24-year-old Natalie sat in the waiting room, trying to keep her body from shaking.

She thought about pulling out a pack of cigarettes and smoking a few to calm down.

She remembered she was not supposed to do that while she was pregnant. Maybe it would not matter if she got the abortion.

Her body had not stopped shaking. Her friend put his arm around her. “It’s okay.”

They were called back to a counseling room and sat down with a client advocate.

Yesterday, Natalie had found out she was pregnant. Terrified, she had immediately pulled out her phone and searched for an abortion.

She clicked on the first advertisement she saw and was connected with Heroic Media’s Pregnancy Help Center partner in San Antonio.

She brought her friend to the appointment for emotional support.

They talked to the client advocate about how terrified she was of her ex-boyfriend, the father of this baby.

He was a violent criminal and this pregnancy was the result of a rape that had left her deeply traumatized.

She wanted to be done with this situation and she thought an abortion was the best way to achieve that.

The counselor comforted Natalie and helped walk through her complicated emotions.

She explained to Natalie the reality of an abortion and the resources that were available to her, including loving support if Natalie wanted to consider an adoption plan.

Natalie started to cry.

As they went to the ultrasound room, Natalie’s tears continued.

Then she saw her baby, measuring 17 weeks old.

Her perfectly formed child danced on the screen for her, and she could not contain her emotions.

Natalie left the appointment in tears, but the seeds that had been planted by the counselor stayed in her heart.

A few weeks later Natalie called the counselor back and asked her to help her set up an adoption plan with a local adoption agency.

Despite all the odds, Natalie bravely chose life for her child!

What a gift!

Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be
in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you.
He will not leave you or forsake you.”