Shannon came to LifeChoices in emotional pain, a humiliation too heavy to bear. Her first marriage ended when her husband was killed in a car accident; she then miscarried their child.

Her second marriage seemed perfect at first, their little son a blessing. Then things hit bottom, and they separated. A friend of her husband came to see her uninvited, and despite her vocal denial, forced himself on her.

Now she cried to the counselor with anguish, "I can't be pregnant…but I have all the symptoms. Oh, please don't let me be pregnant." But the pregnancy test was positive.

"No one but my sister knows. My husband will never accept me back if he knows I'm pregnant…I know abortion is wrong, but life is just too much right now, and if I make it go away, no one will have to know."

Because she was bleeding, Shannon was referred to the local ER for immediate help, but LifeChoices' staff invited her to come back for an ultrasound and STD services. Immediately, a community prayer chain was activated on behalf of this young mother.

Four weeks later, Shannon returned, tears streaming down her cheeks, and said quietly, "I need to talk to the nurse, please, in private. I had an appointment for an abortion but I cancelled. I just couldn't do it. But…I don't have a choice…I just need to know, if I do have the abortion, will my baby feel pain?"

The nurse gently answered her questions, and then Shannon accepted the offer of an ultrasound. Shannon saw a tiny heart, beating strong and steady. Staring at the screen, she asked, "It has fingers and toes already? Why did it jump? Was that a hiccup? Oh, I just don’t know."

The nurse quietly suggested that by seeming to make this "problem" go away now, Shannon might only be creating new problems for herself in the future. She shared information on post-abortion research, adoption alternatives and the support services available if Shannon decided to carry her baby to term.

This desperate young woman accepted the staff's offer of prayer and took brochures, her ultrasound pictures, and the nurse's 24-hour private cell phone number. She was encouraged, "No matter what time of day or night, pick up the phone and call. Please don't do anything until you make one more call." With tears pouring down her cheeks, Shannon whispered, "Thank you," and walked away.

As it says in Nehemiah 4:9, "We prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat," and we waited to hear what Shannon would decide.

What rejoicing, several months later, when a beautiful baby girl was born!!

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.