“Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.”

An Irish saying that translates to “It is in the shelter of each other that people live,” or literally as “People live in each other’s shadows.” This truism really stood out to me as I was reflecting on the year and the upcoming holidays. It is in the shelter of others that we live. That we thrive. That we rest. That we mourn. That we celebrate!

This past year at Next Step has been one of immense changes and reaffirmations. We had many wonderful outcomes. Many tears were shed. We said goodbye to one of our team and welcomed two new faces! We saw a considerable uptick in clients coming to us. One newer program comes at a most promising time. According to the Guttmacher Institute 63% of abortions in the US in 2023 were medication abortions (aka chemical abortions or “the pill”), up from 53% in 2020. While that is not the news we’d hope to hear, the increased emergence of providers offering Abortion Pill Reversal services (APR) to combat this monstrous threat has also intensified – including here at Next Step Pregnancy Services. Beginning in the summer of 2023 our Medical Director along with our Nurse Manager began the arduous task of implementing our own APR policies and procedures which include being available on-call, almost always on evenings and weekends, for those women seeking a reversal after taking the first pill of the two medication abortion pills. For those who are not familiar here is the short version: the doctor or another medical provider will prescribe progesterone, given as a pill, then an ultrasound will be done as soon as possible to confirm heart rate, placement, and dating of the pregnancy. The treatment will usually continue through the first trimester of pregnancy. Progesterone is the natural hormone in a woman’s body that is necessary to nurture and sustain a pregnancy. The first pill in the abortion pill regimen blocks progesterone’s actions. By giving extra progesterone, we hope to outnumber and outcompete the first abortion pill in order to reverse the effects and provide an opportunity to save the pregnancy. Using the natural hormone progesterone, medical professionals have been able to save 64-68% of pregnancies through abortion pill reversal. That process is all done here at Next Step Pregnancy Services by our own Dr. Stoke and Barbara, our nurse manager.

I’d like to share one brief story (of a few I might add!) of a moment this year that was only possible because of this service we offer and the willingness of our medical team to sustain it. This past summer we were actually at a scheduled fundraising event where our nurse was giving a talk which included the highs and lows of APR – and how the unexpectedness and urgency of the situation always makes it challenging. WHILE WE WERE AT THE EVENT she got an APR call. God’s timing is truly perfect! We will call this young gal Everly. Everly is a 24 year old young woman who had experienced 2 miscarriages before she became pregnant this time. Her boyfriend was just “not ready for a family” and she felt pressured to “take the pill.” Shortly afterwards, she felt terrible regret; and sadness because she did not want to lose another baby. We were able to work with her and see her that very evening to confirm her little fetus still had a heartbeat! We also were able to answer all of the pharmacy questions until they finally dispensed the needed progesterone that night. When she returned to the clinic 2 weeks later the boyfriend came with her. He wanted to support her “in any way he could.”  Would they work it out and stay together? Neither one was sure. But he was willing to take responsibility for the life he helped create. I got to witness God at work in this young man’s heart as a tear fell down his cheek after seeing the active baby on ultrasound.

That is your ministry. That is Next Step Pregnancy Services. Have a blessed Christmas ~ Heather Vasquez