Miscellaneous
Kynnedi Brown
Kynnedi Brown
I was 17 years old and halfway through my senior year of high school when I found out I was pregnant. My boyfriend was leaving for basic training in a month and my parents were going through a divorce at the time.
I felt that telling them I was pregnant would be a burden on their lives. I was petrified at the prospect of having to tell all three of the most important people in my life that I would have to give up three track scholarship offers I had worked so hard for to raise a child.
For a while, I was in denial. I couldn’t bring myself to accept that I would be bringing a new life into this world alone.
I was seven months pregnant when I told my boyfriend. He was out of state in military training, so there was nothing for him to do. He was just as scared as I was, if not more so. His first reaction was to “get rid” of the baby. He wasn’t ready to be a father and had no interest in becoming one.
For a pregnant woman, that was a hard pill to swallow—I had already fallen so deeply in love with my baby.
At eight months, I finally told my mom I was pregnant when I came home late one night after a 14-hour day of work. Even though I was still playing sports, my mom noticed that I was gaining weight like I never had before. I just felt like I couldn’t bring myself to tell her myself.
When the truth finally came out, my mother fell to the floor and cried. She asked my sister and brother if they knew about the baby, but since I hadn’t told them either, that just brought on more tears.
After that initial shock, my mom was concerned that my stomach was still so small even though I was eight months pregnant. I hadn’t taken any prenatal pills, I hadn’t been to a doctor, I didn’t know if the baby was healthy or even what gender he or she was. I only knew my baby was alive by every single one of the heart-filling kicks.
My mom and I started calling clinics to find out about our options. I was so far along that there weren’t many options but to have this baby. Because I was so far along and hadn’t had any prenatal care, I was considered high-risk and couldn’t find a doctor to take me into their care.
That’s when we found Ms. Brenda at Pregnancy Decision Health Centers. She was able to calm my mom down and give her enough peace of mind to sleep—which she hadn’t been able to do for days. Ms. Brenda told us we wouldn’t have to pay to be seen, and that was a huge stress-reliever for us, especially because we didn’t have insurance.
Ms. Brenda could see how terrified my mom was about the baby’s health. She took us to do some measurements of the baby, and everything looked great. She also gave us some information about PDHC and how they could help us.
At one point, we were considering adoption. We knew a happily married couple that wanted a child but didn’t have the option to have one naturally. Ms. Brenda was extremely supportive, telling us that adoption could be as open as we wanted. She also reassured us that making an adoption plan would bring untold joy to a family.
Ms. Brenda sent me home with information I needed to navigate my situation, and she made it clear that there was no way in this world she was going to let me do it alone.
Before we left, she let me pick out something for the baby from their mom store, and I picked a pair of little white booties that I still have today. Those booties were the first sign of hope to me that I could be a great mom to this baby.
Ms. Brenda left me feeling that no matter what decision I made, I would always have support and someone to talk to without being judged or viewed as another teenage statistic. Ms. Brenda and PDHC also referred me to an amazing ob-gyn who helped me through the last month of my pregnancy with the utmost respect and care.
That doctor is one of the most kindhearted people I have ever met, and I truly thank him for saving Rowan’s life and my own. At my first appointment, we met Rowan, my beautiful and very healthy baby boy. He was absolutely stunning.
Rowan has turned my life around a complete 180. He is the biggest motivation when it comes to school or working I remind myself that everything I do is for him to live an even better life than I did. Waking up to his enormous bright smile reminds me to never give up, and to push through when things get tough.
Without a doubt, he is the most blissful blessing that was ever given to me. Seeing him laugh, play, and walk all through our home is so captivating. They’re memories I will cherish for the rest of my life.
I’ll be forever grateful for Ms. Brenda. She always told me that in life, we always have a choice, and that I didn’t have to give up my dreams and aspirations just because I was bringing a new life into the world.
I have decided to continue on with college, I married my U.S. soldier, and have celebrated Rowan’s first birthday.
Without Ms. Brenda and PDHC, I truly don’t believe my son would be alive. Ms. Brenda loves every minute of her job and it truly shows. God has given her a gift and it is a blessing to be around her. Her job is to empower and change the lives of women, and when I met her, she did just that.
A year later, she still contacts me to check up on my family and offer to help in any way that’s possible. She gave me the strength to follow my dreams of being an ob-gyn, and reminded me to never give up, because God will always make a way.
