Victoria and Christiana

I am forever grateful for the Bowie Pregnancy Clinic, and especially my counselor, Marsha, who I first met in May 2000.  This is my story.

Upon the realization that I had missed my period, my heart immediately sank at the thought that I could possibly be pregnant.  I was only a 15 year old high school student.  What would I do?  I thought there was no possible way I could bring a child into this world and be able to meet all the needs that a child would need.  As panic sunk in, I called my then boyfriend (now husband) and he drove to my house with a home pregnancy test.  Our hearts were racing as we awaited the results…. the home pregnancy test showed that I was indeed pregnant.  Not knowing what to do, we researched pregnancy centers in the hopes that they could provide more information and advice on our options.  That is when we found the Bowie Pregnancy Clinic.

Our minds were pretty made up when we arrived for our appointment at the Clinic.  We had decided that having an abortion was the best option.  There were so many factors working against us having a baby, it just made the most sense to not have the baby.  We met our counselor, Marsha, who spoke with us for nearly two hours that day.  She was such a kind and caring woman, who answered every question we had with no absolutely no judgment.  She not once frowned upon us when we told her what we wanted to do, but instead educated us on our potential options.  At the end of our counseling session, she invited us to come back that following Wednesday for a sonogram.  Even though we already had our minds set on the abortion, we agreed. 

I remember Marsha calling me every day until my Wednesday sonogram to check on how I was doing.  She would always end our phone conversations with a prayer, which as time went on, I found extremely comforting.

The Wednesday sonogram was such an eye opening experience.  There, we found out our due date and was able to listen to our baby’s actual heartbeat.  That was a truly breathtaking experience.  That moment itself completely changed our lives.

As we highly contemplated changing our decision of having an abortion to keeping the baby, we faced many, many obstacles.  Our parents disapproved of our decision, we had to figure out what we were going to do about our schooling, we had to find a place to live, we had to find jobs, and so much more in the preparation of having and raising a baby, and especially at such a young age.  Through every step of the way, every obstacle we had to overcome, Marsha and the Clinic were there for us.  Marsha would call us weekly, sometimes daily, to check on how we were doing and would offer us endless encouragement through each and every obstacle.  With her support and with the support of all of the prayers we had from the Clinic, we overcame every obstacle… even the seemingly impossible ones. 

On January 6, 2001, we gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby girl that we named Christiana.  Marsha was one of the first people we called with the great news.  She came almost immediately with her hands full of gifts from herself and the Clinic.  Our parents, who initially disapproved with our decision, were overjoyed with the birth of their first 

granddaughter.  Time stood still and everything changed once we brought Christiana into our lives.  The seemingly impossible obstacles that once stood in our way somehow found paths and we felt, for the first time in our lives, that everything happens for a reason and everything was going to be okay.

Today, my husband Christian and I have been happily together for 15 years.  We have both worked extremely hard balancing work and finishing school while raising a child and are currently working in our careers as an Engineer and a Paralegal.  We got married in 2006 and had our second daughter, Mia, in 2009.  Christiana, our oldest, is now a 13 year old honor roll student getting ready to enter high school.  Christiana and Mia are, without a doubt, the joys of our lives and we could not imagine life without them.

I say that the Bowie Pregnancy Clinic helped saved my daughter’s life because they opened up our eyes and gave us the knowledge, the strength and the encouragement to help us carry out our decision in keeping our baby.  The Clinic brought our counselor, Marsha, into our life who guided us through each tough obstacle that a young teen faces having a baby at a young age.  Without her, or the Clinic, our daughter would not be here today.  But I also say the Bowie Pregnancy Clinic helped saved my life because in deciding that I wanted to keep my daughter, it opened up my eyes as to my life goals, and it gave me the push I needed to fulfill them.  I am advocating for this Clinic because it truly saves lives. 

Meet Our Moms - Babies Go to Congress 2015

Khalilah and Ashton

Laura and Mason

April and Derrick

Victoria and Christiana

Marcella and Yvette

Khalilah and Ashton

Almost a year ago, I had my beautiful, happy, crazy, yet very high-maintenance baby boy, Ashton. Before I found out I was pregnant, I was scared. I had no idea how I was going to do this alone, with no job, and trying to finish high school. At first, I hadn’t planned on parenting Ashton, and was leaning towards adoption. Adoption seemed like the best option at the time because I didn’t feel ready to have a child, and had not even planned on having children. I wasn’t ready for the late night poopy diapers, the sleepless nights, the tears, and most of all- I wasn’t mentally or emotionally ready to be a mother. I wasn’t ready to be anyone’s source of reliability!

The September before Ashton was born, I started a program at Matrix, called Earn While You Learn. It was easy to open up to my mentor as the time went on. The more classes I took, I felt closer and closer to my Matrix family. They cared about, comforted, and informed me about so much regarding caring for my son. Through an ultrasound, they showed me that the baby growing inside of me was so much more than just a fetus or “tissue”. I learned that I have many other options besides abortion. I learned there is so much more to parenting than I thought, but that with a little help I could really do it. I eventually decided parenting was the best choice for me and Ashton.

