Kim is willingly giving us permission to share her story so that others can realize there is hope in the midst of a difficult situation. All client experiences with Advice & Aid Pregnancy Centers are kept with the highest confidence. The stories that are shared come from the real-life experiences that our clients, staff and volunteers had during their unplanned pregnancy.
Her name has been changed but her story is true.
(Read the first part of Kim’s story here)
When I arrived at Advice & Aid Pregnancy Centers, I met with a peer counselor named Julie who I would continue to meet with every week during the Journeys program. She was terrific. I was falling apart at the seams. I had been through domestic violence, 2 surgeries in my 1st trimester, and being abandoned by my son’s father solely because he did not want to marry someone from a different race and religious background. I was heartbroken and physically fragile.
My Doctor . . . My Lifesaver
One of the first things Julie did was have me talk with the nurse. The nurse then referred me to Advice & Aid’s doctor, an OB/GYN who accepted low-income patients like me (I had to stop working due to my failing health). He was great. When I met with him the first time it felt like he spent 2 hours listening to me. Even years later, he is still my OB/GYN, which shows the impact he made on me. He got me back to health to the point I was even able to begin working again toward the end of my pregnancy. If it had not been for him, I don’t know if I would have been able to carry my son to term. He was truly a lifesaver.
Beginning Journeys
The Journeys program at Advice & Aid involves weekly meetings with your peer counselor and watching videos to learn about pregnancy and birth. Having taken Anatomy & Physiology classes in college and shadowed physicians in a Labor & Delivery Unit as part of a Health Careers class, I thought I pretty much knew all I needed to know. I realized how much I didn’t know from watching the videos and talking with Julie. I’m thankful for that part of the program because I would have probably panicked when I got home with my newborn and realized how little I knew about taking care of an infant alone. By the time I finished the weekly program, I felt much better prepared to bring my son home and much more aware of what I needed to do to care for him.
Able to Move On
When I graduated, I was floored by the generosity of this organization. They gave me everything I needed to take care of my son – all of the things that I did not have and could not afford. There was a beautiful dresser full of clothes and blankets, a crib, a changing table, diapers, baby books, formula, and so much more – everything that a new mom would need to take care of her baby. I was absolutely speechless and humbled by their kindness and generosity. I felt that they loved my son as a family would. It was truly heartwarming and I will be forever grateful.
