Clarise* grew up as a victim of abuse in a broken home. She was determined to make better choices for her life. As a young single woman in her twenties, Clarise discovered she was pregnant. Believing she needed to own her actions and their consequences, she chose to continue her pregnancy and raise her baby. When she became pregnant again a couple of years later, she again decided to continue even though the pregnancy was very difficult to manage.
Recently, Clarise discovered she was pregnant once again, but now, overwhelmed with the weight of raising two small children in a hostile culture, along with the daily struggle of nausea and vomiting, she began to seriously consider abortion. The illness made it so difficult to manage normal life that Clarise felt she needed to quit her job, increasing the pressures of motherhood as she tried to make ends meet. Pushed to the edge, she decided that abortion was her only viable option and contacted CompassCare.
Speaking with a CompassCare scheduler, Clarise found some glimmer of hope as they talked through the services CompassCare offers. Understanding that CompassCare does not provide or refer for abortion, she chose to schedule an appointment with a nurse just to clarify the facts about her pregnancy and abortion. Upon arriving for her appointment and still feeling very ill, Clarise’s nurse quickly provided a number of natural remedies to help get her symptoms under control. She was surprised that she felt better within just a few minutes.
Clarise was now able to focus on the bigger issue: her pregnancy and the options available to her. Her nurse listened, empathizing with her situation, and offered an ultrasound exam to help determine the viability of her pregnancy and exactly how far along she was. Clarise admitted she felt conflicted when she saw her nine-week-old healthy baby on the ultrasound monitor.
“I was very sure I was going to get an abortion when I walked into this appointment. But now I’m sure I won’t do that.”
After the exam, she and her nurse reviewed the information found in the Abortion Risks and Side Effects brochure. Halfway through the conversation, Clarise looked up at her nurse and said, “I’ve got to be honest with you. I was very sure I was going to get an abortion when I walked into this appointment. But now I’m sure I won’t do that. It’s just not who I am.”
As a professing believer in Christ, Clarise confessed that she still felt overwhelmed by the prospect of being pregnant and raising another child, but felt she needed to make a decision for life and trust God with the outcome of her decision. Her nurse encouraged Clarise by reminding her that God used the tough things in the past to make her a stronger person, helping her become the exceptional mother she is today.
Her nurse went on, sharing about the principle of surrender to God in the midst of unexpected events the Lord allows in our lives and that, as we yield to His will, He gives us all the grace needed to do what appears to be impossible.
Together they prayed, agreeing to yield to the good will of Father God and trust Him with the future. Clarise smiled broadly and said, “I’m so glad I came here today. I feel completely different about everything. Thank you so much!”
Prayerfully,
The CompassCare Team
P.S. Your gift of $47/month provides ethical medical care and comprehensive support to women just like Clarise throughout the abortion capital of the nation, New York.