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Open Letter from Next Step Pregnancy Services

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Dear brothers and sisters, 

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.” Matthew 5:11

My name is Heather Vasquez and I am the Director of your local pro-life medical and social services clinic. Many of you know me or if not me, you know the clinic and have worked and supported our pro-life mission for many years. You may even have attended the Gala we just had in September celebrating 25 years! For that thank you. 

It has come to my attention that sadly there are those in our local churches who are seeking to discredit and slander our good name. We do not know who is doing this, though we have a few suspicions; we only know that we’ve had a few instances of historically supportive familiar church staff and ministries  notifying us that “they heard we are promoting abortions”. That we in fact “referred someone for an abortion” and that “Next Step promotes abortion as an option”. 

Every instance has been an evil lie set to sow doubt and division between those who defend life. We have been falsely accused and slandered for our work. 

I felt as Director of this beautiful and life-affirming clinic I needed to speak out. 

Next Step Pregnancy Services (previously known as Angelorum) is now and has always been a pro-life organization fighting for and defending life born and unborn. We have never, and will never, refer for or promote the abhorrent act of abortion. Our nurses, our provider, our staff, our volunteers are heavily vetted. There is not one person speaking for our clinic that does not feel strongly about the conviction of life and its sacredness in all stages. 

I can’t help but take these attacks so very personally. I am here every day. Seeing the women and families coming in. Hearing their stories. Hearing our nurses and staff answer. And listen. And pray. I do know that Satan is at work here. That is a fact. And the enemy despises places like ours because we give people hope. And hope is not what Satan wants because with hope there is no despair and despair separates us from the love of Christ. 

I am asking for your help. Please pray for the protection of Next Step and its work. Please pray for the attacks to be thwarted and for the truth to be our shield.  We are under His care and protection. Please pray that the person or persons spreading these falsehoods is otherwise convicted and if there are questions or concerns about our work here that they seek the answers from a place of truth rather than a place of fear and apathy.

Many thanks to you all and for the immense support your churches and your church families have always given Next Step Pregnancy Services. I do hope you can pass this “letter” on to your fellow staff and ministries as well as your pastors. The truth needs to be spread far and wide. 

Thank you

Heather M Vasquez

Executive Director 

Next Step Pregnancy Services

Stepping Stones to the Sky

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“Dear God,” she prayed, “let me be something every minute of every hour of my life.“

~ Francie Nolan

Dear Friend of Next Step,

The first day of Summer this year is June 21st! Washington is full of blue skies and warm breezes. Outdoor concerts and Strawberry Festivals. Summer is beautiful here. But there is a darker side to Washington State just now. Our current Governor is stockpiling the abortion pill Misoprostol in the event access to this drug is in danger. On April 27th Governor Inslee signed a bill that makes Washington a so-called “Sanctuary State for Reproductive Care.” In times like this I can’t help but feel like the walls are closing in around us! But I’m also reminded daily that now more than ever before the battle is being fought and that those of us who defend life will prevail. The road ahead will not be an easy one (has it ever been?) but the resilience and faith we display now will ensure lives are saved and hearts are changed.

Recently my 12-year-old daughter and I listened to an audiobook together. It was called A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. This is a beloved American classic about a young girl’s coming-of-age at the turn of the 20th century.  The story presents young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg. It was, in a lot of ways, a very brutal story, and there were quite a few moments when I worried it was too much for my daughter. It did not pull any punches about the realities of life at that time for those living in abject poverty. The story did, however, create several talking points for my daughter and me– and for that I am grateful.

The reason I bring this up to you folks is that certain aspects of the story put me in mind of our day-to-day work at Next Step and the women and families that seek us out. Like Francie’s parents, Katie, and Johnny, we see many young men and women, with little or no income, some with not a huge amount of education, but with children. And babies. And worries about how to get from day to day keeping their families fed, cared for, and intact. And especially those that live the struggle acutely upon finding themselves expecting.

The very first lines of the novel refer to the title, though the reader does not yet know the significance,

“There’s a tree that grows in Brooklyn. Some people call it the Tree of Heaven. No matter where its seed falls, it makes a tree which struggles to reach the sky. It grows in boarded-up lots and out of neglected rubbish heaps. It grows out of cellar gratings. It is the only tree that grows out of cement. It grows lushly . . . survives without sun, water, and seemingly without earth. It would be considered beautiful except that there are too many of it.”

Francie Nolan was a sickly child. Weak and blue. And Katie was no longer producing milk because Katie is pregnant again with her second child. The neighborhood midwife offers Katie ‘some foul brown liquid’ and a choice. Katie refuses. Katie, like Francie, is the tree that struggles to reach the sky regardless of hardship. There are many families struggling to reach the sky, many children waiting to be born. Life can be harsh. But each of us is here by the grace of God. For a purpose. And Next Step’s purpose is to be one of many steppingstones for our clients so that they, and their children, can flourish, grow and be something.

Sanctity of Life Sunday

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Dear Friends of Next Step,

This Sunday January 22nd, 2023 is Sanctity of Life Sunday. The first SOL since the fall of Roe. Always a special day, its made even more so because life won and is continuing to win. How many times though, have you heard ‘the fight’s not over!’? Probably a lot. Me too. And its not wrong. You might say we won a significant battle but not the war.

Our day to day work her at Next Step makes a difference. I know it does. I live it every day! But the lies and slander flung at PRCs (pregnancy resource clinics) has increased 100 fold since January 2022 and the demise of Roe. And its only going to get worse. In fact this Sunday there are planned protests and rallies all over the country. Here in Washington there is one planned in front of our Next Step clinic on 64th Ave. West and 196th as well as in front of St. James Cathedral in Seattle. 

What do we do? I know in my discussions and defense of Next Step, of which I have been doing almost weekly now, a disturbing trend has arisen. The fact is there are a vast number of pro-abortion folks who will not simply be satisfied if abortion remains a viable option for many states but will only rest when we all agree that abortion, in its every form, is ok. Cease to call it wrong and join them in calling it right. 

