Burdened with Guilt: Finding Hope

Scared and unsure, Rachel walked onto the Mobile Medical Unit trembling and looking for answers. No one else knew by looking–her secret was hidden deep beneath the surface. It had been two years, but the regret and pain had never subsided. Rachel had managed to bury it for all this time, but this new development just brought all of those emotions back to the surface–it was making everything worse.

Without insurance, Rachel didn’t have many options. But since AlphaCare’s services are free and don’t require insurance, she came to us. The idea of being pregnant again felt daunting. Rachel slowly, timidly opened up to the nurse, and eventually was able to confess her secret: she had chosen to abort her last baby. Through tears she expressed the significant regret and ongoing grief that she experienced over her decision to abort, and admitted that being pregnant again only magnified it.

With great care and sensitivity, AlphaCare’s nurse gently helped Rachel through the pregnancy test. The test was positive, and as our nurse did the ultrasound, Rachel had the opportunity to see the image of that tiny baby on the monitor.

Though Rachel knew first-hand the consequences of choosing abortion, she admitted that it was still going to be very difficult to care for a baby on her own. Our staff had the privilege of offering her hope, ongoing help and support throughout her pregnancy and the baby’s infancy. As they prayed with Rachel before she left, she became emotional once more.

She was so grateful for a little glimmer of light in her darkness. Before she left, she made an appointment for a follow-up visit with our social worker. She chose to keep her baby.

Our staff is praying that eventually Rachel will be ready to attend a trauma healing workshop, so we can share with her the best hope–our only hope.

If you’d like to help us continue offering free services to women like Rachel, consider giving toward our mission.