40 Days for Life keeps growing … September 27 through November 5

40 Days for Life.com ^ | 09--27-17 | 40 Days for Life staff

[Salvation]

40 Days for Life keeps growing … Planned Parenthood keeps shrinking

September 27, 2017

As 40 Days for Life begins its eleventh year as a coordinated pro-life outreach, Christians began prayer vigils today in more than 375 locations around the world – the largest campaign yet for this pro-life movement.

“More than 150 of these peaceful vigils will be taking place in front of Planned Parenthood facilities in the United States,” said 40 Days for Life president Shawn Carney. “While Planned Parenthood remains the largest abortion chain in the United States, 2017 has not been a good year for them.”

As 40 Days for Life has grown even larger in 2017, just this summer Planned Parenthood shut down abortion centers in Chandler, Arizona; Vacaville, California; and Sioux City, Iowa. Additionally, Planned Parenthood announced it would ¬¬¬¬close referral centers in Casper, Wyoming and Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

“At all of those locations, faithful Christians prayed on the sidewalks outside during 40 Days for Life vigils,” Carney said. “All total, we are now aware of 90 abortion centers that have gone out of business permanently following 40 Days for Life vigils since our coordinated campaigns began in 2007. We don’t take credit. We just note that people prayed for an end to abortion in their communities, and the places that offered abortions then closed.

“Former Planned Parenthood employees have reported that the ‘no show’ rate for an abortion appointment goes as high as 75% when people are out in front praying,” Carney said. “Going out to these places is the ultimate way to defund the abortion giant.”

Internationally, 40 Days for Life campaigns are being conducted for the first time in three new countries – Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hungary and Taiwan. “All of our prayers – gathered together as one – can make an enormous difference,” said Carney.

40 Days for Life consists of 40 days of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil and community outreach. Two campaigns are conducted each year – one in the fall, and one during the Christian season of lent. The dates for the current campaign are September 27 through November 5.

The first 40 Days for Life vigil was conducted outside a Planned Parenthood abortion center in Bryan, Texas in 2004. That facility closed in 2013, and the former Planned Parenthood building now serves as 40 Days for Life’s international headquarters.

[Salvation]

Ventura, California

October 28, 2017

Volunteers prayed while a mother of four – pregnant with her fifth child – drove into Planned Parenthood.

They were afraid she was about to make the biggest mistake of her life.

But then she saw a man on the sidewalk holding a cross.

She left Planned Parenthood and got into a car with people who had come to pick her up – but not until she stopped to share the good news that she would not be going through with the abortion.

“If we can save one baby’s life,” said George in Ventura, “there’s rejoicing in heaven! Keep coming out to pray!”

[Salvation]

DAY 33: Twins!

October 29, 2017

There’s just something about twins.

Even a woman who seems strongly determined to abort her baby can have a total change of heart when she hears it’s not one baby but two.

Some of our favorite 40 Days for Life stories are about mothers of twins who were “prayed out” of having an abortion. So today, here are two stories – about twins!

Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Some of the men at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Cherry Hill struck up a conversation with a young man whose girlfriend had an abortion appointment. She was 16 weeks pregnant … with twins.

After a while, the young woman came out of the abortion center and insisted she was going through with the abortion.

As she spoke to the volunteers, her concerns started to roll out. They already had a very young child. The place they lived was way too small. His job just didn’t provide enough money. She didn’t have a car. She’d made up her mind that abortion was her best choice.

Vigil participants offered to raise money to help meet their expenses. The father seemed encouraged and tried to get the mother to change her mind. But she went back into the abortion center.

At this point, a volunteer encouraged the dad to follow her in “and love her out of there” … telling her that he would do everything he could to be the best father possible.

When he went in, he found her dressed in a hospital gown for an abortion. “He had the courage to cause a scene!” the team member said. “He told her they should do the right thing and love their children.”

They came outside and said there would be no abortion. The offers of help continued to flow in. A man said he’d give them the car he was planning to sell. Another promised to go to his church for financial support.

