Embryonic Biotechnologies” to “The Impact of Legalized Abortion on Maternal Mortality” to “A Pro-Life Policy Update” from SBAPro-Life and “Conscience under Pressure: Legal Protections for Pro-Life Medical Professionals”- it was truly awe-inspiring and incredibly encouraging. 

I too felt courageous. And humbled to be counted among such an incredible group of deeply committed individuals.

Over the next few weeks or so I will share more about the experience but for now know that the future of medicine and its landscape is shifting.
The truth about abortion and its effects on the physical, mental, social, moral, and spiritual health of all of us is rapidly becoming too colossal to ignore. 

Please continue to keep Next Step in your prayers as we work, in our own small way, in our own small medical clinic, on changing the culture from death into life.  ~ Heather M Vasquez

P.S. Save the Date!
The Next Step Gala is on Saturday September 19th! 

P.P.S.
We are Hiring! Next Step Pregnancy Services is seeking a compassionate, mission-driven part-time Registered Nurse for our clinic. email heather@nextstepnw.com for more info

“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” – Proverbs 24:11

---

What is an abortion abolitionist? 

The term abortion abolitionist is not a new one. In fact, the movement dates back to the sixties and seventies. But to be honest, up until very recently, I had not heard the expression. 

Simply put –  Abortion Abolitionists believe that “the only truly pro-life position is to pass laws that recognize the crime of abortion is murder and that all who participate in abortion, including the mother, should face the criminal penalty for murder,” (https://www.texasallianceforlife.org/the-abolitionists-are-wrong)

To put that another way; abortion is the intentional murder of a living human being, in the womb, and all those who have a hand in that act, the provider, the nurses, the mother, bear guilt for the crime and therefore should be criminally punished. 

So what does Next Step believe? 

No one is immune to the consequences of abortion. I am a firm believer that moral neutrality is not an option.
You are either on the side of truth….or not. 

Do we believe that abortion is the intentional killing of
an innocent human being?
Yes. 

Do we believe the act of abortion is morally reprehensible
and should not be allowed? 
Yes. 

Do we believe that a mother who knowingly permits an abortion to be performed on her unborn child should be punished? 

Here is where lines that are drawn begin to distort. 

Every week our nurses see women who are pregnant. Some, I’ll say most, are happy to parent, planned or not. Some are not happy. They are scared, overwhelmed, confused, and more. They aren’t sure they want to parent but more than that they are not sure they can.
For a myriad of reasons. They are young, still in school, unmarried, perhaps not employed or if employed they have no health insurance, they have other children and can barely meet their needs, they are not in a safe relationship with the father of the baby
or not in a relationship at all! 

They may decide that abortion is their only option. There is nothing else and no one else to “Rescue them from being led away to death”.

Pregnancy Help Clinics like your local one – Next Step Pregnancy Services – are in a unique position to see the impact on women contemplating abortion and possibly, sadly,  choosing abortion.

Our nurses are in the thick of it. Deep in the reeds and heart of these stories. Sowing what might yet live. 

So, in their indecision they find Next Step Pregnancy Services.
Where are our nurses become a safe harbor for them. To be heard. To be encouraged. To be calmed. To be told the truth. 

So what does Next Step believe?
That we are called to love those who seek support and
let mercy guide our words. 

“Compassion, not punishment, is the path that leads women in unplanned pregnancies to healing, restoration, and life.”(pregnancyhelpnews.com, Heartbeat International, L. Bourne, 11/06/2025)

Pregnancy help clinics like Next Step, are where “that path begins, offering hope in place of fear, support in place of shame,
and life in place of death.”

Thank you for continuing to stand with us. ~ Heather M Vasquez
P.S. Save the Date! Our annual Gala is on Saturday September 19th, 2026!