Well we will not.  We refuse. We reject, rebuff, and abhor the act and will never affirm it to be of God and morally just.
But as we have learned this year and last, we cannot remain passive. “A best defense is a good offense.” – Sun-Tzu

So please do keep Next Step Pregnancy Services in your prayers this Sunday as we celebrate the first anniversary of the overturning of Roe as well as a day to contemplate and recognize the Sanctity of all Human Life.

~Heather Vasquez
audaces fortuna juvat

Speak the Truth Even if Your Voice Shakes!

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Guerrilla Warfare? Hit-and-Run scare tactics designed to misrepresent places like Next Step Pregnancy Services (again….)

“Washington Must Hold Crisis Pregnancy Centers Accountable” is the latest headline from the “Progressive Newspaper” (and I use the term loosely) The Stranger.

(penned by UW students in a segment tagged guest rant from 11/25/2022)

Let’s clear a few things up and please – be a spreader of facts – not fiction.

  • PRCs “divert clients from abortions by using coercive tactics and medical misinformation”
  • Every client comes into our clinic of their own free will. Our services are posted clearly, truthfully, and without embellishment.
  • The medical services we provide are legitimate procedures and tests performed by licensed medical professionals. Early diagnostic ultrasounds are used to determine viability and gestational age. End of. There is nothing false about that.
  • They position themselves strategically to target the young and in low-income communities.
  • Next Step Pregnancy Services is on the bus line and located conveniently in between the larger cities of Seattle and Everett. If strategic means ease of locale for those seeking care, then yes. Yes we do.
  • The young and low-income? Unlike “the other guys” we do not position ourselves directly inside schools of young kids. Additionally unlike “the other guys” we do offer free services and supplies because we recognize that having children and being pregnant can be an expensive time and we are here to help ease some of that inevitable financial strain.
  • PRCs are a “potential health threat because they delay clients from receiving prenatal care” and “intentionally lie to clients by incorrectly reporting their gestational age”.
  • To be honest is this “claim” worth even responding to? In 2022 alone Next Step medical professionals performed over 300 diagnostic ultrasounds and referred a similar amount to local Ob-gyns for further care. Almost 90% were first trimester (0-13 weeks). 80% of those clients intended to carry with the rest undecided and overwhelmed. As we all felt at one time or another didn’t we?
  • So many of the women coming into PRCs are simply there to obtain gestational age or to check on their pregnancy due to a history of previous miscarriage. They just need reassurance. We can do that. We do that.
  • “Most PRCs are affiliated and funded by evangelical Christian anti-abortion organizations and are increasingly funded by state and federal grants.”
  • That last one is laughable. Funded by Washington State? Next Step Pregnancy Services is not affiliated with any particular church or religious organization. We are an independent 501(c)3 funded by independent organizations and free individuals (like you!) . Next Step has never, nor will we ever, accept state or federal funding.
  • The fact that Next Step is filled with Christ-Centered staff and volunteers is purely a coincidence…..the protection of life and the vulnerable is an obvious by product of being a follower of Christ. Go figure.

Next Step Pregnancy Services Gala and Virtual Silent Auction is here!

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Can’t attend the Gala in person? Here is another great way to support the Pro-Life mission!

The Next Step Pregnancy Services Virtual Silent Auction opens on Monday September 19th at 10:00am and goes all week until Monday September 26th 10:00am.

Just head to the following link: https://events.handbid.com/auctions/next-step-gala-2022 to register and browse items! Then – when 9/19 rolls around let the bidding begin! Scroll down to see some hot items, tickets, baskets, experiences and more!

The Next Step Gala is on! Join us on Saturday September 24th at 6pm at Holy Rosary church in Edmonds!

There are tickets still available for purchase but hurry! Deadline for ticket purchase is Wednesday September 14th! Head to nssupport.org/gala2022 to register and purchase! Expect great food, music, games, and a dynamic pro-life speaker!

WA and a Post Roe World

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June 21st, 2022 – Another decision day for the United States Supreme Court has passed and there was not a judgement on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Since the far reaching decision made back in 1973 ruling abortion as a legal practice and thus the tragic termination of almost 63 million babies this is the first time the Court will rule on the constitutionality of a pre-viability abortion ban since Roe. It is that significant.

What does it mean to overturn Roe? Does it mean any and all abortions are now illegal? No, sadly that is not what it means. It does however mean that the decision to accept abortion as a legal act or not will reside with the leadership of each state and no longer be under Federal domain. This is a good thing. A wonderful thing. This will, no doubt about it, save countless lives. Both the babies who will live and the women who will not have to endure the ramifications of such a destructive decision. Of the 50 states in the U.S there are 26 that either already have laws in place that protect the unborn or they have a “trigger-ban” which is a “law designed to be “triggered” and take effect automatically or by quick state action if Roe no longer applies” (www.guttmacher.org/article/2021/10/26-updated04/19/2022). And still there are others that have historically demonstrated their desire to rethink the Roe decision and create greater protections for the unborn. And to date, there are at least 16 states that will fight tooth and nail to keep abortion legal and unrestricted.

That’s 42 states. What about the other 8? As of now 5 of those will most likely continue restrictions on abortion, possibly even a ban, and the last 3 could go either way. There is no clear majority for or against the protections of the unborn.

So where does that leave us? Well here in WA where Next Step Pregnancy Services is located abortion will continue to be a legal option for all who seek it. WA has historically been a pro-abortion state and it does not appear to change any time soon. To that end WA will become a “safety-net state” for abortion seekers. That’s where Next Step (and you!) are essential. There will be women here in WA or traveling to WA from other states who may not be 100% certain of what is best for them. They may be feeling pressured by their partner, family, or friends. They may feel even more anxiety over the significance of the changing laws. A staggering 64% of women feel pressured or coerced into aborting and 79% were not told about the available resources.

We need to be ready to help. With compassion, non-judgement, accurate information about ALL of their options, tangible resources and contacts, and above they need to know and feel confident in our support of them, whatever their decision. As has been seen, not everyone wants an abortion. But sadly that does not always mean it won’t still happen. They still need us. 65% of women suffered trauma symptoms after abortion. We do not know His plans or His reasons. Or what work He will do or is doing in someone’s life. All we can do is meet every woman where they are with sincerity, integrity, and grace. Please help Next Step be that place.