Halie Hale
Halie Hale
It was Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, a normal day like any other. I got out of school at 10:25 a.m., went to my internship and worked. When I got off work, I went home and waited for my boyfriend, Jordan, to get off work and come home.
It had been over a month since I’d had a period, so Jordan was bringing a pregnancy test over. I took it, and it was positive.
How could it be? I was 17, worried and scared.
I called Your Choice Pregnancy Resource Center and made an appointment, and thankfully, Jordan stuck by my side. My first appointment was Feb. 20. I walked in, filled out the forms, and was called to the back to see a nurse.
Another positive test.
But, before we took the test, the nurse opened her Bible and helped me to understand that—no matter what—God still loved me. Then, we looked at the different stages the baby goes through in the womb. What a miracle!
After our talk, where the nurse answered my questioned, prayed with me and helped to calm my fears, I went into another room to get an ultrasound. There he was: eight weeks in the womb, a tiny little peanut. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
I left feeling like I was on top of the world, but as the day wore on, I was worried about Jordan and I telling our parents. Still, I knew I would live, and it would be alright in the end. When we did tell my parents, my mom took it lighter than I thought she would, but my dad didn’t speak to me for a little while.
There were times I wanted to give up, but I knew God was with me, and so was Jordan. Our baby boy was born Sept. 10, 2015—three weeks early, but healthy, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. We named him Jordan Colin Hale, “J.C.” for short. He’s healthy, happy and our little miracle.
I hope that every pregnant, worried and scared teenage girl has the opportunity to go to a pregnancy center. I had a great, helpful, and unforgettable experience. Everyone was so helpful and kind.
Jordan and I got married Oct. 3, 2015. I was a senior in high school when I got pregnant, but I made straight A’s and graduated. Now, I’m going to college. To all the worried pregnant teenage girls, do not give up. A baby may change your life, but that doesn’t mean your life is over.
We’re active members of our church and we are putting God first in our family. I thank God for a place like Your Choice PRC. Without them, who knows what path I would’ve taken?
Magalia Frazier
Magalia Frazier
Having a baby changes everything—physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. Even though having a baby is challenging, it has its rewards too.
After you’ve had a rough day at work, for example, and you come home or pick your child up from school, their excitement at seeing you is the best feeling in the world. Or, when you child is ill and under the weather, all they really want is to be near you as a parent and have you nurse them back to health.
As a parent, it’s a pleasure to watch your child learn to put into practice an everyday activity you’ve taught them that will be useful to them the rest of their lives.
I’m enjoying every bit of this roller-coaster ride with my 4-year-old daughter. But, our journey together hasn’t always been gumdrops above the chimney tops. I’m taking the good with the bad, and I have Elizabeth’s New Life Center to thank for that.
I’ve come a long way—far from the verbally abusive relationship with my daughter’s father, far from the dependence on government assistance to take care of my child and myself.
It all began when I found out I was pregnant. I was terrified and didn’t know where to turn or what to do next. Both of us come from strict families with strong moral and religious beliefs, so we were both afraid of what they would say once it came out that we were pregnant.
So, we Googled places nearby to make sure that the home pregnancy test was correct. That’s when we found Elizabeth’s New Life Center in Dayton, Ohio. We scheduled an appointment where they verified that we were indeed pregnant. We received an ultrasound and heard her heartbeat—it was so strong and fast-paced.
I couldn’t believe I had a little person living in my body I was suddenly responsible to care for. I started to cry, knowing that as a mother at the age of 22, I would not have to explain this to my own mother.
I was in college full-time, working part-time. Things were going great until this happened. What would my mom think of me? What about the rest of the family? I knew I’d brought shame upon my mother and myself.
With all these thoughts running through my head, the only thing I could think of was to keep it a secret and see about an abortion. I Googled abortion clinics and found the clinic in Kettering, Ohio. We drove to the clinic together. As I spoke to the receptionist, she told me what to expect, including the fact I’d have to pay a $200 down payment, with the remainder due the day of the procedure.
After my boyfriend and I paid the down payment for the abortion, I had one more question for the receptionist: “What do you do with the babies after the procedure?”
“We throw the fetus in the trash,” came the reply.
In that moment, I remember thinking how inhumane that sounded. Whether or not I felt ready to raise a child, I knew my baby was not going in the trash. Even the thought made me sick to my stomach.
Our appointment was scheduled for a week later. Even though I did my best to hide my pregnancy from my mother, she knew something was wrong. A mother always knows her child. When I told her I was pregnant and that I had already scheduled an abortion, she said, “You cannot abort my grandchild!”
