40 Days of Celebrating Mums Choosing Life Day 7: Elaine

Elaine who received our help some years ago tells her story of choosing life:

How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant?

I had mixed feelings, I was happy that I had a new life growing inside my body, but I was also very worried and anxious because I knew that it would be extremely difficult to cope with a new baby in the situation my family was going through.

What made you choose abortion?

I was under intense pressure to cope with the housing situation, financial situation and the health challenges I was facing. 

What was it like when you went to the abortion centre?

I went there, but I just got up, cried and left because it was a decision I was struggling to come to terms with. I didn't know how I would cope but luckily on my way home, I saw someone sharing leaflets during the 40 Days for Life campaign and a sign that said..."Pregnant? Need help? We can help"

What made you choose life for your baby that day?

I got the leaflet, called the number on it but I was very skeptical because it seemed to good to be true.

What help were you offered by The Good Counsel Network? 

They offered me financial, emotional and housing support that I needed to navigate that very difficult moment of my life.

What help did you actually receive? 

I got help with baby clothes, food vouchers, advice, counselling and several letters to the council until my family was rehoused in more decent accommodation.

Lorraine, Yvonne and everyone at The Good Counsel Network really helped me. They are doing  amazing work and saving many lives. I'm just immensely grateful to God and everyone at  Good Counsel Network, for supporting me and my family. Whenever I look at my son, I just think of what would have happened if I hadn't received any support

Thanks to everyone who has helped me. May God bless you all xx🙏

Help us reach out to Mothers like Elaine with prayer, help and support by attending the 40 Days for Life Vigil near you. We are running one in Brixton, please contact Gabriella for details on 07745711064. Or find your nearest 40 Days for Life campaign here Donate to help us support Mothers in need here 

40 Days Celebrating Mums Choosing Life Day 6:Celebrating Mothers & the Pro-Life Pregnancy Centres Which Assist Them

 

One year during the 40 Days for Life Campaign we got a call from an expectant Mum, Stella, who somehow had got through to us while trying to phone Marie Stopes abortion centre. We explained who we were - a pregnancy centre which only offers life-affirming help and support to women in difficult pregnancies and their children - and she told us that she had an appointment with Marie Stopes for an abortion the next day. She did not want to have an abortion but did not know what to do. She had two older children and was trying to keep out of the way of her ex partner who had been physically abusive. Then she found out she was pregnant with his child. Abortion seemed to be the only way out. But she was not happy about it.

So she begged us to visit her that night. She had no childcare available and had her two young sons with her all evening and the abortion was early the following day. If we couldn't come to her, she had no chance of hearing about alternatives to abortion.

I agreed to come and went with a volunteer to offer her help and alternatives, including getting her support to keep herself and her children safe from her ex. 

As Providence would have it, Stella was half German and half Polish and the volunteer who came with me was from an identical background to her. As we sat down to talk with her, we noticed a small statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We two Catholics silently asked the intercession of the Mother of God.

We were able to offer her a simple but very useful package of help, support and advice. We left late that evening and prayed some more.

We didn't hear from her for hours after her appointment time the next day, but when she called she said  "I could not go through with it and I am so glad you have real help for me." 

Stella kept her baby and some months later delivered her first daughter with joy. She has remained forever grateful for the help we were able to offer.

Pro-Life Pregnancy Centres provide unique support for expectant mums

The BBCs Panorama Programme (27th Feb) attacked Pro-Life Pregnancy Centres.

They accuse us of lying, giving false medical information, manipulating women by giving scans and being biased in our views on abortion.

While the medical establishment try to claim that risks from abortion are minor, that post-abortion trauma doesn't exist, that no-one is at risk of severe complications following abortion, remember that the whole minefield of abortion complications has been totally skewed by lies which abound in the pro-abortion culture we live in. Thousands of post-abortive women we have served have stories to tell that back up the reality of the physical and mental trauma of abortion. Ultrasound scans don't lie and showing women their own babies in the womb is arming them with facts, not manipulating them! Lastly no-one is unbiased on abortion, not us nor the abortion providers, but pro-life centres don't claim to be. Abortion centres -which make hundreds of thousands of pounds from abortion - continually try to present themselves as "neutral" and unbiased.

Finally think of women like Stella. Abortion centres have nothing to offer her but the death of her child! They won't be going to her home at the last minute to answer her desperate plea for help to let her child live.

Please support your local pro-life Pregnancy Centre.

40 Days of Celebrating Mums Choosing Life Day 5 In the Case of Rape

 

Anna was raped by a trusted older man who had not seemed interested in her, but suddenly, out of the blue, he assaulted her. She was deeply traumatised and did not know how to begin to think about telling her husband what had happened. Then she found out that she was pregnant.

She was deeply confused, hating the thought of abortion, hating what had been done to her and hating what was likely to happen if she had this baby. Would her husband leave her? Would the baby be a constant reminder of the rape?

As a Catholic, she accepted a "Miraculous Medal" from one of our volunteers, a Catholic sacramental - a medal depicting the Mother of God  - wearing the medal is a sign of asking for Our Lady's protection and powerful prayers.

She went home, put on her medal and started to pray. Somehow she found the strength to tell her husband, and he found the strength to accept the baby. They chose life for their child and went on to have a very blessed life with their beautiful and much loved, and very talented child. 