“Why destroy a place that helps women?”

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I have been asking myself the same thing for two weeks now. Ever since someone vandalized the Next Step clinic in the early morning hours of May 25th.

Blood red words adorned the front door and walkway. Five of the clinic’s front windows were broken.

Why? Because they cannot abide it when a woman chooses life.

It was never about choice.

On Wednesday May 25th Next Step welcomed many clients in the doors. With ultrasound paper draping the front door to cover the spray-paint and friends boarding up the broken windows – Next Step was open and serving. And the overwhelming question we were asked that day? “Why destroy a place that helps women?”

Despite some major reservations I decided to answer some questions from, among others, Jason Rantz, LifeSite News, King 5, The Daily Caller, National Catholic Register, Fox News and more.

My question to their questions – “If a woman chooses to come here and get our assistance, she made a choice. So why can’t she go where she wants to go?”

In 2022 so far Next Step has seen over 1,250 clients/families, performed 144 pregnancy tests and our nurses have completed 45 ultrasound scans. Our resources have been requested and utilized over and over and over again for those seeking assistance.

Our nurses and staff do not make choices for our clients. Next Step does not make any money from the reproductive decisions our clients make. Next Step offers an exhaustive number of services, supplies, and compassion to anyone who comes through our doors.

So again – “Why destroy a place that helps women?” Something to think about. To pray about. In the last few months Next Step has joined several other pregnancy resource clinics who have been vandalized, lied about, targeted with false reviews and more. And it won’t end any time soon. The landmark Supreme Court decision regarding the probable overturning of Roe is expected to be announced mid to late June. And with it – a range of emotions will take over for many folks. Anger, elation, fear, relief, motivation, hate, and conviction.

Your support of Next Step Pregnancy Services is needed now more than ever. For those that support us unfailingly monthly, quarterly, annually, bi-annually, when you can – thank you. We’re in this now and there is no going backwards. The lives of women and their unborn depend on us. Whatever the verdict places like Next Step Pregnancy clinic are essential “if only to have someplace to go without having to crawl to” Planned Parenthood. For there they will receive nothing but death and lies.

Walk boldly. You are choosing to defend life and there is no greater task.

Proverbs 24: 11-12

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

May is for Mothers!

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 “Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.” —Lin Yutang

Becoming a mother has been the greatest, happiest, hardest, and scariest feat of my life. Nothing can compare. It’s a roller coaster that never seems to end. Its every lazy Sunday afternoon in the backyard playing croquet in too long grass, it’s the sticky puddle of unknown origin you find on the kitchen counter which brings an exasperated headshake, it’s the constant reminder of life pulsing and racing that you are responsible for , its every quiet night you spend pressing your palm gently to your child’s chest to ensure she is still breathing, and its all of the nights dozing in the moonlight not quite asleep until she is home and safely in your presence.

Its every school drop off living in constant fear of being scolded for not moving forward, its every edgy discussion about why organized religion is ‘bad’ and big plans to move somewhere in Europe where the politics are more ‘tolerant’ make you want to pop the cork on that bottle you’ve been saving and dump it down the drain where everything you taught your child appears to have gone.

Its every hug and joyful smile she ever gives you with sparkling eyes full of enthusiasm and hope. And your every instinct to keep that state of mind in her for as long as you can.

That’s some of what being a mother is for me. May is the month of motherhood. And yes, of all the rights I believe women should possess – I believe the right to be a mother is one. And that includes the right to be a mother an unborn little girl possesses while still in the womb hearing the steady drumbeat of her mother’s heart matching her own.

Next Step in the News and on the Radio!

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On March 17th 2022 Gov. Inslee signed into law HB1851 – here is a brief news segment King 5 did which included a quick snippet of Next Step!! We’re near the end! But great ending! Next Step shows that not only do we serve women 100% but there IS in fact an alternative to abortion.

https://www.king5.com/video/news/politics/state-politics/inslee-signs-bill-prohibiting-abortion-lawsuits-in-washington-state/281-20f0c1f4-c110-4d29-85b3-0c82ed5dad3e

On Feb 28th, 2022 Next Step was featured on the radio program “Conversations” with Emily Raines – KKWFFM Seattle Audacy! It starts at about 1:09 – check it out – lots of great info!

https://omny.fm/shows/seattle-kkwffm-default-audio-channel/next-step-pregnancy-services

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To be honest I’ve been hesitant in writing anything about the ongoing heartbreak in the Ukraine. Each new day seems to bring more and more harrowing news and images. But like all of us their plight has been on my mind heart, and lips in prayer daily. I, like many of you, read and wept about the senseless bombing of the maternity hospital in the southeastern city of Mariupol last week.

I’ve been hesitant not because I didn’t want to or because we all know how the ‘thoughts and prayers’ euphemism has become just that – but because I am simply without words. How do you even voice such sadness and astonishment at the raw and stark images and stories taking place right now, as we speak, near us, not worlds away. You can’t. Or at least I can’t.

I prayed last night with my 11-year-old daughter for the people of Ukraine. I cannot even fathom being a mother right now over there with my babies. I could not even finish the prayer, I was overcome. But my daughter did, she hugged me and said amen for us.

I attached a few of the images I have seen recently – primarily of mothers and their babies. Because Next Step is a place of mother and babies too. And there is absolutely nothing more beautiful and at the same time more fragile than mothers and babies

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To be honest I’ve been hesitant in writing anything about the ongoing heartbreak in the Ukraine. Each new day seems to bring more and more harrowing news and images. But like all of us their plight has been on my mind heart, and lips in prayer daily. I, like many of you, read and wept about the senseless bombing of the maternity hospital in the southeastern city of Mariupol last week.

I’ve been hesitant not because I didn’t want to or because we all know how the ‘thoughts and prayers’ euphemism has become just that – but because I am simply without words. How do you even voice such sadness and astonishment at the raw and stark images and stories taking place right now, as we speak, near us, not worlds away. You can’t. Or at least I can’t.