On the day of the procedure, I felt sick to my stomach, my knees were buckling and I could barely stand. I called the facility to see if I could cancel the appointment and get my down payment back, but the receptionist told me I couldn’t.
I had had a change of heart. Something had come over me. Plus, I wanted my money back to help take care of my baby—the baby I was going to now raise.
Almost immediately, I began searching for baby names and dreaming of the sex of my baby. When we found out we were having a daughter, I was excited and nervous at the same time—because I know girls can tend to be a bit much at times—but I was ready for all the loops I would endure with her.
Now that I had experienced this change of heart, I remembered Elizabeth’s New Life Center offered parenting classes to help me prepare for my baby’s arrival. I called and spoke with Meg at the center and signed up for classes right away. I went every week, whether my boyfriend came or not.
Nothing was going to keep me from providing from my child—not her father or anyone else. As my body started to change, I was excited to read up on the different weeks and stages of her gestational growth. I never missed a prenatal vitamin or a doctor’s visit. I was so proud to be a mom.
The staff at Elizabeth’s New Life Center and myself grew close. They called to check in on me and steered me to programs in our community that would benefit us. I received clothes, baby formula, socks, wipes, a car seat with a matching stroller, pacifiers, baby powder, baby shampoo, wash clothes and more.
On the day I gave birth, I called the nurse on duty at Elizabeth’s New Life Center almost 30 times. I had started labor and I was scared. The nurse helped to walk me through the early stages of labor, and never once grew impatient or irritated with me—even though I kept calling back.
When I went to the hospital later that day, to give birth to my daughter, Meg came to the hospital to meet my daughter. She brought along an Easter Bunny onesie with a matching hat and a card, and asked me if there was anything she could help me with.
Once my baby came, the relationship between her father and I broke down quickly. He became verbally abusive and had fits of anger where he would break things in our house that my friends and family had given us.
It has been hard to accept that I would need to raise my daughter as a single parent, but the support I’ve received from Elizabeth’s New Life Center has helped so much. I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t have them in my life.
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You can reach and rescue lives!
We are so excited to be able to connect with you! Heartbeat International is dedicated to reach and rescue as many lives as possible, around the world, through an effective network of life-affirming pregnancy help, to renew communities for LIFE.
With more than 2,500 locations in the U.S. plus 50 other nations, Heartbeat reaches well over 1 million clients every year with life-saving pregnancy help.
(That’s not including our 24/7 contact center, Option Line (1-800-712-HELP, www.OptionLine.org), which has reached nearly 3 million women desperately searching for help since we first answered the call in 2003!)
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“I don’t want to have an abortion, but…”
It is just after 8am, and I sit at my desk with a hot cup of coffee waiting for the phone to ring. I’ve just logged in, and she is my first call of the day.
I clear my throat, pick up the phone, and say “Hi, this is the helpline, how can I help you?”
The anxious voice of a young woman responds, “My teacher told me about your number, she said that you might be able to help me. I just found out I’m pregnant, and I don’t want to have an abortion, but I don’t feel like I’m stable enough to raise a child.”
We hear this often “I don’t want to have an abortion, but…” It can be followed by almost any reason: my boyfriend doesn’t want to be a father yet, I don’t have enough money to raise a child, I’m afraid of what my friends will think of me, I’m afraid I won’t be able to finish my education, I don’t know anything about how to take care of a baby. Whatever the reason, these callers already know in their hearts what they really want; that is, to provide their child with the best life possible.
They are loving mothers who simply need affirmation that they are capable of overcoming whatever challenging circumstances they face by choosing life for their children. They are the reason we do what we do.
In the split second I have to consider the best way to encourage this young woman, her words resound in my mind “I don’t want to have an abortion...”
“Well, I’m so glad you called us today. I want you to know that there IS help available for women in your situation! Our local pregnancy help centers can offer a number of free services to help throughout the pregnancy, such as: parenting classes, material aid, community referrals, and mentoring. They can help you become the kind of mother you clearly want to be. Let me find a center nearby, what is your zip code?”
I can hear the relief in her voice as she tells me the zip code, and I locate a pregnancy center nearby that I know will offer the tangible, face-to-face support she needs to face her unique set of challenges.
“Thank you SO much!” I can tell she is smiling now. I offer one last word of encouragement,
“They will have a trained counselor available to help you sort through your pregnancy options if you are still unsure about what you want to do, but most importantly, I want you to know that there IS support available and you don’t have to do this alone. I wish you, and your little one, the very best!”
