Just before her 20th birthday, Patricia discovered something that would turn her world upside down — she was pregnant. She was about 6 ½ weeks along when the shocking news came, and she began her desperate search for help. While flipping through the phonebook one day, she found The Keim Centers. By the time she called our Helpline, Patricia was already strongly abortion-minded, thinking abortion was her only real option.

While at The Keim Centers, she welcomed the listening ear of her client advocate and was impressed by the care and concern that was expressed to her. But she stated clearly that she felt like the baby would not have a good life as she was not capable of properly caring for a baby at this time in her life. And adoption looked even more grim to her since she did not think she could be pregnant for nine months and then "give her baby away."

Additional pressures added up, making her even more vulnerable to abortion. She did not have a car or home to call her own. She was still living at home with her mom and dad, and they were already struggling just to make ends meet. She was not making much money working at the local Burger King. Also, not being sure who the father of her baby was, she was concerned that there would be no financial support on that end. Because of these and other struggles, Patricia thought abortion was the best choice she had.

After all, prior to her visiting The Keim Centers, she was told that her baby was nothing more than a "seed." However, during her visit, she learned a great deal about fetal development and that what was growing inside her was much more than just a "seed"—this was a person! She was also able to learn and talk about all of her options: abortion, adoption and parenting. She seemed to be genuinely searching for answers. And she went home with a lot of new information that would now impact this difficult decision.

After a couple of failed attempts to reach her just days later, we finally caught up with her by phone one week after her first visit. It was obvious then that her heart was going through a struggle of its own. Her birthday was within days and she had decided to wait until after her birthday because "she didn't want to be sitting around all depressed and stuff on her birthday." She knew going through with an abortion was going to have enormous consequences.

However, she also stated that she would like to get an ultrasound to see how far along she really was and to find out whether or not she could still get an abortion. Meanwhile, all summer long at The Keim Centers, we had been feverishly preparing for the grand opening of our new Medical Clinic, after having been blessed with an ultrasound machine through a Focus on the Family grant.

Two days after her birthday, Patricia got an incredible gift — and so did we! We were given the privilege of performing our very first ultrasound scan on a client and revealing the life of a new baby to her mother. And she was given the gift of seeing her little one for the first time through ultrasound and hearing her baby's rapidly beating heart!

As the scan was being performed, Patricia was captivated by what she saw on the ultrasound monitor. It was apparent to her now that she was not looking at a seed, but a baby — her baby! She was most impressed by seeing and hearing her "baby's beating heart."

Until now, the reality of her carrying a new little life inside her had still not sunk in. But the moment she saw her baby inside her womb, her world changed again. She was so excited to see her baby and asked lots of questions. Once the ultrasound was completed, she stated to her advocate that now, after seeing her baby on ultrasound, she could not go through with having the abortion. She had chosen to parent her child, and she left proudly carrying three ultrasound pictures of her baby.

Patricia came in that day hoping to find out that she was not too far along to have an abortion. And she left that day having fallen in love with her baby and resolved to carry her baby to term. She immediately changed her mind at the sight of her baby's beating heart on the ultrasound monitor!

Days later, Patricia's story continued to unfold in a remarkable way. Patricia not only chose life for her baby, she chose life for herself as she committed her heart to Jesus as her Savior and Lord. Incredible!
And as her pregnancy continued, she went on to make some more positive life changes to prepare for being a better parent — she stopped smoking and began to eat more healthy foods. All of Patricia's troubles did not disappear, but she had the gift of hope. She said, "[Jesus] can help me and my child throughout the future."

And He did bless her and her baby in a very big way. Shortly before her daughter was born, a local church and friend of CPC threw an incredible baby shower for Patricia. She was abundantly blessed with more baby items and supplies than she ever dreamed of having.

She was now ready to welcome her baby girl into her world. Her daughter, Alisha Marie, was born on February 21, 2006. Today, she is a healthy little girl and is almost three years old.

Patricia is still so very grateful for what she learned and the love she received through The Keim Centers. Patricia was our very first client to receive an ultrasound scan and that one ultrasound had such a tremendous impact. Not only did it turn Patricia away from abortion and help to save the life of her baby, it gave her a glimpse of her loving Creator performing His handiwork. Her life was forever changed.

Patricia visited The Keim Centers.

Watch Patricia tell her own story: Patricia's video

Faces of Option Ultrasound Index

All Pregnancy Medical Clinics in the Option Ultrasound Program provide limited obstetrical ultrasound as medically indicated.  Clinics are licensed to operate under the supervision of a physician, using only trained sonographers. Focus on the Family does not endorse the use of ultrasound outside of a medical clinic setting and does not endorse the use of ultrasound for non-medical reasons.  Patient referrals are made to physicians for follow-up diagnosis and care as needed.