“I still haven't gotten my period", Pam told me, as she settled into the chair in our counseling room a few days ago. It had been early in her cycle, two weeks ago, when I had given her negative pregnancy test results, so I had invited her to return for a retest, if needed. "I just came to see if everything was still OK." With great pride, she handed me her card. At 19, she was starting her own business – she had great plans.
This time, the results were different – her test was positive. Since she assured me during her last visit that abortion was not an option for her, I was not prepared for her reaction to the news. She could barely speak. "Are you sure? I have to know how far along I am before I make my decision. I can't have a baby – not now! I can't tell my parents about this – I just can't do this." By this time her girl friend had joined us from the waiting room.
Terry had had an abortion previously and encouraged Pam. "Everything will be fine," she said. As I began to describe Pam's six-week-old fetus with its beating heart, Terry began to weep uncontrollably. "They told me that the heart didn't start beating until four months." I comforted two women, shaken to the core.
Although it was too late for Terry, I was determined that Pam have accurate information. I arranged a sonogram with for that afternoon with our volunteer obstetrician on call. I felt that if she could see her child, it might help her decision-making. I know she got there; I just pray she heard God's truth that day.
