Client Stories
PLEASE NOTE: The names of clients have been changed in each of the stories below in order to preserve confidentiality. The words "I" or "me" in any of the stories refer to the Peer Counselor who worked with the client.
Meet Karina: Asking about abortion
Meet Brittany and Dustin: Parents expected to force abortion
Meet Karina...
Karina was a 20 year old young mother who called asking about abortion. Karina's home pregnancy test showed 'positive'. Wakota's counselor told Karina we do not provide or refer for abortion, but Karina accepted an invitation to come in and talk and obtain a free ultra sound from Wakota's nurse Judy Kruger.
Prior to the ultrasound exam Karina told our counselor that she shared an apartment with her father but worked and paid her share of expenses including day care for her three year old child.
An Achilles heel in Karina's life was poor judgement with men. She had only known her latest boyfriend three months, and now she was pregnant. And... she just learned the boyfriend would be going to jail for two months and would then be deported.
Karina continued to speak openly to our nurse, Judy, during the ultrasound exam. Besides the boyfriend mess, Karina had an episode of excessive drinking and she feared her dad's reaction to the pregnancy. "He'll probably kick me out!" she said.
The ultra sound showed an eight week developing baby with a beating heart. As Karina studied the ultrasound scan of her baby, Judy asked Karina if she might be open to placing the baby in the home of another family if she found she would be unable to raise the baby herself. Karina indicated she might consider adoption.
At the end of the hour appointment, Judy had Karina complete a simple 'exit interview" form. On that form Karina wrote, "I was just prevented from making a great mistake." We are pleased to report Karina has begun prenatal care.
Back to top
Meet Brittany and Dustin...
Brittany and Dustin, both seventeen, came to our Robert Street office for a pregnancy test. A home pregnancy test had been inconclusive. Wakota's Kathi Weinzetl informed the stoic Brittany, that our test showed 'positive'. "I'll be getting an abortion," said Brittany. "Once I tell my parents, that's what they'll want."
Kathi showed Brittany a picture of a developing baby and described how an abortion is done. Kathi offered Wakota's support and suggested an adoption plan. Brittany remained unmoved. She would have to do her parents bidding once they found out.
Brittany had just one question. Her menstrual periods had been irregular and she wanted to know how far along she was. Kathi suggested a free ultrasound at Wakota and one week later Brittany called and scheduled the ultrasound.
Brittany and Dustin arrived with two girlfriends, and all four observed the ultrasound. One of the girlfriends wept when the scan showed a twelve-week-old baby sucking it's thumb! Brittany and Dustin remained unaffected. Brittany told Advocate Patty Rosno there was no doubt her parents, once informed, would want an abortion.
All at Wakota who had met and counseled Brittany, prayed that the predicted abortion would not occur. Three weeks later, Brittany's mother called Wakota's administrator and said, "Last night our daughter told us that she was pregnant. I want to come see you... My husband and I have a lot of questions." When she arrived at Wakota, Brittany's mom simply said, "We have no health insurance and Brittany said you would help us. My husband and I are quite upset about this pregnancy, but we want Brittany to have this baby."
Back to top
| 