She giggles as she expresses heartfelt gratitude again, and we say goodbye.
We need your generous support to keep Option running each month.
For just $4 a call or $1,500 a day, you can ensure Option Line will be available 24/7 to reach and rescue lives from abortion.
Thank you for all you do to reach and rescue lives around the clock, every day!
Great commercial, Doritos!
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Teka Brown
Teka Brown
I am a small town girl from Oregon and I’m so honored to be representing StandUpGirl. I was a teen mom and StandUpGirl was there to help and support me through my pregnancy with my daughter. I was so fortunate to have had such encouraging support from the Pregnancy Resource Center in Coos Bay, that I am able to stand here today and honestly tell you I am a proud parent of three beautiful children: Tailor seven, Trae four, Tomas two and one on the way.
I am a 26 year old dedicated Military Wife, currently stationed in Okinawa, Japan with my husband Kyle, who is a Sergeant in the Marines. Kyle and I have been happily married for six years and we have been together for ten. I am not going to say that it was always easy but we did it and we continue to stay focused on our faith, to use our story as a testimony to others. Having a baby as a teenager isn’t the end of your life, it’s just a new beginning.
I was raised in a Christian home with strong morals and core values with high expectations from my family. I would go to church twice a week, work a job, manage a youth basketball team, as well as be actively involved in a youth group. I have great parents who I have an inseparable bond with. My wonderful mom Roxanne, who is my rock, instilled in me at a young age how to be strong and resilient. She went through a rough first marriage to my biological father, but the neglect and abuse got to be too much. She was divorced by the time I was two and we were living with my grandma while my mom provided for me. During that time I don’t remember ever seeing my biological father. Thankfully, my mom eventually met Wayne, my forever dad and they got married when I was 4.
Wayne is the epitome of an amazing dad and husband. He CHOSE to adopt me and keep me for his own. He has always been there by my side willing to teach and encourage me through life. He taught me to be responsible and independent. He also taught me right from wrong and how to treat others. I could talk for days about how amazing my dad is. Wayne is the type of father that any daughter would aspire to have. His choice to CHOOSE me, was one of the many reasons I chose to keep my baby.
As a child, I was homeschooled up until 5th grade and my parents enforced strict rules and discipline in our home. At the start of 6th grade, I was not only entering middle school, but beginning my educational experience in the public school system. Let’s just say, things began to change. Because I was homeschooled, I was unaware of what really went on in public school. For the most part, I drifted through middle school as an innocent and sometimes naive kid. I had no idea about some of the topics my friends were talking about or the sexual innuendos that were said. It was very odd to me that kids my age spoke this way. I did my best to keep away from those situations and focus on my school work and church.
Once in high school, I was teased constantly. The kids called me a “goodie two shoes”, and “the church girl.” The teasing hurt, though I never showed the pain. I was strong and independent. I slowly stopped vocalizing my Love for Christ. I kept it hidden. I didn’t understand why my so called friends would make fun of me. I was taught to treat others how you would want to be treated, and because the teasing continued, I thought I was in the wrong and it must not be the cool thing to do. It was all very discouraging. A few months into my high school career, I decided to start attending a local organization called Young Life. The mission of Young Life is to help the teens in our community who did not know Christ, or did not attend church. Through Young Life, I realized again why I loved Jesus, and where my heart needed to be. This is where I met my now husband, Kyle.
At first I just wanted to understand his life and let him know I was there to help in any way possible. Kyle had a tough childhood, much different than my own, but Kyle had an amazing smile, and a mature outlook on life. He had a way of making me laugh and his non-judgemental attitude made me feel good about myself. He genuinely wanted to get to know me. He showed interest in my passion for Jesus and would always ask questions, and even started coming to church with me. We started hanging out more and by the end of summer my sophomore year, we began dating. As I started to pay more attention to Kyle, and hang on every word and compliment he was saying, I slowly started to turn my back on God, and my Faith. I was so focused on how Kyle was making me feel, and thought he was the answer to all unspoken prayers. I was in love.
There is a song called “It’s a slow fade,” by Casting Crowns that pretty much summed up my junior year of high school. The Song talks about giving yourself away… Slowly. I felt as though my life was in a slow fade. Slowly going away from what I knew was right. Slowly my grades were declining. Slowly I was focusing less on my school and family. Eventually, I hit rock bottom.
