“Stacia” is the proud mom of three teenage boys. At 41 years old and while separated from her husband, she met “Mike” and they began dating. Stacia and Mike had been together just a few months when they discovered Stacia was expecting. “I was pretty dead set on taking the easy route,” Stacia recalls. “I kept asking myself, ‘Do I really want to go back to that phase?’”
Mike pleaded with Stacia to push pause before pursuing an abortion. “He kept saying to me, ‘If you have any respect and love for me, you will at least talk to someone about our options.’” When Stacia relented, Mike made an appointment with one of our women’s care clinics.
This appointment and Mike’s compassionate determination changed everything for Stacia. Speaking of our clinic’s Care Coordinator, Stacia says, “She really slowed things down for me.” At just five weeks along, Stacia was reassured that she had time to think and consider her options before making a rash decision.
Through that season of waiting, Stacia and Mike continued talking about the possibility of parenting. It was clear to Stacia that Mike would be a committed, involved dad. He kept reminding her, “We’re in this together.”
When we provided a free ultrasound for the couple, “things just clicked,” according to Stacia. As soon as the baby’s beating heart appeared on the monitor, Mike bowed his head and took three deep breaths. “It was difficult, constantly on my mind; but I wanted Stacia to know I am here for her,” Mike says about that time of indecision.
Before they left their appointment, we shared about all the available services to help them thrive as parents. It was like a weight had been lifted from Stacia’s shoulders, as she and Mike held hands and laughed and talked about parenting. Having the support of Mike and our staff finally convinced Stacia that she could parent a baby again.
Today, Stacia and Mike are the proud parents of “Baby John” who captured the hearts of his big brothers. When asked about her visit to Human Coalition, Stacia says, “It was a life-changing decision that you and your staff guided us through. Mike and I are overjoyed!!”