“Get me! I’m givin’ out wings!” – Nick the bartender, It’s a Wonderful Life, 1946

It would not be Christmas, at least in my book, without watching ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. So we did, of course, on the big screen too – which was beautiful.  As I left the theatre I pondered a scene, a very early one, in fact, within the first five minutes of the film. I’ve seen this movie more times than I can count but for some reason this scene jumped out. The scene opens with “Joseph”, a senior angel, speaking with a fellow, unnamed angel, about whose turn it is to be sent to earth to answer prayers. It seems that the angel “at bat” is Clarence Oddbody, who the unnamed angel refers to as having the “IQ of a rabbit”, to which Joseph, the senior angel, replied, “Yes, but he’s got the faith of a child. Simple.”

The angel Clarence, is sent for. Joseph explains that there are a lot of people on earth praying for a man named George Bailey. “At exactly 10:45pm earth time that man will be thinking seriously of throwing away God’s greatest gift.” – says Joseph, to which Clarence, without hesitation,  replies, “Oh dear dear, his life!”

Clarence knew immediately what God’s greatest gift was and is. Life! 

I know this is most likely not news to any of you reading this but it is in fact a concept in question for some. In post-World War II the view of life was without question – precious. And today, as we are at the cusp of a new year once again, let’s be ever faithful to this certainty, as Clarence was, that life is God’s greatest gift. Next Step will enter into this new year defending those most vulnerable and celebrating new and changed lives. Thank you for helping us to prosper in 2025 and for keeping watch over Next Step and all those we will serve in the coming year.

Happy New Year ~ Heather Vasquez

P.S. Several years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Karolyn Grimes, who at the age of 6, played George Bailey’s youngest daughter Zuzu in the film. She had this to say about my favorite actor, Mr. Jimmy Stewart,  “He really was tall, six feet four inches tall. And he was so very kind.”
Then she autographed our Christmas ornament and sent us on our way with a hug.

 “If you live today you breathe in nihilism. In or out of the Church, it’s the gas you breathe.” ~ Flannery O’Connor, August 28, 1955

“Nihilism; a doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility.” ~ Merriam-webster.com

So the question I pose today is: Is nihilistic motherhood the new norm? In a word, no. At least for me, and, I believe many of you reading this, because if you are on my mailing list you most likely agree that motherhood is love, sacrifice, joy, exhaustion, heartache, and delight all mixed into a sacred ball. 

I recently saw an advertisement for a movie called “Die My Love”, released earlier this month and it got me curious. The premise follows a young woman who struggles with her mental state after moving into a rural home with her partner and giving birth to their baby. While he works outside the home, seemingly oblivious to her rapid downward spiral, she rips wallpaper from the walls with her bare hands, licks a window pane, pours soap on the floor,  paces, crawls, throws things, screams and generally unravels. Very obviously signs of postpartum depression. Which is one of the film’s themes. It is a heartbreaking portrayal of motherhood. Fictional? Yes. Realistic? Somewhat. Concerning? Most certainly. Grace’s fate is rather ambiguous and I won’t spoil the ending for you. 

It got me recalling some other recent films that also explored the “underbelly” of motherhood and boy was it bleak. 

“Nightbitch” (pardon my language) a 2021 novel, made into film, centers around “the struggle for a woman to retain her identity as an artist after becoming a stay-at-home mother.” (sheknows.com, A. Kelly, 11/7/25) So overwhelmed with exhaustion, isolation, and the “loss of self”, the protagonist, an unnamed woman referred to by her husband as “see film title”, begins to physically transform into a dog as a response to her growing frustrations. Her descent into rage is depicted, fantasy-like, by extreme acts of violence towards herself and the neighborhood animals. Ok then.

And finally, a film called, “If I had legs I’d kick you,” released this year, centers around another mother, with another young child, married but whose partner is “mostly” working, and in this case, the mother also has a career, and the slow cycle into disorder, isolation, and ultimately a mental breakdown. 

Couple thoughts, yes, it’s Hollywood and Hollywood is known for its seeming distaste for motherhood, but that’s not my point. 

Postpartum depression is very real. According to postpartumdepression.org; PPD affects 1 in 5 women and a staggering 50% of women struggling with PPD either do not or cannot seek care. Today’s average PCP is not properly equipped to diagnose and help treat this form of mental and emotional depression. 