I prayed last night with my 11-year-old daughter for the people of Ukraine. I cannot even fathom being a mother right now over there with my babies. I could not even finish the prayer, I was overcome. But my daughter did, she hugged me and said amen for us.

I attached a few of the images I have seen recently – primarily of mothers and their babies. Because Next Step is a place of mother and babies too. And there is absolutely nothing more beautiful and at the same time more fragile than mothers and babies

A Beautiful Look Inside Our Ultrasounds

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The room is dimly lit with just a faint glow of the day’s sunlight peeking through a crack in the curtains of the ultrasound room. There is warm air flowing into the room from the heater but also the soft hum of the handy air purifier fan we purchased. The cool gel is spread over her belly, the usual nervous giggle as the nurse blots to keep the goo off the waistband of the patients pants. The nurse gently relays what will happen now. Confirming what she sees, She’ll point out the uterus and the ovaries and stop to measure. There is almost always the sight of the full bladder and the lines of the cervix and vaginal canal. Its all there. Grainy and grey to my eyes but recognizable to the nurse. 
Depending on how far along the woman or girl is determines the next set of images and measurements. 

The next thing the nurse will look for and talk about is what’s called the “Diamond Ring”. Really! How beautiful. As you can see in this image the yolk sac is the ring and the baby is the diamond! This is one of the earliest sights of life though its already at 5-6 weeks along. 

Here is another image. As you can see, the yolk sace (the ring!) surrounding what’s called the “Fetal Pole” The fetal pole is the first direct imaging manifestation of the fetus and is seen as a thickening on the margin of the yolk sac during early pregnancy. It is often used synonymously with the term “embryo”.

For the most part all is silent in the room except for the soft click as the nurse types in measurements and the soft whispers about the new little life.
The next image is another beautiful and miraculous story. A baby’s heartbeat can be detected as early as 6 weeks- this image is 6 weeks, 4 days. A healthy heartrate for a baby in utero is between 110 and 160 bpm (beats per minute). 

I am always in awe when the nurse talks about the heartrate and we see the small flicker blinking over and over and and over and the measuring “peak to peak” or “valley to valley”. Its so fast!! The life is pulsating and full of life and zeal! Next Step specializes in early OB ultrasound – from as early as 5 weeks 6 days to 17 weeks. Typically our nurses and I are seeing the littles ones – meeting some littles for the very first time!

The next image is a little over 7 weeks. This is still the First Trimester. Baby’s feet, fingers, and toes are developing as well as her internal organs. Even her brain waves can be recorded! By 8 weeks baby is considered a “fetus” which is Latin for “Little One!

The last image is of a 12 week baby. She is curling her toes and her little lips are making sucking movements! She may even suck her thumb. She is breathing in the amniotic fluid which helps her respiratory system develop strong and her oxygen comes from the umbilical cord.

So that’s it – in a nutshell – some of the very early images Next Step sees. A new and unique life.

Not a potential human but a human with potential!!
And you are a big part of all of this work. You make it possible for our nurse to spend time with this woman or girl and sometimes even the father of the new and vital life growing within. Praise Jesus!

 October is Respect Life Month!

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When did you realize you were Pro-Life?

The featured image above is of my “unexpected blessing holding my ‘expected’ blessing!

The first picture below is of my parents, Rich and Pat, and I in front of the Capitol on one of many Marches we attended! You can tell by my determined expression I was in this for the long haul!Its definitely something to think about especially with the current events of today. Were you always pro-life? Or did certain life experiences or relationships steer you that way?

October is Respect Life Month.

A month to celebrate, protect, and fight for the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters.

Last weekend there was a Women’s March and some folks exercised their right to march in front of Next Step. Once again the group seemed determined to make false claims about what happens at Next Step Pregnancy Services and all pregnancy resource centers truly. Sadly none of those folks have ever accepted our invitation to come inside and see firsthand all that Next Step provides for women, babies, and families. All we can truly do is live our faith through acts and pray for those who continue to fight for what they see as their right but what is really the killing of the unborn.

When you support Next Step Pregnancy Services you make a difference. Here are some statistics from the first half of this year of all the support and love you’ve helped Next Step achieve. In 2021 up until and through August there have been twenty-four young women between the ages of 15-19 who came to us for supplies for their babies, pregnancy tests, and subsequent ultrasounds. Twelve of those tests were positive – twelve of those young women were pregnant. Twelve new lives were taking shape! Of those twelve – five of them intended to carry and parent and three were unsure. However, two were fairly certain of their plans to terminate. None of the twenty-four girls listed were married – most are students, and most were in a committed relationship with the fob (father of the baby).

That being said we’ve noticed that at times a young single gal who intends to parent when they meet with us is still vulnerable. The excitement of a child may wear off into uncertainty and fear, especially if she is surrounded by those in her life who may not think she should continue with the pregnancy. One of the things the staff and I have been talking about recently is follow up calls and outcomes. Especially for those young ladies who are uncertain. How can we reach out and let them know we are still here and ready to listen and help? If they come in at roughly 5 weeks sometimes it is hard to detect a viable pregnancy, so we urge them to come again in a week or two. But that is a long week or two where the pressures and worries of their lives and families can intrude and break them down. We need to let them know they are not alone. That they are supported. And cherished.

So far this year we’ve had ninety-nine young women aged 20-24 who have come in for supplies for their children, pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. We had 48 pregnancy tests of which 33 were positive. Of those young women, 18 listed themselves as single. Of those 33 young women there were 2 that expressed a strong desire for information on an abortion and at least 9 more that were very uncertain as to whether or not to continue the pregnancy. And one had chosen adoption.

As a side and very wonderful note – of those considering abortion we know that at least 6 of them chose life. Very, very good news.

And there’s more – between the ages of 15-24 there were 80 clients who came in for supplies for their children and all with income levels well under the Federal Poverty Level. For every young woman who continues with her pregnancy there is one who is scared and feels helpless. For every couple who are happy and hopeful with their pregnancy news there is a couple who now feel trapped and anxious about their future. For every bag of clothes, we are blessed with and every pack of diapers we are gifted there are families struggling to support themselves and their children. And some of them are still children themselves!

