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. 

Pregnancy help heroes are championing life every day across the Caribbean landscape. The venues for such life-affirming efforts vary from telephone to email to hotline to online to actual office space. The daily, compassionate outreach to women and men dealing with an unexpected pregnancy is affected by, but far removed from the political wrangling. Those called to this work are facing great challenges in answering the call to champion, save, and defend life. We invite all pregnancy help workers, and especially leaders, to gather together to share information and understanding as well as to gain insight from others.

The 2019 Caribbean Pregnancy Help Leaders' Summit wil be held at Courtyard Marriot, Bridgetown, Barbados, The Garrison Historic Area, Hastings. Christ Church, Bridgetown BB15156 Barbados.

Who Should Attend?

Anyone involved in life-affirming pregnancy help–direct service to women facing an unexpected pregnancy–is welcome.

Along with plenary sessions that will inspire and inform, there will be breakout discussion groups on vital topics that challenge all pregnancy help efforts – leadership, fundraising and the use of technology to more effectively reach clients. These breakouts will be participatory in nature; as you plan which ones to attend, please come prepared to share your knowledge and experience as well. Breakouts will be facilitated discussions with interaction among attendees.

English will be the primary language for plenary sessions and breakout facilitation.

A special grant is available which will cover registration, summit materials, hotel stay for both nights and Summit meals for the first two attendees from your organization (double occupancy only). This is limited on a first come, first serve availability. This is a first come, first serve opportunity only while there are rooms. Preference is given to current Heartbeat International affiliates.

The cost for additional attendees is $669 (USD) per person, which includes registration, all registration materials, hotel stay (2 nights), 3 Summit meals and coffee breaks.

Heartbeat International, the largest pregnancy help network in the world with affiliates on every populated continent, is pleased to sponsor this Caribbean-focused Summit in recognition of the importance of growing relationships among all pregnancy help leaders. Pregnancy help leaders can find more about Heartbeat at www.heartbeatservices.org.

If you would like to stay additional nights at the hotel before or after the Summit, you will be financially responsible. You may book those additional nights with the hotel directly by clicking here.

Our Vision: A world in which every child will be welcome.

Our Goal: To protect the person inside the mother's womb, to turn the hearts of parents to children, to reduce the demand for abortion in our society, relying on the Word of God and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, to practice mercy, to convey truth, turning fears into confidence and confusion into the hope for the future.

Client Testimony:
Baby Eva says:

“When I saw the light, it was hard for me to breathe. Something squeezed my chest, my lungs did not fully open. They put me under an oxygen pillow. Sometimes I heard my mother's voice, but more often strangers in white coats and masks. But soon everything changed, and I ended up only with my mother. It was very hot, stuffy, but my mother was there, and I felt more cheerful. I am very glad that new people are chirping around me, it's funny to watch and sniff them. I do not like clothes at all and am suspicious of water. Some familiar woman appeared, who consoles my mother all the time, sometimes they pray together, they envelops me in a kind of cloud. We also drove far away together, it was a pleasure. It's still interesting to live, although a little scary. Mom notices that I always want to see where, who is doing what, and does not allow me to be ignored. Mom thinks that I am afraid that I will not be forgotten. And it is true. The feeling that I might be unnecessary to anyone and the fear that they want to get rid of me. I am Eva and I am already 2.5 months old"

No one has ever heard the voice of a baby inside the womb, we do not know for sure what he feels and what he understands. His feelings, knowledge and voice in his heartbeat. The maternity center is determined to listen to this signal of life and pave the way for it.

 

All financial gifts received designated for our approved “alliance” affiliates will be forwarded to them in a reasonable timeframe (usually upon exceeding $250US). Heartbeat International deducts $30 plus 3% from the transfer, to help defray internal cost for money transfers, currency conversion, clerical costs, bank fees and any processing fees that might be charged. Should any funds be unable to be forwarded – primarily related to the recipient - they may be re-allocated for similar international work.

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! 

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South and Central American International Partners

	Centro de Ayuda para la Mujer Latinoamericana
	Bahamas GodParent Center

European International Partners

	Movimento per la Vita
	Serbia
	Macedonia: Lydia - A Beating Heart

	Kharkov Pregnancy Assistance Center - Ukraine Ukrainian National Crisis Pregnancy Aid Hotline

Asian International Partners

	Pregnancy Support Services of Asia (PSSA)
	South Korea: Women's Hope Center

African International Partners

	Association for Life of Africa
	Africa Cares Affirming Life