Marita* wasn’t feeling well. She wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but she knew she needed to see her family doctor. The diagnosis: “You’re pregnant.” Marita was dazed. Nothing more was said. She left feeling eerily alone and confused. Pregnancy hadn’t been in her plans. A career-minded, single professional, Marita didn’t have any desire … Continued
Guest author, Katherine Higgins, shares her experience of working at The Elizabeth House. Last month I started working at The Elizabeth House. After learning the program and getting used to the rhythm of the place, two aspects immediately stick out to me. First, The Elizabeth House is a home, shared by roommates who live in … Continued
Check out our new outdoor sign Although our ministry partners and volunteers know us as “Care Net,” our patients know us by our clinic name, First Care Clinic. So, you can imagine the confusion when patients who found us online or through our ads or mobile clinic drove up to a building with a big … Continued
Masie* recently visited our clinic for STI (sexually transmitted infection) testing. She brought a friend for moral support. Sharing with a stranger that she feared having an infection because her boyfriend had been unfaithful was hard for Masie to face alone. As a teenager, a free clinic was just what Masie needed. When she made … Continued
Social distancing has become the new norm over the past few months. Which means Care Net has gotten quite creative when it comes to finding ways to connect with the men and women who desperately need the lifeline Care Net provides. Women like Kathy. You may remember Kathy from last year when she shared her courageous … Continued
“Being in the same storm does not mean we are all in the same boat.” * We’ve all witnessed how the pandemic has highlighted inequalities. Some families are trying to stay afloat on a wooden raft—one round of waves and they’ll capsize. Those navigating in safer crafts are better able to handle the plummeting waves but still sea-sick from the violent tossing. And others ride the storm on … Continued
Have you ever tried to keep a shameful or embarrassing secret? If so, then you know the feelings of anxiety and fear that cover you like a leaded blanket, weighing you down and permeating every thought. Imagine that your secret is a pregnancy. Then imagine the people you live with are the very ones you … Continued
“I went to [another women’s clinic], but it was not at all like my visit here,” Lachelle* told the nurse at a recent appointment. She was here for testing and treatment for an STI and had recently been to another clinic that provided sexual health services. The nurse asked Lachelle to tell her more. “I … Continued
There is so much pain and suffering in our world and in our community. The past couple of weeks, calls to our clinic and maternity home have greatly increased. The pandemic continues to take its toll, as more people fall victim to its destruction. And I’m not talking about the ones who test positive. It’s … Continued
It’s hard to plan in these uncertain times. What is safe, or even possible, seems to change from day to day. But even in our uncertainty, most of us have a roof over our heads, a warm bed, food in our refrigerator, and supportive family and friends. “Janae” had none of these. She had been living with her … Continued