We thank God today for the gift of Anna and for her husband's generosity and for the gift of that child. We pray for those who are raped and those who become pregnant through rape. May God turn all their weeping into gladness and provide the support and help that Mothers and their children need. We pray for those conceived in rape - may they be loved and welcomed into the world despite the sins of their fathers. May God turn the hearts of those who would commit such crimes away from such evil.

Help us reach out to Mothers like Anna with prayer, help and support by attending the 40 Days for Life Vigil near you. We are running one in Brixton, please contact Gabriella for details on 07745711064. Or find your nearest 40 Days for Life campaign here Donate to help us support Mothers in need here 

Celebrating Mums Choosing Life Day 4 Mums Who Rise Above Suffering and Shame to Choose Life

 

Today we are celebrating Linda, a young expectant mum we met outside an abortion centre who did not want to abort but was worried about how she could carry her child to term because of her circumstances.

She came from a very strict background but who had secretly been having a relationship for some years when she found out she was pregnant. Her boyfriend was very pleasant and supportive, wanting her to keep the baby, but he point blank refused to discuss getting married or telling his family about the child. He came from a much more liberal background, which made it even harder to understand, because Linda would have to give up her whole family if she kept the baby as an unmarried mum.

With many doubts and fears, Linda chose to continue her pregnancy with Good Counsel's support. We helped her to find a place to live with her baby so that she had a place to go before her family could find out about the pregnancy and throw her out. She kept the baby, but she kept in touch with the baby's father and he cotinued to tell her he wanted a relationship with her and her baby.

A few months before the birth he suddenly told her that he had another girlfriend who was also expecting his child and he planned to make his future with her. Linda was heartbroken, devastated and felt humiliated by the whole situation. But she kept her baby and is determined to raise him and give him the best life she can. 

Unfortunately, Linda's situation is not unique. Several expectant mums we have assisted have found their baby's father was not faithful and then had the humiliation of finding out he was having a child with the other woman as well. It is a terrible suffering for a pregnant woman to discover this and women often start to feel that all men are like this; good men often get "tarred" with the brush that "all men are like that" because of these rotten apples! 

Let's pray today for women like Linda who have to endure this pain and the men who inflict this kind of pain through their selfishness. We pray for them to regret their behaviour, to honour and respect the women and children in their lives and to not endanger the lives of children by their faithlessness. We thank God for the gift of the child who was born to Linda. May God bless Linda and her baby and turn all things to their good.

Help us reach out to Mothers like Linda with prayer, help and support by attending the 40 Days for Life Vigil near you. We are running one in Brixton, please contact Gabriella for details on 07745711064. Or find your nearest 40 Days for Life campaign here Donate to help us support Mothers in need here 

Celebrating Mums Choosing Life Day 3 Maria

 

A mum we assisted 13 years ago came to speak at the Ealing 40 Days for Life Opening Event recently "Maria" brought her son with her to give thanks for all the help and support she received from The Good Counsel Network when she had thought that abortion would be her only option. 

Maria and her son (right) with Lorraine from Good Counsel

She said "It was a tremendous relief to be welcomed with kindness, invited over and offered assistance. It gave me hope, and made me joyful, grateful and pleased. 

I received clothing, bedding,vouchers, groceries, Christmas presents, financial support, immigration support, support with legal costs. I was offered accommodation.

The assistance changed my story, my son and I.

The Good Counsel Network also developed a place for mothers and children to socialise and all of this assistance gave me the confidence to be proud of my son." 

Let us pray for Maria today and for all mums considering abortion, may theu find the life-giving alternatives they need.

Please attend the 40 Days for Life Vigil near you. We are running one in Brixton, please contact Gabriella for details on 07745711064. Or find your nearest 40 Days for Life campaign here

Donate to help The Good Counsel Network support Mothers in need of assistance here. 

40 Days of Celebrating Mums Choosing Life Day 2

 

As we continue to pray for an end to abortion, especially through our public witness and prayer and fasting during 40 Days for Life, today let's celebrate Susan, who chose life for her baby this week after seeing a scan. She had been under pressure from her family and boyfriend to abort, but asked us to get a scan for her. She was delighted to see her baby and learn about the help and support we can offer her. She had been heading to the Ealing abortion centre but is now planning to keep her baby. Please keep Susan in your prayers throughout lent.

You can help to save more lives through prayer and witness at 40 Days for Life. Sign up to join our Brixton (South London) vigil by calling the Vigil Leader, Gabriella on 07745711064. Or go to 40Daysforlife.com to sign up for other vigils around the UK.

You can help us to help other mums like Susan with financial support by donating to our work here.

Celebrating Life 40 Days of Celebrating Mums Choosing Life! Day 1

Now we are into the penitential season of Lent it's good to find some positive things to thank God for and to lift up our hearts and our spirits! During 40 Days for Life you will hear many stories in the media about pro-lifers abusing and harassing expectant mothers, but that is not what we do. Our peaceful and prayerful witness offers life and hope to mothers who would otherwise be coerced by others or by their circumstances into aborting.

Today we celebrate Belinda who chose life for her baby last week. Despite her baby having a serious health condition and not being expected to live for very long, Belinda felt harassed and pushed into abortion, and asked us for help to pursue life affirming support to keep her baby. That's what we are currently doing. Please pray especially for Belinda today. And please join our 40 Days for Life vigil in Brixton if you can, call Gabriella to join on 07745711064.

You can also donate to help us support mums like Belinda, here 

You can find other 40 Days for Life Campaigns around the UK and the world here