Another volunteer exchanged phone numbers with the couple, and they hugged and left the abortion center. Later that day, the young man was offered the higher-paying job he had applied for.

“This story is a perfect example of how our peaceful presence at the abortion facility is essential,” the 40 Days for Life team member said. “God uses us as his hands and feet to help save children and spread His mercy.”

[Salvation]

Spring Valley, New York

October 29, 2017

“A woman pulled into the parking lot behind our 40 Days for Life post and walked over to me,” said one of the volunteers in Spring Valley.

“She wanted to thank me and all of us who stand out here for life.”

Many years ago, she told him, she was planning to have an abortion. She had two kids and said things just weren’t right for having another child.

But someone was praying outside the building, and offered her information on her way in.

The abortion facility did an ultrasound exam, and showed her the image.

Twins!

With that, she read the information she was given … and got up and left. Her twins are now 24 years old.

“So uplifting a story!” said the 40 Days for Life volunteer. “It shows how God blesses our time for standing up for life!”

[little jeremiah]

Somehow I missed seeing this thread lately. If you have a ping list for 40 Days for Life, please add me.

This thread is the most uplifting and touching thread on FR ever.

Thank you so much for posting it with such dedication. I will read everything I haven’t read yet tomorrow.

[Salvation]

DAY 34: “I want my money back!”

October 30, 2017

Please pray for all the moms who’ve said “yes” to life during this 40 Days for Life campaign!

Our dedicated local leaders say that so far, they are aware of …

…

366 babies spared from abortion since Day 1!

And talk about last-minute decisions! We know off a couple of cases where the moms changed their minds AFTER they’d paid for the abortions.

[Salvation]

Toledo, Ohio

October 30, 2017

A young woman in Toledo had scheduled an abortion, though it turns out the abortion was more of her boyfriend’s idea than her own.

She had made the initial payment at the abortion facility … but after thinking about it, she changed her mind.

“She went back into the facility to ask for her money back,” said Peter in Toledo, “and told the staff that she in fact herself does not believe in abortion.”

When she left the building, volunteers talked and prayed with her, then directed her to life-affirming community resources.

Peter said this came right after the annual procession to the abortion center, an event that gathers more than 300 participants.

[Salvation]

El Paso, Texas

October 30, 2017

Families at the 40 Days for Life vigil in El Paso vigil learned that a woman – mother to four other children – had scheduled an appointment and paid $450 for the abortion pill.

“Her husband wanted the baby,” said Mark, one of the local leaders, “so she was planning on telling him that she miscarried.”

After volunteers talked to her, they led her to a pro-life pregnancy help center where she decided to keep her baby.

“This makes six confirmed lives saved in our community,” Mark said, “all because people just like you showed up on the sidewalk to pray! I am so grateful to God for each one of you who make these local community prayer vigils possible.”

[Salvation]

DAY 35: Planned Parenthood is scary!

October 31, 2017

It’s All Hallows Eve – a day that should inspire thoughts of the saints in heaven, but often conjures up images of things meant to scare us.

But what is actually scary is the mindset that drives the largest abortion operation in America — Planned Parenthood. And it starts with their leadership.

In this Halloween podcast episode, we take a look at the genuinely frightening thoughts that have come from the minds of Planned Parenthood presidents, past and present.

Just to cite one … they insist that the question of when life begins is an ambiguous thing, and what really matters is when the mother says the child’s life begins.

That bit of “wisdom” was offered by current Planned Parenthood boss Cecile Richards.

There’s also the dilemma of supporting abortion as a means of “empowering women” … when 50% of all abortion victims are female.

Check out the “Bad Presidents” podcast.

[Salvation]

Columbia, Missouri

October 31, 2017

Two babies were saved, but five were lost. So it went on the day that abortions resumed after a lengthy hiatus at Planned Parenthood in Columbia.

(Over the past five years, abortions only took place there during a three-month period in 2015.)

“We saw the triumph of God as He saved babies,” said Kathy, the local 40 Days for Life coordinator, “and witnessed the horror of what happens when moms come for the procedure that will end their child’s life and will put a mark on their heart that will never go away.”

