Friday, December 2, 2016

Stumbling Into Life: Sarah's Story

By Lauren Preusz

Sarah, a young and scared 14-year-old girl, stumbled into FirstCare by accident. She was actually trying to find the abortion clinic, as she was told it was in the same location. Upon walking in, she was warmly greeted by the First Care receptionist. She was asked what she needed. Sarah said that she had taken a positive pregnancy test at home and was looking to get an abortion. Although the receptionist told her they do not perform or refer for abortions, she also mentioned that First Care offers free proof of pregnancy and sonograms. Both of these are required for an abortion.





Sarah said that something inside of her was telling her to stay. She agreed to get the proof of pregnancy and sonogram at First Care, but only if they could see her right away. There had just been a cancellation ten minutes prior and one of our trained client advocates was free to see her right then.

Sarah was timid as she walked into the room, but the warmth and kindness shown to her by the client advocate quickly ameliorated her concerns. Sarah opened up, sharing that she became pregnant by her boyfriend and that he wanted nothing to do with raising a kid. She had just started her freshman year in high school and did not think she was able to care for a baby.

After quite some time of talking about Sarah’s concerns together, they also discussed possible solutions. If she were to parent, she could attend parenting classes and receive assistance with getting resources for her and her baby. If she decided not to parent, but to keep the baby, there were plenty of people with loving homes that would adopt.

In the end, Sarah decided to keep her baby, but to place the child for adoption. When asked what it was that led her to change her mind, she replied:


“I had no intentions of keeping my baby that day. I saw my pregnancy as a problem that could be quickly solved. After stumbling into First Care, which ended up being a total miracle that I did, I learned something new. I learned that there is a God out there and that He truly loves me. He makes no mistakes. If I’m not a mistake, then neither is my baby. Although I did not feel that I could personally care for the baby, nor was I ready, I wanted to give him or her a chance at a good life. I learned that ending the life of my baby was no solution; in fact, it would likely just cause more problems. I already felt so much guilt that morning heading to the abortion clinic, and I cannot imagine how I would feel if I were to have ended my baby’s life. Because of First Care I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy who was named Samuel. He is now learning to walk.

Young women like Sarah are daily reminders for us at First Care that the difference between choosing life or not is profoundly fragile. You can imagine what may have happened if she had not "stumbled into" First Care, but rather into an abortion clinic. Can you also imagine what would happen if First Care was not even available to help people like this young teenager? We'd like to ask for your support as another year comes to a close. Your financial gift will help provide women with a safe place for them and their unborn babies, where they are valued, cared for, and protected. What could be more important?

Click here to give now! We can't thank you enough  advance for your love, prayers, and support to celebrate, defend, and save life in Palm Beach County!

Sunday, November 13, 2016

The Narrow Line: Laney's Story

We want to share a story with you that demonstrates just how narrow the line between life and death can be.

“I’m here to have an abortion,” Laney announced as she walked through our door. The receptionist gently informed her that while First Care doesn’t perform abortions, a nurse would be able to confirm her pregnancy and perform a free ultrasound, and a counselor would be available to talk through her options.

Laney looked at the floor as she gave her reasons for wanting an abortion: She couldn’t afford a baby.  She was no longer with the baby’s father. She couldn’t imagine placing a child for adoption. 

Tears welled in Laney’s eyes as the ultrasound showed that her pregnancy was 19 weeks along and she realized that she had been feeling the baby kick.  When she learned that babies at this age can feel pain she changed her mind about abortion forever. “No,” she said, “I don’t think I can do that.”  

Had Laney walked into an abortion clinic she almost certainly would have had an abortion. Laney’s baby is alive today because someone provided a caring place for her to go in her time of crisis.  

Are you willing to make a lifetime of difference for women experiencing  crisis pregnancies?  You can save the next 135 babies by helping First Care meet our end-of-year goal of raising $160,000. Please make your most generous gift by clicking here!

Your gift will give women a safe place where they and their unborn babies are valued, cared for, and protected. What could be more important?

Saturday, October 15, 2016

"I Have to Kill It!"

"I have to kill it!" Those were the piercing words heard through the halls despite the closed door to the counseling room. Jane was one of the first clients to come in for our medical services and her pregnancy test came up positive. As we walked her through the intense emotions of the moment, we were surprised to learn that Jane was homeless and living as a prostitute to survive. Her life was a genuine mess.

Staff and volunteers were able able to care for Jane, give her a sonogram, and provide testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), as well as treatment. Jane heard for the first time that God loves her and has a plan for her life, even in the midst of the chaos, pain, and uncertainty! When Jane left the clinic that day, something had changed. She came in feeling like her only choice was to "kill" her baby, but she left feeling hope that there was a better way.