Places like Next Step Pregnancy Services are working towards being able to offer more robust resources and support for this heartbreaking disorder but its not easy. There just is not a lot out there!

The behaviors portrayed in the films I mentioned tend to be on the more extreme side but not wholly without some truth.

My other and main point I want to impart however is this: Yes motherhood is hard. It is messy and draining. And as a mother you do in fact, have to, “die to self”. It means, for your child, you consciously set aside your own desires, choices, and hopes – for a time. But the immeasurable gifts you can experience and accept are without a doubt worth it. And this is not just me, or just a sentiment, this is the truth. The truth that Hollywood and the “mainstream media” love to ignore.

“These postpartum thrillers are telling us that to become a mother in a system that doesn’t favor you is to lose control over your life as you once knew it.” (sheknows.com, A. Kelly, 11/7/25)

So to my question at the beginning on nihilism – that “conditions” (motherhood) are so bad as to make “destruction” (rage, contempt, carelessness, distraction) desirable for its “own sake” (good for the woman) independent of any constructive program or “possibility” (sacred connection with your child).”

Is that kind of futility how a lot of the current generation sees motherhood? What are your thoughts on this? I’d love to hear! 

Next Step celebrates motherhood – messiness and all. And will continue to bolster women choosing life with our whole hearts. 

P.S. Lest we forget – paternal PPD is also real, affecting approximately 10% of new fathers. Let’s lift them up in prayer as well. Fathers matter! 

~ Edmund Pellegrino

I recently read an article titled “Fewer medical students trained for abortion procedures” (By Sarah Varney, KFF Health News/March 22, 2022, Kaiser Health News). I can’t even recall how I came across it but it was written just after the overturning of Roe in 2022.  The basic premise was that because of the new (in 2022) abortion restrictions in several states the medical discipline and residency programs who previously offered standardized teaching on abortion “care” were not necessarily continuing to require training of said procedure. 

I decided to dig a little more on this especially in relation to our state, Washington, because well, we are not a state that restricts abortion. I was disappointed, though not wholly surprised, to find that the University of Washington, “Due to the narrowing access to abortion training in other states”, has made the decision to “only admit residents who are committed to providing abortion care”.  That way, this ensures all available spots contribute to training physicians who want to learn and perform abortions in Washington state. And there is no longer an ‘opt out’ box to check. 

“If we live in a state where abortion care is legal, we need to recruit medical students into our program that want to provide abortion care,” said Dr. Alyssa Stephenson-Famy, an associate professor of maternal-fetal medicine at UW. “We should not waste our spots on people not willing to provide abortion.”

“Medicine is a moral enterprise. All are called to lead a moral life and to achieve the holiness of the saints. This obviously means that ethics is important in all professions and walks of life. Yet, we rightly hold physicians and other health care workers to higher standards of professional ethics.” (The Moral Mind, Joseph Meaney,https://www.ncbcenter.org/messages-from-presidents/moralententerprize-3y2rn)

We correctly think of our medical caregivers as engaged in the healing professions. That is why it is a sick perversion of medicine when pressure groups or governments seek to force doctors to become killers. Requiring them (medical students)  to become executioners by performing abortions as part of their training or professional duties is something beyond the pale. Saving “spots” for those willing to engage in murder and refusing those seeking to train in the profession of healing from their calling because they, gasp!stubbornly refuse to learn how to “murder their patients” is appalling. 

Well Next Step is here and here we will remain – our medical staff and volunteers
– stubbornly and wholeheartedly practicing medicine that first, does no harm. 

Pax Tibi Heather Vasquez

P.S. Check out our support site nssupport.org for all things Next Step!

He asked and you all answered. In every way.

On behalf of all of us here at Next Step Pregnancy Services – Thank you! You made this year’s event our most successful in our entire 27 year history! Your support far surpassed anything we could have hoped for. From the bottom of our hearts – thank you.

