A sacred trust: serving patients with love, no matter their choice  

Marshia* recently visited Care Net’s First Care Clinic. She was a student; very driven and determined. She had a plan for her future.   

But now all that was in jeopardy as Marshia faced the reality that she might be pregnant.  Although both young, she and her partner, Jared, had a stable relationship. When asked, Marshia believed both their families would support their decision to parent.  Even so, Marshia continued to consider ending the pregnancy to protect her own hopes and dreams for her future. Jared said, “Whatever Marshia wants. It’s her choice.”  

Marshia’s ultrasound showed she was about six weeks pregnant. Usually, at this point in the pregnancy, a heartbeat is evident. However, our scan was unable to detect one, which made miscarriage a strong possibility.  

The baby’s viability was now doubly at risk. If the pregnancy was viable, Marshia was still considering abortion. All we could do was pray. 

When Marshia and Jared returned for a follow-up visit, we were able to see the tiny baby’s beating heart! Jared looked at the ultrasound screen and then at Marshia to see her reaction. 

His joy was evident, “I can’t believe it. There was nothing the first time, and now my baby has a heartbeat.” Jared recognized this was a tiny person – his precious child. But would Marshia feel the same?  

When we saw her return his gaze with a smile, we knew this would be a happy beginning for a new family.   

The unfortunate reality is that sometimes, appointments at our clinic don’t have the happy ending we hope and pray for. Not every appointment ends in victory for a saved life.  

But regardless of what our day will eventually hold, there is one constant: we pray for every mom, every dad, and every pre-born child. When we find out a patient has decided to terminate her pregnancy with an abortion, then our prayer shifts. We pray, “God heal her and draw her close to you.”  

God provides each of us with free will to make our own choices. Our responsibility is to be faithful to the truth, to offer help and resources to anyone who will receive them, and to pray and trust God to change hearts and minds.  

Please join us as we praise God for the many lives saved and pray for those who are in the midst of a life-and-death decision or who are filled with regret over a past abortion. 

*names changed