This Planned Parenthood center wanted to offer abortions the week before, but the abortionist was a no-show. This time, she arrived.

A video crew from New York was also present. “Their huge cameras and four people milling about on the sidewalk were very disruptive to our peaceful prayer presence,” Kathy said. “They tried to interview many, but were rejected as their intrusive cameras were right in their faces.”

Still, the attention was on those who arrived for abortions – the woman whose second child had developmental problems, and feared her third child would have them as well; the teenager whose mother had no interest in hearing about other young mothers who had rejected abortion. And the others.

For her part, Kathy said it’s more important than ever for people to pray outside this abortion business.

“We are praying this will end soon when an investigation into Planned Parenthood’s practices begins, but we have to be prepared.”

[Salvation]

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 31, 2017

One of the 40 Days for Life volunteers talked with a young man on the sidewalk outside of Planned Parenthood … while his girlfriend was keeping an appointment inside.

“At the end of the conversation, the boyfriend went in and brought her out,” said Monique, the local campaign coordinator. “At least on that day, we know the baby was not a victim of Planned Parenthood!”

Philadelphia’s Catholic archbishop stopped at the vigil recently. “It was such a peaceful, beautiful atmosphere,” Monique said, when Archbishop Charles Chaput led prayer with about 30 people. There were also four clinic escorts present at the time.

“As the prayer began initially there was a respectful silence even among the escorts,” she said, though they later began chatting loudly. That did not affect the prayer.

The clinic escorts also seemed miffed that the police officers who were present treated vigil participants with respect. “As we told them how much we appreciated their presence and how much we were praying for their safety, our officers were simply beaming,” Monique said. “Thank God for our awesome relationship with these men and women of the law!”

[Salvation]

DAY 36: Two tools of the devil

November 1, 2017

Discouragement and isolation.

The devil uses them to tempt, frustrate and intimidate us so we lose our resolve to defend life.

During this campaign, we have seen record turnouts at vigil sites, and can’t wait to report the final results after the campaign.

The tens of thousands of people participating show powerful unity, strength and support in the midst of many temptations. This was heard loud and clear when I visited Cincinnati to help mark their tenth anniversary of hosting 40 Days for Life.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Our leader, Mary Clark, has been saving lives outside the largest abortion facility in Cincinnati for a decade.

During the rally, Mary pointed out that the Planned Parenthood abortion center was usually lit by floodlights at night. But on this evening, those lights were off – “almost as if they didn’t want to draw attention to us.”

I truly believe that it’s only a matter of time until this facility joins the 90 abortion facilities that have closed following 40 Days for Life campaigns.

Cincinnati is one of the cities that joined that first national 40 Days for Life campaign in 2007, and is one of the few that have continued annually with the same director. Mary’s prayerful leadership and resolve should inspire you as we enter the home stretch of this campaign.

[Salvation]

Annapolis, Maryland

November 1, 2017

When 40 Days for Life board member Tibor Baksy visted the vigil in Annapolis, he met with people who have been praying outside the abortion center there for more than ten years.

The first 40 Days for Life campaign at the Planned Parenthood facility in Annapolis took place in 2009.

When it came to campaign leadership, Carolyn, the local coordinator, “said the Lord spoke to her and she answered the call,” Tibor said. “As always, her husband Carl was at her side, helping and encouraging everyone.”

Tibor shared stories from other 40 Days for Life vigils and “encouraged everyone to stay committed to what I believe is God’s call. It was a great visit in Annapolis!”

[Salvation]

Latin America

November 1, 2017

40 Days for Life’s Katharine O’Brien is quoted in the British newspaper The Guardian. And that’s good.

But the article she’s quoted in has a definite spin to it: “US anti-choice groups are coordinating and financing a campaign to restrict access to abortion across Latin America and the Caribbean.”

It suggests that the paper’s investigative efforts have made a huge discovery – that 40 Days for Life is operating in Latin America. Well, of course we are! And it’s no secret – you’ve been reading about it in these emails for several years now.