THIS is the redemptive work of God that we see every day at our First Care clinic locations across Palm Beach County. As we enter the fall months, and holiday season, funding for First Care is a top priority, particularly as we consider what's to come in 2017. To ensure that we do not lose any momentum, we are asking if you will consider a special gift to support the ministry. Will you pray about whether you can give $25 or $50 this week to support the pro-life movement in our community?

Thank you for considering this urgent call. Your love, prayers, and financial support are what keep so many of us encouraged and motivated at First Care. Each of us doing just a little bit truly can make all the difference in the world, to people just like Jane. Click the donate button to give now. You can also click here.

Friday, July 1, 2016

“We’re Looking for the Abortion Pill” Was Their Initial Request

Miranda is married with a three-year-old already at home. Due to difficulties in dealing with their current child, she and her husband came to First Care after discovering they were pregnant again. They shared that they were leaning towards aborting by using the abortion pill.

Miranda had already made a separate appointment with a local affiliate of the largest abortion provider in the United States, Planned Parenthood, but it had been rescheduled. As a result, they decided to come to First Care.

During their session with a trained counselor, Miranda was very interested in exactly how far along she was and when the baby's heart would start beating.  She expressed that whether or not she went through with an abortion would be determined by when the baby's heart starts beating.

After receiving education on fetal development and abortionprocedures, she then asked for a sonogram, which turned out to be inconclusive. Another sonogram was scheduled for a later date and Miranda left the clinic, with her husband, undecided that day.

After leaving, Miranda called Planned Parenthood to schedule an appointment to receive the abortion pill. During that phone call, she was told that she could not take the pill until she was over five weeks pregnant.

In the meantime, the couple returned to First Care for the second sonogram. Upon seeing the heartbeat of their unborn child in the sonogram, the couple decided to carry and parent their child. Their baby boy was born in June of this year.

We share this personal and powerful story because it symbolizes so many of the real lives we encounter in our First Care clinics. So much can happen in such a short amount of time. More often than not, the difference between a saved life and one that is aborted often comes down to seeming minutia.

Of course, in reality, we know that Almighty God is in the midst of every person’s crisis. We have seen countless lives experience the supernatural power of God to move through incredible circumstances to speak into the hearts and minds of people struggling to make the right decisions.


Will you join us in praying for individuals like Miranda and her husband, who we encounter daily in our clinic locations across Palm Beach County? Will you also consider a summer financial gift to support the ministry of First Care? Every gift – large or small – is a blessing beyond measure and goes directly toward saving and changing lives in our community. Simply click on the donate button to give now. Thank you for your love, prayers, and support!

Thursday, June 16, 2016

A 17-Year-Old Faces Her Fears

A 17 year-old recently visited our Lake Worth Clinic to get some advice about her pregnancy. This woman -- really, just a girl -- was hiding her pregnancy from her parents. She knew that if her mom or dad found out that she was pregnant, that they would try to force her to have an abortion; something that she knew in her heart was wrong.
She feared going to her normal doctor because she was still on her parents' insurance policy and was afraid they would get a bill and find out her secret.  She went online to see if she could find a free clinic and found First Care.
At First Care, she met kind and loving women who were able to provide her with a free ultrasound, medical advice and Godly counsel.  She set an appointment to meet with First Care's staff physician for a free OB consult the following week. She found the support that she needed to choose life for her unborn child.
Stories like this make me feel blessed to be a part of the ministry of First Care. While I have never personally counseled a client, performed an ultrasound, or administered a pregnancy test, I know that we can all still play a part in saving babies.  You too, have a lifesaving role to play and a job to do. For you, that may be volunteering, praying, or donating money. No matter what your role, I encourage you to embrace it and do it to the glory of God!

Monday, June 6, 2016

What If My Baby Had Been Adopted Instead of Aborted?


Melissa had an abortion in June. She didn't realize how much it would affect her. She told our counselor, "The children you abort haunt you." She hadn't received counseling before her abortion. Sadly, 67% of women considering an abortion receive no counseling before the procedure.

With this pregnancy she asked, "Do I have to have an abortion? I think if I could get help, maybe I could keep my baby or maybe someone would want to adopt her. I don't think I could go through with another abortion."

Through First Care, Melissa found a safe place to learn about the life growing inside of her, the many avenues of adoption, and an entire system of support available to help her choose life for her child.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

"How Can I Make Him Be A Father?"

