Gladis’ story

“I don’t want to have an abortion but I have to.” I first came to the center in distress.  Already a mother of three and working full time I simply didn’t have the means or time to care for another child. My husband was also pressuring me to have an abortion.  He didn’t have a steady job and I was the main source of income for our family.  I risked losing my job by having a baby and so I was convinced abortion was my only option.  In my heart, I knew it was wrong and the thought of going through with it weighed on my conscience. I was in the middle of a storm, and I didn’t know how to get out.  I felt broken inside, I felt unloved and alone. Rejecting our child was a rejection of myself, and it hurts so much.

I came to the Center to find a way out of my problem. I felt like I was drowning; it was difficult to talk or breathe without crying.  I was considering abortion and it made me feel ashamed. I worried I would be judged at the Center but what I found was love, compassion, and understanding as a woman and as a mother.  The Center helped me realize that my baby’s life was a miracle, a gift from God, and a blessing. They administered a sonogram and when I heard my baby’s heartbeat a voice in my heart said clear as day: “fight for it!” The Center offered support to provide for my baby’s needs through individual education classes, and other programs for additional support.  I’m still struggling at home with my husband’s lack of support, but now I know that I’m worthy of respect and that I’m loved, first by God and by others. I’m fighting for my baby’s and my family’s well-being and I’m very thankful for the unexpected and invaluable support of the Pregnancy Center.