Abortion is banned in much of Latin America. Big Abortion wants to change that, so it labels 40 Days for Life and other organizations as the bad guys – “anti-rights groups.”

The writer almost seems to be rolling her eyes at what Katharine is doing in Colombia; for instance: “O’Brien trains locals on how to lead ‘prayerful’ clinic protests. Activists are trained in ‘sidewalk counseling’ outside abortion clinics to give women ‘other options’ and ‘help them through what must be the most difficult time in their life.'”

Why the “scare quotes”? Probably because these pro-life efforts in Latin America are working!

[Salvation]

DAY 37: Another worker quits!

November 2, 2017

It’s not a cliche to say that abortion is about hearts and minds; it’s a reality.

No one aspires to work in an abortion facility; it is never the plan. When abortion workers see that you are praying for them and that you really do care, the wall comes down. Here’s an example.

A car was leaving the abortion center parking lot, and the driver slowed to talk to them. “Thank you!” the driver said, in a somewhat shaky, emotional voice … then adding, “I’m sorry.”

The driver worked at the abortion facility – but had just quit.

It was while on the way into work that this employee saw people praying. “I felt I was in the middle and they were praying for me.”

“We were!” said one vigil participant.

The boss tried to talk the employee out of leaving, but had no success; the worker was convinced that resigning was the only choice.

Volunteers offered to help in the job search. At this point, the driver broke down in tears, saying it was clear that the 40 Days for Life people really do care, even though the abortion clinic manager said otherwise.

Said one of the vigil participants, “Praise God! Praise God! Praise God!”

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That’s our BIG “good news” item for the day. Here are some more brief, joyful, encouraging nuggets from our hard-working local 40 Days for Life coordinators.

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Columbia, South Carolina

Two clients went from Planned Parenthood to the pregnancy help center. The boyfriend of the first was particularly delighted to see his baby on the ultrasound and hear the heartbeat. He wants to keep his child!

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Merrillville, Indiana

We witnessed our second save during this 40 Days for Life campaign!

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Charlottesville, Virginia

A woman and a young boy, out taking a walk, passed the vigil. On their return trip, the woman said that someone out in front of Planned Parenthood had talked her daughter out of having an abortion seven years ago. Now she is enjoying her grandson, who keeps her very busy!

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Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A volunteer got to talk with a woman and she decided to go to the pro-life pregnancy help center after coming out of the abortion facility. Then another woman just needed encouraging words. He shook her hand and off she went!

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Birmingham, England

Another TWO mums changed their minds about abortion this morning which means that at least EIGHT women have kept their babies this campaign. A positive start to a solemn day.

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San Luis Obispo, California

By the grace of God, two more babes were saved!

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Dallas, Texas

We had another baby saved — number 14 for this campaign that we know of! Mom and dad went to the pregnancy resource center for a sonogram, and found out the baby is ten weeks and three days old!

[Salvation]

DAY 38: Exporting abortion

November 3, 2017

Many countries in the West export great products around the world. But we also export abortion.

We discuss this in detail in the Aborting Africa podcast episode.

One example of this is the British-based abortion business, Marie Stopes, going into Mexico. The people of Mexico have responded with great faith and looked to the United States for ways to oppose the spreading of abortion in their nation.

As a result, Mexico is one of the fastest-growing countries for 40 Days for Life.

Vigils are under way in 22 locations in Mexico right now – and Katharine O’Brien, our director of Hispanic and youth outreach, was able to visit many of them during this campaign.

Here’s a quick look at some of Katharine’s stops.

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Roma

Mexico’s first 40 Days for Life campaign took place in the Roma section of Mexico City.

“They have so many great stories,” Katharine said, “as they continue to change and develop. Their volunteers are very dedicated. During the 40 Days for Life campaigns, they notice a decrease in the number of abortions.”

The owners of the small restaurant next to the Marie Stopes abortion center are big supporters of the campaign, and serve many of the volunteers at the vigil.

“One participant has an amazing voice and when she prays,” Katharine said, “Marie Stopes shuts the window. However, we think they can still hear the prayers.”

