As some in the parish may know, I recently took a job at a local pregnancy center performing ultrasounds on the women who seek out their services. This is part-time and I am still functioning in my role here at St. Ignatius. As a nurse being trained in limited OB sonography, we have willing pregnant moms who allow me to perform ultrasounds on them.
Recently we had a young mom, pregnant with baby number three, present as my first model. When she arrived, I introduced myself and we engaged in small talk and happy chatter about this baby’s arrival sometime in May. She was thrilled to get the opportunity to see her baby on ultrasound.
As she settled in, with my preceptor at my side, I began the ultrasound. Immediately identifying the baby and incorporating all I had been taught to this point, I moved the transducer for a better view. Onto the screen came the image… a perfectly formed head, body and limbs, appropriate for her stage of pregnancy. Suddenly there was an uneasiness in what I thought I was seeing, but I pushed it aside and told myself it was inexperience and that everything was ok. But as I continued to look, I was certain that I was not seeing a beating heart. There, on the screen, showed a lifeless baby.
Needless to say we shifted gears and my preceptor took over. In her wisdom, experience and naturally loving demeanor, she explained what we were seeing (or rather not seeing) on the ultrasound. She was instructed to call her doctor for an immediate ultrasound, which she did. One can only imagine how things went from there.
The irony of that moment hit me like a ton of bricks. This happened on November 8th. On this day, 57% of those who voted in the recent election were overjoyed at the passing of Issue 1. And here I was, face to face with a devastated and broken young mom who knew the truth of what was she was seeing on the screen… that child in the image… HER child, had died.
I’m not writing this to fight or argue or talk about how tragic this day was for the most vulnerable lives in the state of Ohio. But let me be clear, it was indeed tragic. I’m writing this to let everyone reading know that when someone is shown truth, the truth speaks for itself. Abortion minded young women who come for help and are given an ultrasound often are moved to tears when they see a beating heart. There is seldom an exchange of words between the practitioner and the young woman in those moments. Words are not needed when confronted with truth. The truth echoes loudly in the hearts of these wounded women.
I have witnessed the love, care and concern these women are shown in those moments. A love that extends through the entire pregnancy, birth and as long as they need it. I have seen the diapers, clothes and formula stocked from floor to ceiling. I have seen the education they pour into young moms struggling to parent as the staff accompanies them sometimes for months and years. These moms are built up and empowered to be loving and capable parents even in the midst of troubling circumstances.
This is what it means to support women and children. This is what it means to love. What we have been sold by the culture is an absolute lie. Please support our local pregnancy centers. May God bless you and keep you and your families safe.
Kate Rewwer
Parish Health Coordinator