Even before my first birthday I was fighting for the unborn! Here is my mom Pat, pregnant with yours truly, and my big brother Ricky. Check out the “Fight Abortion” sticker on the back of our super cool pinto!

Where do we go from here? Where do you come in? Well prayer certainly. The easiest and surest way to support these women and men and families as well the team at Next Step. Donations of clothes – newborn to 2T, maternity, diapers and wipes, formula, breast pumps and bottles, strollers, playpens, bouncers, books, stuffys, crib sheets, nursing accessories, socks, hats, shoes, and more. Volunteers to help bundle diapers, sort clothes, and greet clients. To help with mailings and market booths. To spread the word!

And yes funding. Monetary donations. Your help ensures we have more than adequate staff, nurses, medical supplies, and resources for these families to remain open and serving.

Check out our support site – nssupport.org – for information and all the good news at Next Step. Fall Newsletter coming soon as well as Snapshot Tax Letters!

And thank you for the continued support of these young women and the lives you are touching and ensuring in the process. Whether you have always been Pro-Life or have recently joined this ministry – your help and prayers changes lives. One at a time.

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Corrie Ten Boom

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“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

This month has been full of life altering images, events, failures, and victories. I would like to focus on but two of them – both extraordinary in their power and predicament.

On August 15th, after months of violence as the Taliban virtually overran all of Afghanistan, they entered the Capital city of Kabul and expeditiously ousted the Afghan government, and the sitting President fled the city. Nine days after seizing the Capital they took over simply and completely.

Thousands of people, families, fled to the Kabul airport in hopes of escaping what they knew may be terror, violence, and death. And as of today, there are still many and more still stranded with no hopes of rescue. The despair for themselves and their families must be horrific. The helplessness is unimaginable.

“Women in Afghanistan face rising levels of domestic violence, abuse, and exploitation.” In the past the Taliban “barred women from working outside the home or leaving the house without a male guardian, eliminated schooling for girls and publicly flogged those who violated the group’s morality code”, women and girls are rightly feeling scared, isolated, and uncertain of their fate. (Farnaz Fassihi, 2021, Taliban Take Over in Afghanistan, New York Times,)

The freedoms women (like myself) enjoy and expect each day remind us that we are free and blessed beyond measure. Our hearts go out to those women, mothers, daughters, sisters, wives – whose future is so uncertain. Prayer for their safety and prayer for an end to the many injustices our sisters far away in another place face each day.

On September 1st, 2021 “the U.S. Supreme Court formally denied the abortion lobby’s request to block the Texas Heartbeat Act Wednesday evening, voting 5-4 to let the historic law take effect”. (Calvin Frieburger, 2021, LifeSiteNews.com)

The Heartbeat Law, signed into effect in May by Gov. Abbott of Texas requires abortionists to screen for a preborn baby’s heartbeat and prohibits abortion if a heartbeat can be heard (generally as early as six weeks), with exceptions only for medical emergencies.

This is HUGE! A HUGE victory for the innocent lives lost because of an abortion. There is still a lot of movement expected in the Judicial system however this unprecedented ruling may not be a ruling “on the merits of the Texas Heartbeat Act, many pro-lifers have taken the majority’s willingness to let the law stand even temporarily as an encouraging sign.”

And it is that – an encouraging sign. A sign that hearts and minds are changing. That the fact that the act of abortion takes the life of a living breathing human being with a heartbeat is beyond dispute. And the hope is that sometime perhaps in the near future the sanctity of all human life – born and unborn, man and woman, American or Afghan, will be beyond contention and protected.

The future is indeed unknown, for all of us in truth. But trusting our future to Him  and stepping forth to protect those who cannot protect themselves, standing firmly in the light of truth is what He asks of us – scary and uncertain as it may feel at times. His power is known.

She Still Needs You

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OCTOBER 5: Today my life began. My parents do not know it yet, but it is I already. And I am to be a girl. I shall have brown hair and brown eyes. Just about everything is settled though, even the fact that I shall love flowers.

And thus begins the anonymous letter titled “Diary of an Unborn Child” published in Watchtower Bible and Tract Society’s AWAKE! Magazine in 1980. The haunting and soul-stirring narrative continues from the voice of the unborn child. 

OCTOBER 19: Some say that I am not a real person yet, that only my mother exists. But I am a real person, just as a small crumb of bread is yet truly bread. My mother is. And I am.

In the September 1st issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry following a study analyzing data on 877,000 women – 164,000 of which had had a abortion, “Results indicate quite consistently that abortion is associated with moderate to highly increased risks of psychological problems subsequent to the procedure.”
The women who had experienced an abortion were “34% more likely to develop an anxiety disorder, 37% more likely to experience depression, 110% more likely to abuse alcohol, 155% more likely to commit suicide, and 220% more likely to use marijuana.” (Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 January 2018)

OCTOBER 23: My mouth is just beginning to open now. Just think, in a year or so I shall be laughing and later talking. I know what my first word will be: MAMA.

In an article from a physician in 2016 she recalls volunteering as an abortion counselor in 1973 as an undergrad. She remembers being told that abortion was “risk-free”. It was many years later she learned about abortion-related distress. Distress such as severe depression not unlike PTSD, nightmares, thoughts of suicide and self-harm, insomnia, substance abuse, anger, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness. More – relationships with abusive partners, and various self-destructive behaviors. And these stresses are long lasting and relentless. 
Dr. Shuping says, “In my clinical experience, I have worked with women ranging in age from teens to more than eighty who continued to have distress they attributed many years later to the abortion.” (Shuping, M. (2016). Counterpoint: Long-lasting distress after abortion. (pp. 153-177).

NOVEMBER 2: I am growing a bit every day. My arms and legs are beginning to take shape. But I have to wait a long time yet before those little legs will raise me to my mother’s arms, before these little arms will be able to gather flowers and embrace my father.