The summer before my senior year, I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, Tailor. I was devastated! I was mad at Kyle, but mostly I was disappointed with myself, because I was suppose to know better. We made the choice to not use protection, which made the choice to possibly get pregnant. Becoming pregnant does not just affect you, it affects your whole family; the people you care most about.
I was ashamed, embarrassed and extremely distraught for days to say the least and to top it all off we had to tell our parents. We decided to have both families over to my house, and Kyle and I told them together. My parents took it really hard, and my dad blamed himself, thinking he didn’t raise me right. When in reality, I was the one who chose to go against my values and discipline. They were sad and disappointed. We were all worried about the future, and at that point, who isn’t?
Kyle and I had plans of our own. He wanted to play football in college and I wanted to go on to be a nurse. Our goals suddenly took a drastic turn. Our social lives also took a turn for the worse. Some of our friends were understanding and supportive, while others turned their backs on us when they heard that we were expecting. We had to face the truth that from this moment on, our lives would never be the same.
After much consideration, prayer, and my revived faith in God, we chose to keep our baby. Despite what our friends and some family thought; there was no way we could ever “get rid” of our child. A baby is a miracle of life, who am I to decide to take it away? I mean, I may have lost my way in the mist of love and lust but I wasn’t going to punish my unborn child for my bad decisions. Of course Kyle and I were scared. We had no idea where to start to plan for a kid, as we were still kids ourselves. We didn’t know where to turn for help. That is where StandUpGirl came in.
A close friend of mine had been a part of StandUpGirl for a long time. She encouraged me to find the forums and get to know girls that were going through the same situation. The girls online were nonjudgmental. They knew how to answer the tough questions and be there on those tough days. Through the StandUpGirl website I also found a local Pregnancy Resource Center in Coos Bay, Oregon. I was able to go there, hear my baby’s heartbeat, and talk with a counselor about my fears and struggles. They let me hold a life size image of my baby at that moment. I was 11 weeks. The baby I held in my hand had its own tiny feet, and had a already formed a cute little face. It really put things into perspective. I had a baby. I was in charge of this Tiny human. I bawled right there in the room. The PRC volunteer held me as we all cried together. I left with amazing resources, and I met some amazing women both online and at the center. I read some wonderful testimonies and blogs about how they overcame their fears and found ways to keep pressing towards their goals. I was able to find encouragement and support through this small organizational network ran by volunteers.
Later, I was asked by Gayle Atteberry to take part in StandUpGirls mission of reaching out and helping young girls in crisis pregnancy. Of course I said yes! All of the support I received from StandUpGirl while I was pregnant gave me the courage to stand up for what I believe in, and I have been blessed beyond measure helping the girls who contact us! It is so satisfying to see an email that has an attachment that says, “Here is my baby!” or “Thank you StandUpGirl! I couldn’t have done it without you!” We are making a difference in the lives of the next generation. Although we are few, we all strive to send a message to women that “You CAN do this!” and it is possible to still achieve your goals in life. In the past few years, I have taken on the task of posting and managing our Facebook page. In this time, we have seen an 860% growth in the number of followers on our Facebook page and we are reaching out to millions of women in crisis worldwide with a life-affirming message of hope and courage!
I stand before you today, thankful and humbled, because without my sin and shame, I wouldn’t be here. I realized that the sin was in the act and in not the child that I was blessed to have. Without StandUpGirls support, I would not have been able to make it through like I did; and for that I am forever thankful. I was able to graduate high school, and finish getting my CNA license. Presently, along with being a devoted mother and wife, I volunteer with Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, which helps support our Marines and Sailors financially. I am the president of the base football team, the ‘Okinawa Bulldogs’, I am a Tiny Mite cheerleading coach, as well as manage my own at home business.
Kyle was able to graduate on time as well and joined the military soon after. He has done an amazing job in taking care of our family, despite our many setbacks. He is still an avid football player as well as coach to the Tiny mite football team. He was just recently promoted to Sergeant and is a strong Godly leader for his men and our family. Kyle is still the love of my life and I am eternally grateful to God for giving me such a wonderful man and father for our children.
I try to always remember that, no matter what anyone thinks, you DO have a choices in life and there are other women who have faced similar situations that I want to help and support just like I was. The decision I made to keep my baby was the best decision I have ever made and I’ve never regretted it. My daughter and sons are my reason for living. Given the chance to go back in time, I wouldn’t change my decision because it, along with StandUpGirl, made me the strong, confident woman I am today.