Elaina came in for information about abortion. She had never been pregnant before and was excited to be pregnant. But she knew her boyfriend didn't want to be a father. She didn't want to lay a burden of fatherhood on him that he didn't want to bear, so she resigned herself to accepting that an abortion was really the only choice she could make. Statistics show that as many as 64% of women feel somewhat or extremely pressured by the baby's father to abort. Thankfully, Elaina found First Care and found the support she needed to walk through this difficult moment. Through the care and education she and her boyfriend received, they decided to protect their baby's life.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Hands Trembling, Sasha Whispered

Gazing at the glossy, freshly-printed ultrasound picture held in her trembling hands Sasha whispered, “It’s a boy.”
Sasha was terrified. She was already fifteen weeks pregnant, but this 17-year-old hadn’t told a soul. She knew, KNEW, in her heart that if her father found out he would drive her straight to an abortion clinic; abortions up to 24 weeks can be readily obtained in Palm Beach County.
Together, Sasha and her First Care advocate dialed Sasha’s mother on speaker. Together, they broke the news that Sasha was pregnant and that she wanted to keep the baby. Together, they made a plan for how they would approach Sasha’s father and then they prayed.
Through First Care, Sasha found medical care and advice about her pregnancy. She found an ear to listen and arms to support. But perhaps the most important thing she found was the simple truth that she was not alone.
Typically giving slows down as we enter the summer months, but the number of women in crisis does not. Will you prayerfully consider a special gift to First Care? This will help women like Sasha choose life for their babies this summer.

Friday, May 20, 2016

"I Saw With My Own Eyes": Sadie's Story

"My mom told me, 'You can clean the mess you made up by having an abortion.'" 17-year-old Sadie

Everyone in Sadie's life wanted her to have an abortion. Her mother kept emphasizing that it was the responsible way to clean up the "mess she had made." Her boyfriend wasn't ready to make a lifelong commitment as a father. Her grandmother even offered to buy her a car if she would have the abortion.

When Sadie came to First Care, she didn't know a single person who wanted her to keep her unborn child. Her skeptical mother and boyfriend were at her side when the silvery image of her unborn baby came into view on the ultrasound monitor.

"I saw him, and I knew he wasn't just a bunch of cells like I had been told." I saw with my own eyes and I knew that wasn't true," recalls Sadie.

That flicker of life changed everything. "I said, no, I want to raise him, I want to take him to his doctor's appointments; I want to be his mom."

Sadie realized that what was growing inside her was not a choice, but a life. Through the loving support and resources of First Care, Sadie chose to parent her son and has never looked back.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Elisa Gave a Face to Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking is ghastly. All sin is ugly, but human sex trafficking is so repulsive that we find ourselves avoiding its reality. Because it makes us uncomfortable, we ease ourselves into thinking that it exists in other places, not here, not next door. It’s easy to remain insulated until we meet someone like Elisa. Elisa gave a face to sex trafficking and yet her appearance was that of any other woman that ventures into a First Care Clinic. Only this mother of two young children had been kidnapped and held for weeks in Mexico.

Daily, Elisa endured physical and sexual abuse. It was two months before her boyfriend was able to secure her freedom. The cost of Elisa's liberty was $6,000, but the toll the kidnapping and abuse had taken on her was much greater. In the middle of the night, Elisa was set free in Texas. Eventually, she and her boyfriend landed in Florida, but Elisa remained in darkness. Plagued with nightmares, she often awoke with night sweats, screaming and trembling. She knew in her head that she was safe now but often, Elisa couldn't eat. Her captors had drugged her food to keep her drowsy, and unaware of her surroundings. She was still afraid. 

It was by "accident" that Elisa passed through the doors of First Care. She was in a doctor's office when a complete stranger overheard her speaking in Spanish to her boyfriend. The stranger realized the couple was in a desperate situation that would also be compounded by the fact that neither spoke English fluently. Elisa was clueless as to where she could find help. Even if she did find assistance, she would be unable to effectively communicate her situation. The stranger was convinced in her heart that she was supposed to help Elisa.

Audriana had just moved to the area and remembered a time when she herself had needed assistance and found it at a pregnancy resource center. If there was a similar facility nearby, she felt confident that Elisa would find the help she needed there. Inserting herself into the situation, Audriana asked the receptionist if such a place existed in Palm Beach County.

The receptionist directed Audriana to First Care‘s Belle Glade clinic, which happened to be right around the corner from where they were. The two women, strangers just moments before, made their way to the clinic where Audriana translated between Elisa and a First Care client advocate. 

Elisa poured out the whole story through Audriana and into the heart of the First Care client advocate. She told them of the kidnapping, abuse and how she and her boyfriend had reported the events to the police. There was a warrant drawn up for the arrest of those responsible for Elisa's terrible ordeal. It became more and more apparent as the conversation continued that it was no "accident" that Elisa was directed to First Care! 