And what about the father? “In a national web-based study of 135 men who have experienced an abortion, 48% of men stated that they opposed their partner’s abortion and 69% reported moderate to very high stress following the abortion (Rue, Coyle, & Coleman, 2007).  Yet no state requires a husband or boyfriend to be informed of the  impending abortion.“A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.”— Billy Graham

DECEMBER 13: I am just about able to see. It is dark around me. When mom brings me into the world it will be full of sunshine and flowers. But what I want more than anything is to see my mom. How do you look, mom?

No woman can forget the child within her womb. No woman truly wants to have an abortion. And no one woman is ever the same following one. The profound effects of an abortion fill her heart and mind. Sometimes loud and garish causing every movement to be harsh and tiresome. Other times quiet and isolating. An endless frost.

DECEMBER 24: I wonder if mom hears the whispering of my heart? Some children come into the world a little sick. But my heart is strong and healthy. It beats so evenly: tup-tup, tup-tup. You’ll have a healthy little daughter, mom!

The heartrending end to this poem I am sure you know. According to various sources some 619,591 abortions were performed in 2018. There is no readily available data up to the present at this time. That is not only the approximate number of precious blood spilled but also the number of souls torn in half and left empty and broken from having taken the life of their child.

She still needs us. Our prayers. Our compassion. Our help. Pray for those whose lives are damaged by this horrific crime and pray for and help bring about her the healing she needs. Support Pregnancy Care Clinics and our efforts to “Love them Both”.

~Heather Vasquez

The Devaluing of Life

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Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being’s entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign.”
– St. Mother Teresa

Dear Friends of Next Step,

It is cold, bright, and at times dismal and we are bombarded with news, numbers, opinions, anger, and changes daily. It is enough to make one put their head back underneath the pillow and desperately try to get back to the blackness of sleep.

But we cannot hide our heads, Netflix and chill, or hideaway in our homes until this all passes. That is not what we are called to do is it?

There is an enemy, not a new one, but one that has until recently resided in stark clinical rooms and discussed among the list of ‘offerings’ to those finding themselves ‘in a pickle’. But with the human connections getting fewer and fewer and venturing from our homes discouraged it is now a very real and a dangerous ‘service’ being foisted upon our community.

The abortion pill, also known as RU-486, has been circling the U.S as early as 1994 under the Clinton Administration.

So, what is the Abortion Pill?

The Abortion Pill is “a chemical compound that, taken in pill form, can induce abortion in women up to nine weeks pregnant.” (https://www.nrlc.org/abortion/ru486/)

In the United States it is sold under the name Mifeprex, also known as the “Early Option Pill”. It operates as an artificial steroid that impedes the action of naturally occurring progesterone (a hormone essential to early pregnancy progress) in the woman’s body.

“Progesterone stimulates the proliferation of the uterine lining which nourishes the developing child. It also suppresses normal uterine contractions which could dislodge the child implanted and growing on the wall of the mother’s womb” (https://www.nrlc.org/abortion/ru486/).

The Abortion Pill takes the place of the progesterone. Without that hormone to begin the natural process of pregnancy the women’s body shuts down the preparation of the uterus and normal menstruation begins. The baby, whose heart has already taken its first beats as early as five weeks and is about 2mm long, deprived of necessary nutrition starves. He or she detaches from the uterine wall and is swept out of the body with the decaying uterine lining.

That is, it in a nutshell. This is all very researched and laid out factually in many places. I found the most helpful information on the National Right to Life website (nrlc.org).

Over the last several months – or year is it now? – since the countrywide pandemic has taken over, those who push abortion as a basic human right have taken the opportunity to reach even further into our homes than before by offering to send the abortion pill to pregnant women to take in their homes without the basic monitoring of their health and well-being. The argument being that due to COVID and “out of an abundance of caution” women are being asked to “stay home and stay safe” and they will send the ‘abortion’ to you!

But that is not the only pill the woman is sent. Alone RU486 can induce an abortion only between 64% and 85% of the time. “Therefore, two days after taking the RU486, a woman is given a prostaglandin, usually misoprostol (trade name: Cytotec), to induce powerful uterine contractions to expel the shriveled corpse.” (https://www.nrlc.org/abortion/ru486/).

During the clinical trials in France, prior to the FDA deciding the process was “safe and effective” in 1996, the Abortion Pill was administered typically within or adjacent to emergency facilities. Why? Because some of the women in the trial began hemorrhaging (in other words bleeding out). In addition, women were screened for several health conditions that may have ruled them out from using the drug due to some severe short- and long-term effects.

“After women are given prostaglandin (e.g., misoprostol), they are monitored on site for approximately four hours so that allergic reactions, cardiopulmonary “events,” hemorrhaging and the like can be treated promptly before they become life-threatening.” (April 12, 1990 letter from the French Republic, Department of Solidarity, Health and Social Protection, reprinted in Child & Family 21:102-103, 1990).

A 1990 directive jointly signed by the French Republic’s Director General of Health, Director of Hospitals and Director of Pharmacy and Medication, states that “whenever prostaglandins are given in association with RU 486 the following technical conditions … are indispensable and are to be followed”

And the article goes on to describe having a defibrillator handy, resuscitative cardiopulmonary equipment as well as blood pressure checks every 30 minutes. The most common side effect being bleeding extensively and excessively. “Women taking RU486 usually bleed for at least a week or two, with 9% bleeding for 30 days or more.” (https://www.nrlc.org/abortion/ru486)

Today, in the world of COVID, there seem to be little precautions taken.

According to an article in ViceMediaGroup from February of this year, the new thing is to perform a “self-managed abortion”.

“Though it’s a violation of the Food and Drug Administration’s rules to sell abortion medication online—the agency’s restrictions on mifepristone require it to be administered in person at a hospital or clinic—there are several websites where people can buy the drugs online.” (ViceMediaGroup, https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/884m9x/how-to-do-your-own-abortion-with-pills, Maria Solis, February 17th, 2020)

And thus “perform your own abortion” in the relative comfort of your own home. Away from physicians or nurses or any medical personnel or monitoring. If anyone watched the 2019 film “Unplanned” based on the life of pro-life champion Abby Johnson, you will see what I mean.

