by Katie Patrick
On Tuesday morning, at the Together for Life breakfast, I listened to Karen Bowling, executive director of Nebraska Family Alliance, quote the late Billy Graham, saying, “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.”
The courageous woman Bowling was speaking about was the Honorable Lynn Fitch, attorney general from Mississippi, who litigated the Supreme Court case that overturned Roe v. Wade.
On Tuesday, Jan. 24, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska gathered with other pregnancy help organizations from across the state, as well as with state lawmakers, community advocates and lobbyists, ministers and lay faithful – all committed to protecting and promoting the sanctity of human life. My staff and I were also blessed to attend a smaller gathering later that day with Attorney General Fitch. It was indeed an inspiring day.
I couldn’t help but think of a former client of ours. A little more than one year ago, I was called by the father of a family to come visit with his oldest daughter. She was in her senior year of high school and planning for college. It was past five o’clock on a Friday and I was about seven months pregnant at this time. Naturally I was a little tired but honestly, I was still eager to help this family before leaving for my maternity leave. As I drove over to their rental, I was trying to think what it could be about. Was she having trouble at school? Did she get let go from her after-school job? I had no idea, and I couldn’t have been more surprised by what they shared with me.
I arrived at their home and it was quieter than usual. They are a rather large family and there is usually a lot of activity going on when I am there. Within a few minutes of my arrival, the dad sent the younger children upstairs and asked for his wife and daughter to pull their chairs closer to mine. Now I was really confused.
The dad leaned in and started to tell me how important it was that I was there, and that they needed my help. He went on to tell me that his oldest daughter was pregnant, and that she was raped shortly before they moved to Nebraska. You could see the sadness on his face, that amid all the preparations he made for his family to find safety, in those final days his daughter was violated. A deeply Christian couple, with family values that I myself look up to, then turned to their daughter and asked her to speak with me. I looked at her and she quietly said to me that she wanted an abortion.
I couldn’t think of what to say next. I couldn’t think of anything to say. Thirty-eight years of being pro-life, with years of experience connecting with moms and their children at St. Gianna’s Women’s Home, and I couldn’t think of how to tell her how much she and her unborn child were loved.
But thankfully, I didn’t have to. She found the words, and brought me back in through them. By the grace of God, we entered into a conversation, talking about her fears, her dreams, her uncertainty, but ultimately, hope. A week later, she went to the Women’s Care Center where she heard the heartbeat of her son for the first time.
When I went to visit her a few days after she and her son came home from the hospital, and after commenting on how adorable he was, all snug and bundled up, I looked at her and asked, “Are you happy?” And with a huge smile, she replied, “Yes, Katie, I am very happy.”
Life in Nebraska didn’t turn out the way she thought it would, but as so often happens when we move families into our Nebraska community, no matter where they were, they are here now with a fresh start. For her and her family, a place to begin a new life. Now, thanks to the grace of God and her own courage to do the right thing, this family has added a new life—her son.
For any of you who have had an abortion, assisted with an abortion, or been personally impacted by an abortion of a family or friend, please know there is healing and reconciliation. I would encourage you to contact our Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center where you can be put in touch with a professional counselor trained in post-abortion healing ministry. They can be reached at 402-489-1834. God bless your courage!
