February 22, 2007

First Choice Women's Medical Center opened just four days ago in Montgomery, Alabama and already we know of three babies' lives saved because of the counseling and ultrasound images we were able to provide to their mothers.

We are amazed at all that has happened in our first week! God is bringing in abortion vulnerable women, although we don't yet have our marketing/advertising plan in place, our new furnishings haven't arrived, and our painting will not begin until tomorrow night!

The first patient at First Choice on the morning that the medical clinic opened was a college student who was considering an abortion because she did not think she could handle a pregnancy at this time in her life.  She was in a serious relationship with the father, yet she stated she had mixed feelings about continuing the pregnancy. 

Although she acknowledged being a believer and thought her family would be supportive, she was scared.  Our ultrasound services interested her because she wanted to see if she did indeed have a viable, intrauterine pregnancy. 

As soon as the embryo was located, the screen was turned toward the patient.  When asked if she could see the heart beat, the patient pointed it out on the screen and tears began to roll down her cheeks.  It was at that moment that she said she couldn’t go through with the abortion – she would carry and keep the baby. 

As the nurse manager went down the hallway to photocopy some forms for the patient, she saw that the Board of Directors was meeting and she knew that she had to share the joy in her heart with them, to let them know that God had affirmed their commitment to medical services with the very first patient.  It was a moment that none of us will ever forget.

The Board simply stopped all business and entered a beautiful time of prayer, giving God all praise and glory for what He was doing. Even the men were bawling. As we celebrate 25 years of our outreach to women in our community, what more could we ask?

Focus on the Family’s Option Ultrasound Program™ has been such an incredible part of our conversion. I can never express our gratitude adequately for your strong leadership, your generous provision, and helping us to hold the standard high. You have modeled the beautiful balance of stringent requirements in the context of abounding grace.

We are forever changed, not only by that which you've taught, but by that which you've modeled before us. May God continue to bless each of you as you do for other pregnancy centers what you’ve done for us. Your ministry is of eternal significance.

April 4, 2007

Option Ultrasound has transformed our ministry! In January, before we offered ultrasound services only 4 out of 15 (27%) abortion-minded callers made an appointment to come into the center.

In mid-February, we opened the doors to our medical clinic offering ultrasound services and although we were open only half the month, 10 out of 14 (71%) abortion-minded callers made an appointment and kept it, to come in for counseling and ultrasound. Having something to offer (ultrasound) that these women perceive as needed makes all the difference.

At first, we didn't think it would make that much difference to our outcomes to become an Option Ultrasound center because we had a pro-life sonographer at a lab 5 minutes from our center who offered to do free ultrasounds for any client we sent over. But being able to offer women an ultrasound right there, as well as the high standards of excellence for all our operations, made all the difference in the credibility and value of our services in the eyes of the women we serve.

In the last half of February, 12 out of 15 (80%) of abortion-minded women stated their intention to carry to term after ultrasound and counseling! In March, 84% of those women who were scanned reported conclusively that seeing the ultrasound affected their decision to carry their baby to term. Praise God for our machine and all the wonderful training that has made this happen!

And we just received wonderful news! The Montgomery County Medical Society awarded us their 2007 Service Award, which is given to either an individual (non-physician) and/or organization "for voluntarily serving the community to enhance the quality of health care and health awareness throughout the area."

Even if there were no machine to be given, what Focus has done for this ministry would be worth every effort we've put forth. I now see the picture clearly: The machine is simply the means for Focus to do a huge work in raising the bar in centers across the country. In my opinion, the machine is not the end; it's the means!

First Choice Women's Medical Center
Montgomery, AL
Marjory McCarty, ED
http://www.firstchoicewmc.com/