The nonchalance with which this procedure is marketed saddens us greatly. That the killing of an unborn child is relegated to the equivalent of an amazon package. The patient is encouraged to have herbal tea, a blanket and Netflix ready.

Luke 1:41

And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Celebrate National Sanctity of Life Day!

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 This day marks the landmark ruling back on January 22nd, 1973 when the horrific abortion procedure was legalized. It was under the Reagan administration that a day of remembrance was created and celebrated ever since each year on the anniversary of that terrible decision and as a promise to continue to fight for an end to the taking away of life in the womb.

(click on the link and put your volume up!)
Attached is a very short video I hope you will watch that celebrates the beauty of life in the womb and beyond. 

The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” ~ Winston Churchill

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Dear Friends of Next Step,

Back in 1940 a speech was given to gathered MPs and staff in the House of Commons, England. The speech though not made live to the public or broadcast has been hailed as one of the most inspiring speeches ever given. In it Sir Winston Churchill expounds upon the duty of all those in the British Empire to fight, to never flag, to stand firm, to defend their island and all its people, principles, hopes, and visions until the end, the very end, “whatever the cost may be”.

Churchill’s words struck me as particularly fitting as we inch closer and closer to the Election for Commander in Chief (among other positions and amendments) for our great nation. As well as the appointment of a new Justice in our highest court.

The last year (give or take) has taken on an almost surreal quality in its barrage of hate, anger, lies, violence, oppression, injustice, media blackouts, and suppression.

All in all the country stands poised to either retain her freedoms of religion, of speech, of the press, and of the right to peaceably gather as well as the right to all those living (born and unborn) to the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – or to surrender those things which were “endowed by their Creator”.

As a Pro-Life clinic Next Step Pregnancy stands to have our mission protected, celebrated, and most importantly moved forward to a time when the slaughter of the unborn is not just rare but indefensible. Or – to face overwhelming opposition against our purpose. That is how much the next few weeks will affect our cause.

This is not a “get out the vote” connection. But a plea for courage, discernment, and action. Much like the Prime Minister during the Second World War declared from the House on June 4th, 1940 following the evacuation of Dunkirk – “whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender,”.

We can not be the silent majority any more than we can let others decide our outcomes. We need to live bravely. We cannot surrender. The future of our unborn children is dependent on you.

 “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” ~ Thomas Jefferson

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month!

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“I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy. I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” – Art Williams

Since the beginning of time mothers have breastfed their young.  It is as natural and organic as breathing. In every aspect of the world and every species on the planet it is there. The connection between mother and young during this simple act is one of the most profound in the human experience and there is no comparison.

The grace that flows naturally from a woman is a unique strength. Not only has she the power to sustain a life within her own body but even after birth her body still brings life and nourishment to her child.

One of the many beautiful superpowers a woman possesses.

Breastfeeding is not always easy and is not always a beautiful experience. I can recall my own obstacles with my oldest child even years later. The late nights, the fatigue, the frustration of both mom and baby at not being able to latch on properly. But once again I was not alone. There were other women who had been there and knew. They understood. The resources I was given, the patience, the encouragement was yet another testament to the capabilities and communion between women.

Despite working hard to maintain breastfeeding and pumping milk daily my daughter decided that she had had enough at about 6 months old. I remember feeling tender about it and even a bit rejected. This was natural I realized. As soon as you become a mother they begin separating from you. Your child is her own unique person, unlike any other.

I would not change those times for anything, the quiet of the night, the curve of my baby’s head in my arms as she nestled. There is nothing that compares.

My second child was a bit different in every sense of the word. Due to health concerns sadly, I was unable to breastfeed for very long and had to turn towards formula for my child. Formula is not horrible. It contains the nutrients your baby needs without a doubt. I will not proclaim to say it is worse or better. Like many mothers who are unable to breastfeed I found bottle feeding still a treasured moment with my child. A fleeting time for sure, but a gift just the same.

There are a multitude of benefits to breastfeeding not the least of which is the possibility of losing pregnancy weight! There is also a myriad of breastfeeding resources in the community –

La Leche League – llli.org

PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support) – peps.org

WIC – wicbreastfeeding.fns.usada.gov

And for more help or questions – there’s Next Step! (425)329-4569

“If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” John 15(v18-19),

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Dear Friends of Next Step,

I would like to touch on something that I think we can all agree has become quite a tool for evil, especially in recent months with so many people relegated to living life behind their phones and laptops. Social Media – it is like a bucket of beautiful shiny red apples – but as you sift through you realize that was only the top layer and the rest is rotten.

Earlier this week I received an email recommending I create a Next Step Pregnancy Services business page for the Next Door application, which is an application for neighbors and neighborhoods to connect on local events, issues, buying and selling things and the like; the app gets a lot of traffic I’ll say. It sounded like a sound idea to get the word out about Next Step and our services, so I created a page with our services, our mission, and our location and contact info.

Not ten minutes later I got a notification of a comment, and then another one, and another. It went on all day. The comments were centered primarily on pregnancy care centers as a whole and why these few people believe pregnancy centers are anti woman, deceiving women into coming in, working without medical regulations or medical personnel, withholding contraception, pushing religious agendas, and the list goes on and on…. There were even comments about what Next Step’s stance was on Referendum 90 and sex education courses and ended with an invite from one neighbor to another to join “Catholics for Choice.”

As you can imagine I was fairly blown away by the viciousness and negativity. You would think I would not have been given Facebook and Twitter and the like spewed out there, but I guess I just thought – it is a business listing for our services, end of. To make a long story short, I did answer the legitimate questions about Next Step Pregnancy’s services, confirmed we are a pro-life organization, confirmed we do indeed have licensed medical professionals to boot. And I thanked the few people who chimed in in our defense. Thankfully there were a few.