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Pedregal

Pedregal’s 40 Days for Life vigil is next to a Marie Stopes center that’s on a busy, noisy road.

“They have a small team,” Katharine said, “but they were deeply dedicated.”

After one couple chose life for their child, Marie Stops started putting up a metal fence on the sidewalk in an effort to keep the vigil participants away from their clients.

“We saw several women leave looking very upset,” Katharine said. “Most likely, they had just had abortions. One girl was probably 18 years old.”

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Iztapalapa

Tere in Iztapalapa is an experienced leader who has a great group of supporters and prayers volunteers.

This campaign is outside another Marie Stopes facility, where the business also sets up a metal barrier every day to keep the 40 Days for Life participants away from the door.

“They have had a few saves,” Katharine said. “However many women decide to get abortions, so it can sometimes be discouraging for them. But they pray all day long. Despite the challenges, the volunteers are lively and love the campaign.”

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Xola

At the 40 Days for Life vigil in Xola, Norma and Marcos are extremely dedicated to the campaign. They spend many hours each day on the sidewalk outside of Mexfam.

Mexfam is surrounded by food vendors along the street. Norma and Marcos made sure to tell each vendor about 40 Days for Life and what they are doing.

About 70 people attend on a regular basis to participate on the sidewalk.

Norma and Marcos told Katharine, “Just like a fish needs water, we need the campaign. This is what sustains us. We love 40 Days for Life! The community has said yes to life and has adopted us. They bring us sweaters and food. This is God’s providence at its greatest.”

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Coyoacan

At the 40 Days for Life vigil in Coyoacan, Hugo Rico is a very dedicated leader.

“He spends many hours out on the sidewalk,” Katharine said. “There are several different groups of people who came out to take over the shifts, including a group of mothers who come to the campaign after they get their kids to school.”

This vigil is also right next to a Marie Stopes facility.

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La Villa

The 40 Days for Life coordinator in La Villa is Marycarmen, a mother of three and a physical therapist. “When she isn’t working and caring for her kids,” Katharine said, “she is out at the campaign.”

The vigil is outside the front door of the facility … in a neighborhood near the basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Marycarmen has found that campaign leadership involves a lot of work, “but she is taking it in stride and doing a great job,” said Katharine. “For better or for worse, she said the clinic workers pretty much ignore them.”

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Azcapotzalco

Alejandro Martinez is the 40 Days for Life leader in Azcapotzalco.

“There were several volunteers at the vigil site when we arrived – people who often take several hours on the sidewalk to keep the vigil filled,” Katharine said.

People continued to arrive to pray, she said, “including some very lively participants from other pro-life groups who seemed to really like 40 Days for Life. “

[Salvation]

DAY 39: Final weekend!

November 4, 2017

This is the final weekend of this 40 Days for Life campaign … so find your vigil now!

https://40daysforlife.com/browse-campaigns/

I am in California … where 40 campaigns are finishing strong.

A large crowd came out at night at the San Fernando Valley vigil in Mission Hills, including Bishop Joseph Brennan, pictured here along with Patti Flores, who has led 40 Days for Life here for ten years!

I also met two wonderful directors, who run the pro-life pregnancy help center directly across the street from the abortion facility.

[Salvation]

“I want more abortions”

November 4, 2017

That shocking line was directed at the 40 Days for Life team in Phoenix, Arizona.

When you spend a lot of time on the sidewalk in front of an abortion center, you’re likely to see and hear almost anything.

“While praying alone early Friday morning, I was stunned when a woman pulled into the drive,” said Garrett in Phoenix. “She slowed her car, rolled down the window and sneered.”

“I want more abortions!” she said.

“I prayed silently for her conversion,” Garrett said. “Her blunt and callous words are a sad reminder of what many pro-abortion people believe.”

But it’s good that there was someone praying that day … and that can make all the difference.

The testimony of a woman who’d had an abortion made that abundantly clear to Mark in El Paso, Texas.

She made her first appointment for an abortion and drove to the facility, but saw volunteers praying peacefully and just kept driving right past the facility and returned home. She made a second appointment – and the same thing happened.

