“Hello, thank you for calling LaVie. How may I help you?” A tearful, shaken voice responded with a forced whisper that was barely heard, “I need to know how to get an abortion.”
Beth already had a positive pregnancy test, an OB provider, and an ultrasound. She was adamant. She didn’t want any of those things, especially another ultrasound. Beth was so sweet, so mild-mannered, so soft-spoken, BUT so very afraid.
Her fear? “Pregnancy.” That one word brought out a fearfulness in her so large it drowned out every voice of reason and support in her life. She is a seasoned mom with a whole community of people behind her… a committed partner, and a supportive extended family. They all love her and her unborn baby so much and are incredibly excited about this pregnancy. Unfortunately, Beth could not hear, feel, or receive that love and support because of the high-pitched squeal of fear playing on repeat in her head. “You can’t do this.” “There’s no money for a baby.” “You’re not good enough,” blah blah blah…. “You’re just simply not enough.”
Beth came to her appointment at LaVie with two questions. “What will an abortion look like for my second trimester pregnancy, and how do I get one?” She met with our nurse, who helped slow life down for Beth, even if it was just for 60 minutes. She answered her questions with truth, grace, and compassion. She shared with Beth how loved and cared for she really is. Beth sat, listened, and cried. She took it all in, EVERY WORD the nurse said. By the end of that visit, Beth was ready to see her baby again. That ultrasound she was adamant she didn’t want the day before, she was ready for, and it was life-changing!
60 empowering minutes. That’s all it took to drown out the high-pitched squeal of fear.
60 minutes of informative care.
60 minutes of compassionate understanding.
60 minutes of kindness.
In Helen Keller’s words, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched; they must be felt with the heart.”
Beth’s heart felt something that day, and it was profoundly beautiful!
*names and identifiable information changed to protect patient privacy
Written by Jeanne Monroy, Lead Receptionist