We promise to continue to provide exceptional care for women, babies, and families. And we pledge to remain a courageous voice for the unborn. Here we are Lord. Send us!

Did you see the beautiful picture of Ari and her baby girl? She and her husband Austin welcomed little Nina earlier this year. We got to meet Nina while she was still in mommy’s womb. 

Earlier this month we had another client come to see our nurse. This client was17 years old and we’ll call her Ana. She came with her mother though mom waited outside at the start. Ana’s boyfriend unfortunately did not accompany her to the appointment. After the initial scan the nurse noted she was measuring 7 weeks and 3 days. Ana stated she had been on birth control pills but “may have skipped some.” Ana’s opening comments were very direct. She stated she wanted an abortion. She’s too young and cannot support a baby. She lacked the uncertainty that most of our clients tend to exhibit

Notably she said her boyfriend does not want her to abort. He is “religious”. He does not want her to have an abortion if “it already has hands and feet and stuff.”
Our nurse patiently went over fetal development and showed her that, in fact, her baby has everything he or she needs to grow into a full human being.
All he or she needs? Time.
Ana and our nurse discussed how an abortion would not just make things “go away” and that she would have to deal with her decision in some capacity. She shared details with Ana of other options, encouragements, and the abundance of resources at her disposal.  After the ultrasound Ana just continued to nod and say “yes”. Our nurse wondered if anything was getting through or was Ana just waiting to make her escape?

This leads me to my ask. What we need more than anything else right now is prayers. Prayers for our nurses who have the massive job of often literally fighting for the life of a child. Talking and convincing and encouraging and guiding – and all the while questioning themselves. Questioning their methods. Speculating on whether or not anything they did or said made a life altering impact or were their words no where near enough. As far as Ana. We don’t know. And most likely will not know. And our nurse has to just keep going. Their many doubts notwithstanding. In the end true faith in Him is all we really have. 

On Saturday September 20th our nurses, Barb, Carrie, and Elizabeth, will be in attendance at our annual Gala dinner. It is a night of celebration, raising funds, and coming together to serve Next Step as Next Step time and time again serves those in need, mother and child, at their most vulnerable. 

We need your support. In every capacity you are able. Prayers. Funds. Supplies. Prayers again. Our nurses need your backing. 

Purchase your tickets here:https://nssupport.org/gala2025/
Early Bird Pricing available until this Friday August 15th.

If you cannot attend but want to ensure our nurses are cared for so they can continue to provide you can do so here and choose Gala Donation
https://nssupport.org/donate/
 

Thank you for you for not only considering support but
turning hope into action.

He knows our every path. He knew it before we even came into being. Our value has never up for debate  ~ for Him. The circumstances of our existence should never have been an argument for our claim to live.  

This brings me to the topic of the unfortunate circumstance of rape. A subject which this year’s Next Step Gala keynote speaker, Rebecca Kiessling, is intimately familiar with. I invite you to watch a very short clip of an interview Rebecca had with Lila Rose, President of Live Action, a global Pro-Life Advocacy Group. 

https://tinyurl.com/liveactionclip

The context of the 33 second clip is Rebecca answering a question put to her by Lila about when she understood the full story of her conception and birth. Conceived through rape, but an abortion ban without exceptions spared her life. It’s a powerful few seconds and I encourage you to find out more about this remarkable woman.
And a beautiful way to do that is to join us at our Gala this year where Rebecca will be sharing her haunting and inspiring story. 

The Gala this year will be on Saturday September 20th at Holy Rosary in Edmonds. Doors open at 5:30pm for a silent auction, drinks, appetizers, our signature NSPS Spritzer, a catered dinner, music, uplifting stories and of course – Rebecca’s stirring share. 

You can register and purchase tickets for this event, choose dinner, and tablemates by clicking the link below. Early Bird tickets until August 15th!

nssupport.org/gala2025

Gala 2025

I look forward to breaking bread with you and celebrating
God’s greatest gift – Life!
~ Heather Vasquez