But she made a third appointment and yet again drove to the abortion center. This time, there was no one praying, so she turned the wheel to pull into the facility. She regrets it to this day.

“Never be tempted to stop praying in front of the abortion facility because it seems slow,” Mark said. “That’s precisely when we need to persevere and pray all the more!”

Your presence is also important because the lies that are told at abortion businesses can have life-threatening consequences. You’ve no doubt heard the one about “it’s a blob of tissue and not a baby.”

Jeff in Nashville, Tennessee tells of a woman who had scheduled an abortion. She had two children with her when she spoke to volunteers at the 40 Days for Life vigil.

“She said the saddest thing,” Jeff recalled. “She said it’s not a baby yet because the ultrasound wasn’t clear.”

The young mother is still scheduled to have an abortion. Family members are trying to talk her out of it, but her dad is insistent because the baby’s father is a drug addict. Please pray!

In spite of all the challenges, however, Lisa in Glendale, Arizona has a simple message for the volunteers at the 40 Days for Life vigil there. And it actually applies to all of us: “Be encouraged!”

We should be encouraged because we carry the light of Christ to the darkness of the abortion industry.

“Take heart,” she said. “The light has always been there … the flame is bright. It must burn with the Holy Spirit. Many of you keep that fire burning and the evil one is desperately trying to put the flame out. We must stand firm … to transform a place of darkness into a place of love and peace.”

So there’s your invitation! Join tens of thousands of others around the world today and pray for an end to abortion.

[Salvation]

DAY 40: “You weren’t here for me?”

November 5, 2017

“How dare you judge them! Planned Parenthood saved my life!”

Paula, a dedicated prayer volunteer in Orange, California, shared a powerful story with me during my visit there.

She said a very hostile woman approached her and began yelling at her for “judging and harassing” Planned Parenthood. She claimed they saved her life when they aborted her baby 20 years ago.

When the woman stopped, Paula calmly and compassionately looked at her and said, “They didn’t save you. They killed your baby.”

The woman got upset and left. As Paula prayed for her, she came back, looked at Paula with a different demeanor, and said, “Why were you not out here for me when I went in for my abortion? No one was here.”

Paula told me, “I felt guilty. I should have been here for her. I am in my sixties … and the reality is that 20 years ago, I could have been here for her. But I wasn’t. I was too timid to come out here back then.”

Paula said she shares this story to get more people to overcome their fear to come out and pray. And volunteers have come out to pray in Orange!

Kiersten, the local leader, has many churches and pastors coming out to this massive Planned Parenthood center in Orange. This was the site where baby Milagros was saved with the help of Alejandra, Marty and Graciela. Milagros is featured in the 40 Days for Life book. Marty and Graciela still come out faithfully.

[Salvation]

Providence, Rhode Island

November 5, 2017

Volunteers were praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil outside Planned Parenthood in Providence when a woman arrived for an abortion – holding the hands of her two young children.

“You do not need to do this,” one of the volunteers told her. “There is a van just over here where you can get help.”

The van was Rhode Island Right to Life’s mobile unit. She and the children walked over and went inside.

“Is the heart beating?” the mother asked the nurse.

“Yes it is,” the nurse answered. “Do you want to have an ultrasound so you can see?”

After seeing the ultrasound of her baby — and hearing her three-year-old excitedly ask, “Is that our baby?” – she chose life.

“As you can imagine, we are all euphoric, giving thanks and praise to God,” said Carol in Providence.

[Salvation]

San Antonio, Texas

November 5, 2017

A young woman came up to the fence at Planned Parenthood in San Antonio to speak with 40 Days for Life volunteers.

Inside Planned Parenthood, she’d been told she would have to pay for a pregnancy test.

She had been thinking about having an abortion … and teared up when she explained that she had two children at home and needed to go back to work soon.

“We talked about her plans and the new life inside her,” one of the vigil participants said.

She had seen the signs about the ultrasound van. “Right then, the van rounded the corner … and she was able to get an ultrasound right away,” the volunteer explained.

“She did confirm that she would choose life for her baby!”