The unsung heroes of 2020
I’ve been involved in pro-life causes for over 20 years. My passion and commitment stem from my own regretful decision to have an abortion over thirty years ago. After choosing abortion, I experienced shame, guilt and regret. But I finally found healing through a pregnancy resource center (PRC) that offered me the help I needed through counseling programs. These programs made all the difference and I soon started using my own story to counsel other post-abortive women.
I’m forever thankful for those years of counseling experience, because little did I know they’d come into play once again during one of the most challenging times of our lives – COVID 19.
Since the coronavirus started, I receive messages at least three to four times per week from someone asking for help. During these unprecedented times, there is a greater fear among women in unplanned pregnancies than if we were living in normal circumstances. These women who reach out to me are unsure if they’ll have a job, they fear the world’s going to end or they’re facing constant pressure from a boyfriend, husband, parents or friends to have an abortion.
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One particular young woman reached out to me on Facebook on behalf of a friend who was 16 weeks pregnant. Her friend was scared but agreed to speak with me.
Her boyfriend, his family and her own mother were insisting she have an abortion. By the time she spoke with me, she’d already seen her baby on an ultrasound at a pregnancy resource center. She knew life was growing inside of her womb. She wanted her baby girl. She was determined to carry her pregnancy to term.
We spoke on the phone or texted almost daily for a month. I shared my own story of abortion with her and answered her questions about how it affected my life. I let her talk. I listened.
She told me she was getting more and more excited about the baby. She was fully aware her relationship with her boyfriend and her mother were in jeopardy if she didn’t go through with an abortion, but she said she needed to do what was right for her and her baby.
Then, one day, she didn’t answer my messages. She didn’t call me back.
I knew what that meant. It was all too familiar.
Three days went by before I finally heard from her. I answered the phone to a broken woman.
She was hysterical, “Why didn’t I listen to you? What have I done? Please, Victoria, get my baby back!”
I was heartbroken for her and her unborn daughter. I knew all too well this was going to be a long road to recovery. When she’s ready, I’ll make sure to get her into post-abortion recovery at her local PRC, but today, she’s in excruciating pain.
This is just one of so many stories I’ve been part of since COVID began. Unfortunately, a few of those I’ve counseled during this pandemic chose abortion, but I’m thrilled to say, more of them chose life.
I’ve been able to connect even more women to their local PRC so they could receive local counseling or the resources and assistance they need. I’m so thankful local PRC’s are determined to stay open and help those in their community. The free resources they offer bring hope to those families in need.
Because local PRCs continue to offer free ultrasound and options counseling, I’m convinced there are children who are alive today whose lives would have ended prematurely in abortion.
If it weren’t for the local pregnancy resource center, I would not have the counseling experience I needed to rely on over the past nine months.
If it weren’t for the local pregnancy resource center, there are families that would have gone without diapers, baby food, clothing or formula for their babies.
If it weren’t for the local pregnancy resource center, more unborn children would have died at the hands of an abortionist.
If it weren’t for the local pregnancy resource center, after-abortion recovery would not exist.
Thank you to all the local pregnancy resource centers, their staff, volunteers and board members across the country. You are the unsung heroes of 2020.
If you’d like to learn more or get involved in the work of your local pregnancy resource center, you can find information by visiting Heartbeat International.
Victoria Robinson is the Director of External Relations for Save the Storks, a pro-life organization. She is a former PRC director and has been a pro-life advocate and speaker for over two decades. Her speaking engagements have taken her around the world. She’s a frequent guest on radio programs, podcasts, television and other news outlets. Her book, “They Lied to Us” is now in its 4th print.
Save the Storks partners with pregnancy resource centers across the United States to empower women with choice during pregnancy.