I contemplated removing the business site from Next Door but in the end decided against it. Next Step Pregnancy Services is a beautiful, compassionate, and life-saving place that puts the health and well-being of families, including the precious unborn – first. And we will not back down, we will not be silent about the sanctity of all life, and we will not be cowed into compromising our faith. We are pro-woman. A woman is more than capable enough to be a mother, planned or unplanned. Make no mistake, this is a battle. We can do it.

“He has chosen us out of the world.”

“What Does it mean to Empower Women?”

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“The woman’s soul is fashioned as a shelter in which other souls may unfold.”

~ St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

Pope John Paul II once described women’s unique capabilities as “feminine genius”.  In his beautiful “Letter to Women” written from the Vatican in 1995 before he addressed the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, he went on to describe women as “having a particular and special sensitivity to the human person”.

Further he said, “A woman is strong because of the fact that God has entrusted the human being to her. It is this awareness of this entrusting that makes her strong.”

From the Vatican, 29 June 1995, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

What a beautifully true sentiment. Women are strong. Women are resilient. Women are capable and always have been. The modern women do not seem to comprehend her own worth. Her own value and capacity for fulfillment and achievement. It is there. And has been.

“I do not wish to give (women) a first place, still less a second one- but the complete freedom to take their true place, whatever it may be.” ~ Elizabeth Blackwell

Pioneers of women’s rights knew it and fought for it. They shine a light to the world about what women could accomplish and should be recognized as. Fully functioning equals. Integral, valuable, resilient and full of promise.

It seems today a lot of what is churned out in the name of feminism is contrived, stony, and intolerant. Independence is pushed at the cost of connection. Self-sufficiency at the cost of nurturing. Toughness is encouraged as a replacement for tenderness. To terminate a child held in the womb is decreed a right.

No! This is a serious distortion on womanhood, and we all suffer as a result.

Again in the words of Blessed John Paul II, “the face of women the reflection of a beauty which mirrors the loftiest sentiments of which the human heart is capable: the self-offering totality of love; the strength that is capable of bearing the greatest sorrows; limitless fidelity and tireless devotion to work; the ability to combine penetrating intuition with words of support and encouragement. — Blessed John Paul II Redemptoris Mater (46)

A Day in the Life

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There is a right time for everything:





2 A time to be born; A time to die; A time to plant; A time to harvest;
3 A time to kill; A time to heal; A time to destroy; A time to rebuild;
4 A time to cry; A time to laugh; A time to grieve; A time to dance;
5 A time for scattering stones; A time for gathering stones; A time to hug;
A time not to hug;
6 A time to find; A time to lose; A time for keeping; A time for throwing away;
7 A time to tear; A time to repair; A time to be quiet; A time to speak up;
8 A time for loving; A time for hating; A time for war; A time for peace.





9 What does one really get from hard work? 10 I have thought about this in connection with all the various kinds of work God has given to mankind. 11 Everything is appropriate in its own time. But though God has planted eternity in the hearts of men, even so, many cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 (TLB)







What does a day in the life of a pregnancy services center look like right now? We all know that every day things are changing. For good or bad the sun continues to rise each morning and continues to set each evening. What is constant if not the sun? And deeper than that is the desire to live, to breathe and be vital. And how can these needs be met in times like these? Lovingly, creatively and without pause.





Each morning the lights come on and the first order of business is cleaning. Music on, gloves on, and armed with Clorox we walk from room to room, door to door wiping down desks, counters, sinks, light switches, doorknobs, chairs, keyboards, phones and finally the coffee pot! Floors are swept while joe brews. Computers are turned on and the door is unlocked ready to welcome those in need.





The first family comes in. Mom cradling a sleeping little girl while her other two children cling to her pant legs. She stands within the blue square on the floor as asked while I look up her profile. Diapers size 2, 3, and 5. Blessed with wipies I can hand out two packs to her grateful smile. Cereal and fruit? Yes! Now for some clothes. Explaining that our boutique is temporarily closed I pick out 3 or 4 summer outfits for each of her children and fold carefully into waiting bags. Big brown eyes smile at me from behind mom’s leg as I offer little blue teddy bears that were just donated.





Another knock on the door and a masked head pokes in. Upon seeing the woman and her family the new client waits without to help us maintain the social distancing. I finish up with this young mom and she leaves inviting the other family inside and the process starts again.





Another woman comes into the center uncertainty etched on her young face. She’s hoping for a pregnancy test. She has missed her period and is just feeling off. Can we help? Her boyfriend is waiting in the car. The nurse takes her temperature and gives her a mask to wear in the consultation room. She sits down with the nurse. She’s not sure when her last cycle was but feels sure she’s pregnant. The nurse helps her with a urinary test and gives her the news. They sit together for a long while talking.





Families come and go. Several women come in alone asking for formula and one is hoping for a stroller. We all stand apart from one another smiling in hopes the welcome is felt. I help a happy father carry out a high chair and a nice exersaucer, his smile of thanks warm and genuine.





The doors and counters are wiped down again and again. Several calls asking if we are open or closed because of the virus.





The nurse finally comes out with the young girl and I am asked to set up an ultrasound 2 weeks from now. The smile is hesitant and wavering. And after she leaves the small Next Step team sit down in a larger circle to separate and pray. The young girl is happy to be with child but young and unsure. She thinks her boyfriend will be happy but what if he isn’t? So we pray. For peace and comfort for the girl and for the health of her and her unborn baby and we pray we’ll see her in two weeks for her ultrasound.





In the back we are gloved up and donation bags are unpacked and soft little onsies are sorted into piles by size. Warm sleepers are stored in winter boxes and colorful summer dresses are hung up. More coffee is made as envelopes are stickered ready for mailing. Thank you cards are written and plans are made.





The day starts to wane and we do final wipe downs of the office. We close the doors and say our goodbyes. A lot of families were helped today. A lot of smiles were seen. I feel good about our day. It was a good one despite the ever changing landscape outside. We’ll do it all again tomorrow and feel blessed at what our ministry brings to the community and to our own lives.









Our Mission


To offer compassionate care and material support to women and families before, during, and after pregnancy, no matter the circumstances. 



Our Vision


To affirm the intrinsic value of both mother and child by connecting women with the resources they need to choose life.