When she saw that the pregnancy test result was positive, Elisa wept. It was clear that the couple needed extensive counseling and First Care would see that it was received. Understandably, Elisa's hurts were very deep. She was adamant that she would not carry a baby that was conceived through rape. Jake, her boyfriend agreed. The couple was frightened by the uncertainty of the future and Jake was furious with the events of the past. He was extremely angry with those who abused Elisa.

Elisa and Jake left that day undecided on the fate of the unborn baby that rested in Elisa’s womb—a baby that was the result of sin, violence and hate.  

Elisa didn’t return the following week for her follow-up visit. Calls to her cell phone went unanswered and eventually the number was disconnected.  First Care staff and volunteers prayed for Elisa, Jake and her unborn child. While they held out hope that Elisa would keep her baby, the silence made them fear for the worst.

Three months after her initial visit Elisa returned to First Care for a follow-up ultrasound. Her appearance had changed drastically. She was eating again, and the nightmares that had once plagued her sleep were starting to finally subside. She also informed her First Care client advocate that she had decided to keep the baby!

We serve an amazing God, a God who can and does intervene in even the direst circumstances. We praise God that Elisa was able to find peace in the midst of her struggles and that He paved the way for her to get help in a loving and caring place like First Care.  

This is why First Care exists: To help women in crisis make life-affirming choices for their unborn babies. We help them eliminate the crisis, not the child.

Monday, May 16, 2016

"The Hardest Word": A Real Life Story of Abortion

We love to share success stories with you so that together we can celebrate the hundreds of little lives that you save each year. Sadly though, there are still thousands of abortions every year in Palm Beach County alone. One of the often overlooked tragedies of abortion is how much women who have had abortions can suffer from their decision in the years that follow.

When you save babies from abortion, you are also saving women from a lifetime of inner turmoil. The following story was recently emailed to us by one of our supporters who was brave enough to share her own abortion experience.

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I had an abortion 26 years ago. I was a 20-year-old at the time and didn't want my parents to find out. I was very self-centered back then and never considered the option of having the baby. In fact, that never was an option in my mind.

I was told by others at the time that the worst part of the abortion procedure was the sound of the suction machine, so I brought my Sony Walkman all set to go with Elton John's "Live in Australia" album. The song that started playing in my ears during the procedure was "Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word." I felt like the baby was saying the lyrics directly to me:

What have I got to do to make you love me? 
What have I got to do to make you care?

What do I do when lightning strikes me,
And to wake to find that you're not there?

What do I do to make you want me?
What have I got to do to be heard?
What do I say when it's all over, 
And sorry seems to be the hardest word?

It's sad, so sad, it's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd

It's sad, so sad, why can't we talk it over?
Oh, it seems to me, that sorry seems to be the hardest word.
These lyrics tore at my heart, but I was afraid to stop the music and fast forward because then I would hear the suction machine.

Many years later, I was married and trying to get pregnant, and all the while thinking that God was saying to me, "I gave you a baby once, and look what you did! Why would I give you another one?" By the grace of God, after five years, I was blessed with a beautiful baby girl and the realization hit me again about the baby I had aborted.

What I had missed out on as a result of my abortion? I thought about how I could have blessed a couple who couldn't have a baby of their own. I've never felt such a deep connection to another human being as I have with my child -- as if my heart was now walking around outside my body.

I have to believe that God can make something positive come from a decision that I have always regretted. I know that God, through Jesus, has forgiven me, but the hardest part has always been forgiving myself.

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It was difficult to read this story with dry eyes, but as painful as it is, please know that God is now using this very same woman to play an active role in helping women in crisis pregnancies to choose life. You can do the same thing by getting involved at First Care!


Sunday, May 15, 2016

Haley Was Pregnant Again

Haley was pregnant again.  It was her second crisis pregnancy in three months. The first pregnancy ended in abortion. She knew she didn’t want another child—she already had two little ones she could barely handle.  But, she also knew that her previous abortion gave her nightmares. When she closed her eyes she was haunted by the sound of the surgical vacuum and the loss of what had been taken from her.

At wits end, Haley called the same abortion clinic hoping that someone there would be willing to talk her through her decision.  She was curtly informed on the phone that the abortion facility didn’t have time to give her advice, just “a price and an appointment.”  She made the appointment.

Still conflicted about her decision Haley told a friend about her situation, and her friend suggested First Care.  At the First Care clinic, Haley found what she was looking for:  someone to listen, someone to care.  After receiving options counseling, prayer and an ultrasound Haley called the abortion clinic and cancelled her appointment.  She chose life for her unborn child.

It is truly a blessing that women like Haley have a place to go where the taking of a human life isn’t viewed as a commercial transaction.  Her appointment at First Care was free, but the decision she made was priceless.