 Almost a year later, I feel like being Ashton’s mom is a job that comes so naturally now. It can be easy at times, but it can also be hard. It can actually be harder than most people think. It takes everything in me to keep up with Ashton, be emotionally and mentally prepared for the good and the bad. I think I have grown with my son so much. I’m honestly so proud of both him and myself as we have grown and continue to grow together and keep up with each other.  Something about carrying Ashton for 9 months and being his mom has changed my life so much. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. With my Matrix family and the crazy amount of support I have, I can say I honestly wouldn’t have made it alone.

“Women deserve better than abortion and the predators who profit from this deadly practice.”                                                                                               

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                               
Monday | December 15, 2014      
CONTACT: Jay Hobbs, Director of Communications & Marketing (media@HeartbeatInternational.org)

COLUMBUS, OH – Responding to breaking news over the weekend of eight additional victims coming forward against the alleged Dr. Nareshkumar Gandalal “Naresh” Patel in Oklahoma City, Heartbeat International has released the following statements:

“Women deserve better than abortion and predators who profit from this deadly practice,” Heartbeat International President Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D., said. “The shared story of these eight women points to the very reason Heartbeat International’s network of pregnancy help centers, maternity homes, and non-profit adoption exist, which is to provide a pregnant mother with all the information she needs to care for herself and her family during an unexpected pregnancy. 

“Women deserve to know the whole truth. Abortion facilities—Mr. Patel’s is merely the example of the day—often leave out the truth, putting abortion profits above what’s really best for mothers and their babies.

“Our network of pregnancy help organizations offers free services because the life of a mother and her baby are worth more than an abortion facility’s bottom line,” Hartshorn said. "It is tragic, in the case of these eight women, that they were reached by a preditory practicioner in an hour of great vulnerability, rather than a life-affirming voice in a local pregnancy help organization."

Patel was arrested Tuesday, Dec. 9, on charges of “fraud for prescribing abortion-inducing drugs to patients who are not pregnant,” according to a press release issued by Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt. While further investigation is ongoing, Patel’s original charges could result in a three-year jail sentence and a maximum fine of $15,000, according to the press release.

 It has come to our attention that an unknown third party committee is actively using Heartbeat International’s name and identity to solicit funds in a national campaign. 

In order to safeguard your security, we want to make it clear to you that Heartbeat International does not authorize or utilize third party fundraising entities in any way.

If you would like to make a donation to Heartbeat International, please visit: www.HeartbeatInternational.org/Donate.

Thank you for all you do to support our vital ministry, which is saving a baby from the violence of abortion every 4 minutes in the U.S. alone.

Take a "Selfless Selfie"! 

Let everyone know how you are participating in #GivingTuesday and that you support Heartbeat International by taking a Selfless Selfie.

Step One: Click here and print your selfless selfie page.

Step Two: Hold the page up and take a selfie.

Step Three: Post the selfie to Heartbeat's Facebook page with the hashtag #heroesforheartbeat

Step Four: Share your selfless selfie with your friends and family and encourage them to do the same! 

Step Five: HAVE FUN!!!

WHAT IS #GIVINGTUESDAY?

You’ve heard of Black Friday. You’ve heard of Cyber Monday. Maybe you’ve even heard of Small Business Saturday. But have you heard of Giving Tuesday? 

Giving Tuesday is a global day dedicated to giving back.

On Tuesday, December 1, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

For the third year in a row, Heartbeat International is thrilled to be a part of this day of giving. Now, YOU can make Heartbeat your charity of choice on #GivingTuesday by donating on December 1.

Your donation will reach and rescue lives from abortion around the world through our network of 1,800 life-affirming pregnancy help locations. Through this network over 3,000 babies are saved each week!

You can continue to be a vital role in this great work by supporting to Heartbeat on Giving Tuesday.

It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving to Heartbeat.

Be sure to follow Heartbeat on Facebook, Twitterto learn more about how you can be a Hero for Heartbeat on Giving Tuesday.

Join us and be a part of a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity!

Thank you for your support and generosity. With your help we are making abortion unwanted now and unthinkable for future generations.

He wants to help and hope to those hurting and you do that every single day.
Betty McDowell and Jor-El Godsey! from Heartbeat International.

David Bereit - I appreciate you

Kristan Hawkins - I want to truly thank you for being on the frontlines

Jeanne Mancini - We are praying for you

Special Message from Anne Pierson

Jay Hobbs - Every day, you are doing the work that God has called you to do

Thank you from Sandy Shoshani, Be'ad Chaim Israel
from Heartbeat International

Thank you from Congressman Andy Harris! 
Heartbeat International

"You do life-saving work for God's Glory!"
Heartbeat Board Member, Shiney Daniel from Heartbeat International.

"Thank you for your dedication and service." 
Heartbeat Board Member, Keith Armato from Heartbeat International.

"God bless you for the work you do today and all year long."
Heartbeat Board Member, John Wootton from Heartbeat International.

"You are making a difference."
Heartbeat Board Member, Sherry Wright from Heartbeat International.

"You are the heroes!"
Heartbeat Board Member, Zeke Swift from Heartbeat International.

"Your labor will not be in vain. You matter & you are saving lives!"
Heartbeat Board Member, Derek McCoy from Heartbeat International.

"Thank you for helping women, children and families."
Heartbeat Board Member, Gary Thome! from Heartbeat International.