A common yet inaccurate critique leveled against pro-lifers is their purported lack of support for mothers and babies after birth. However, stories like the one Marie Smith recently shared with The Federalist paint a starkly different picture. During an unexpected pregnancy, Marie found a lifeline in the Boston Center for Pregnancy Choices in Massachusetts, providing her not only with tangible assistance, but an unwavering support system that stretched well beyond childbirth.
Tragically, earlier in Marie’s life, she lacked such support. At 16, she faced an unexpected pregnancy and turned to Planned Parenthood for guidance. Their singular suggestion — abortion — haunts Marie to this day. Reflecting on that moment, she regrets not being shown other options, since she desperately wanted to keep her child.
“Looking back now, if someone had shown me another path, I never would have gone through with it. It is something I regret to this very day,” Marie said.
Years later, facing another unexpected pregnancy and feeling lost and afraid, Marie found herself at the Boston Center for Pregnancy Choices. Unlike her previous experience, abortion was not presented as her only real option. Instead, the center offered her real support, becoming her anchor through the turbulence of motherhood.
Marie felt shame and embarrassment, but the staff at the center didn’t judge her, only showing her kindness and compassion. She recalled that the staff truly became like family to her. The invaluable support they offered included courses on parenting, safety, nutrition, and more. And then, when a second unexpected pregnancy arose, the center didn’t falter in its commitment. Instead, they rallied behind Marie, helping to pay her rent and utilities until she could get back on her feet and begin pursuing a nursing degree.
Marie’s experience challenges the myth propagated by the pro-abortion movement that pro-lifers abandon mothers and babies post-birth. For Marie, the experience was anything but abandonment. The support provided by the center gave Marie the confidence and assistance she needed to follow her dream of becoming a nurse. She now works with individuals with special needs.
For Marie, the holiday season provided the perfect opportunity to reflect on the support she received — and continues to receive — from the center. One year, when she was unable to afford Christmas gifts on her own, the center called her up and asked for her son’s Christmas list. Among the gifts was a book that Marie continues to read to her sons today.
This holiday season, as Marie sat amidst a Christmas tree brimming with presents underneath, she was reminded of the center’s continued care. Her journey stands as a testament to the ongoing support provided by pregnancy resource centers, contrary to the narrative pushed by pro-abortion advocates.
Marie’s story of empowerment is just one among many. Centers like the Boston Center for Pregnancy Choices tirelessly empower women to embrace motherhood with love and resilience. Their efforts echo a powerful truth: women deserve options beyond ending their child’s precious life.
As Marie poignantly stated, “Without pregnancy resource centers, women would be left with no options but abortion. Take it from someone who has been there.”
