Niya Townes was feeling pressured towards an abortion — until she found all the support she needed to continue her pregnancy during a meeting with Jillisa and other staff members at a Human Coalition pregnancy resource center (PRC). According to Fox News, Townes is now encouraging other mothers to seek out friendship, support, and resources from PRCs during challenging pregnancies.
In an op-ed titled “I wanted an abortion. But then I made a friend who saved my baby,” Townes said she “felt overwhelmed” when she was expecting her fifth child because she and the baby’s father had agreed to break up if she decided to keep their child. Unsure of what abortion would entail and what options were available to her, Townes called different clinics for information. She ended up walking into a Human Coalition center.
Human Coalition, a non-profit based in Frisco, Texas, is committed to “building a pro-life, holistic, comprehensive care network to help rescue [abortion-determined] women and their children from abortion.” The organization helps desperate pregnant women in “abortion-dense cities” with a contact center or hotline to connect women with nurses and counselors, women’s care clinics, continuum of care, church outreach, market outreach, and education and research.
At Human Coalition, Townes met Jillisa, whom she described as a “close friend” throughout and after her pregnancy. Jillisa doesn’t hesitate to spend time with Townes when the busy mom is having a bad day or just needs to grab lunch with someone.
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The formerly overwhelmed mom shares that during her first appointment, Jillisa took the time to inform her of abortion and all it entails, along with the other options (parenting and adoption). Townes acknowledged that she really needed someone to confide in.
“I left feeling completely informed, finally in control, surrounded by help and nonjudgmental support. I felt at home in that clinic. I felt heard,” she said.
Townes urges other expecting moms: “ Start by finding someone who will thoroughly and patiently explain all of your options. Know what an abortion means, and how it works. Know the risks, and the recovery time. Take the time to explore your other options, too.”
Townes discovered “allies” and “a village” ready to support her and her baby at Human Coalition. “I just had to ask for help,” Townes admitted.
There are more resources available to pregnant moms than they may imagine or expect, she noted.
“I didn’t know there were groups specifically for moms to support other moms — but Jillisa and the staff at the Human Coalition pregnancy center connected me with one. Eventually, those moms threw me a baby shower,” she said.
Townes discovered that, though she considered abortion, it wasn’t what she “ultimately wanted.” Jillisa and the other Human Coalition staff members provided her with what she needed – control, resources, and a home.
“I just didn’t want to feel alone. I wanted to feel I had support that could help me look forward to welcoming a baby. This pregnancy center provided me with that support,” she said.
Townes is sharing her story to give other expectant moms comfort, and encouragement to seek out the help, resources, and most of all, the friendship that they need.
“If another mother draws anything from my story, I’d hope it would be comfort,” she said. “I hope that my children and my life and all the fear and sadness that has come with it at times is most importantly a reminder to other women that they are never alone.”
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