Heaven: I Like to Think that AlphaCare Chose Me
When Heaven was 17 years old and about to enter her senior year at a West Philadelphia high school, she discovered she was pregnant. She knew immediately that she wanted to keep her baby, even though she was not in a steady relationship with the child’s father. She believed she could handle life as a single parent, knowing that would involve sacrificing activities she enjoyed, such as carefree outings with friends. She resolved to have her baby, finish high school, study real estate for a year, and then go to college. Her mother, however, didn’t approve of her plans and asked her to move out. “The same thing had happened to her and she said it was a struggle and she didn’t want to see me struggle,” Heaven explained recently in an email. “She didn’t have faith in me graduating or being able to be a mother at all.” Heaven was going to need some help and during an online search, she found AlphaCare.
“I wasn’t even planning on staying for long, but they were so supportive and helpful, and they encouraged me, unlike at home. I knew I needed them,” Heaven recalled. “So I like to think that AlphaCare chose me.”
During her initial in-person appointments, Heaven was given an ultrasound and had some concerns addressed. She shared her desire to keep her baby and continue attending school. AlphaCare’s professional team provided the critical assistance she needed to navigate both of those processes. Nurses Kim Bennett and Sue Henderson answered her pregnancy and delivery questions, while client advocate Karissa Forino provided inspiration and practical support, such as supplying financial planning worksheets and communicating with Heaven’s high school guidance counselor. When the coronavirus crisis hit, AlphaCare’s watchfulness over Heaven continued through virtual appointments. “They made it as comfortable as they could,” she wrote. “They made it seem like I was there in person.”
Along the way, Heaven’s mother experienced a change of heart. “I think what changed her was seeing me wake up for school everyday, doing homework, going to work, and coming back with good grades. She realized that I could do it and I was going to do it. I was determined because I wasn’t only doing it for myself. I was doing it for my baby, too.” Heaven’s mother became so excited at the prospect of her new grandchild that she volunteered to host Heaven’s gender-reveal party.
On March 8, 2020, Heaven gave birth to a son, whom she named Chosen. Both of Chosen’s grandmothers were at the hospital to support her (Heaven remains friendly with Chosen’s father). After the new family returned home, AlphaCare delivered diapers, baby clothes, and other accessories. In the midst of the pandemic, “they made it their priority to make sure my baby and I were okay.”
During a year of unprecedented and bewildering changes, Heaven found a dependable refuge in AlphaCare. After successfully graduating from high school, she’s eyeing a stint in real estate and then college, just as she had originally planned. Her family adores Chosen and assists with his care. “If it wasn’t for AlphaCare and especially Karissa, I wouldn’t be as strong as I am now,” she maintains. She offers this advice for anyone who is pregnant and feeling down: “You have to push through and accomplish what you have planned. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. Whenever you feel discouraged, think about the little one depending on you. They need you.”