A Hispanic couple stopped for me on the road in front of the abortion center. Using my broken Spanish, I was able to convince them that their child was precious to God and that God would never have them take their child’s life. As often happens, the pro-abortion crowd screamed at them that they could not stop in the road and they needed to move on. They told them everything I said was a lie, and they needed to just pull into the abortion center. 

They drove past the abortion center and parked up the road. I walked up the road and talked with them for another half an hour using a mixture of my Spanish knowledge and Google translator. The young man spoke English well enough that he could understand me and I could understand him.

Finally, I convinced them to come on the HELP Monroe mobile ultrasound unit which was parked on the curb in front of the abortion center.

We got one of our Spanish-speaking counselors on the phone and she translated for us. The couple was very distraught. The woman was testing positive for pregnancy and had very severe morning sickness. However, her doctor had been unable to find the baby or a heartbeat and said she was likely carrying an empty gestational sac. He had encouraged her to come for a follow-up appointment after waiting a month, but she was tired of waiting. She wanted us to do an ultrasound to see if we could find a heartbeat. She had an appointment with the abortion center but was willing to let us see what we could see on the mobile ultrasound unit first.

The woman was very newly pregnant and the baby was very small. It is almost impossible to see a heartbeat before five weeks and she was probably earlier than that. We were unable to definitively confirm a heartbeat though we both thought we might have seen one. It was just a brief flicker. Because we could not in good conscience say the baby was not alive, we urged her to keep her follow-up appointment with the doctor. We urged the couple not to go into the abortion center and give them their money under any circumstance. 

It was a hard-fought battle. We were on the RV for over two hours. They were very appreciative and very sad but no definitive sign of life presented itself. 

With great sorrow, our entire Sidewalk team watched the couple get off of the RV and go into the abortion center. The pro-abortion crowd was taunting me when I got off the RV, as they often do. But this time, it really did sting because my heart was grieving. I could say nothing to them in response because I could not violate HIPAA laws.

“Too bad Vicky,” they said, “Lost another one! Won’t get paid for this baby!”

I have learned to carry on no matter what, and I try to suppress too much negative emotion. I try to look for the miracles of God which are always present. Otherwise, I could not remain on the sidewalk for as long as I have. But there is no doubt that this situation broke my heart. (And by the way, I don’t get paid per baby saved as the pro-abortion crowd tells the moms.)

A week later, I received a text. It was from the young couple that we had counseled. The text said, “Hello Miss Vicky. You are very special and an angel and all of you are doing the Lord’s work. I wanted you to know I have good news. We have just received confirmation that our baby is alive and well.”

I cannot share the whole story, but apparently, the abortion center ended up sending the young woman to the ER who was able to confirm what our nurse had suspected. There was a heartbeat. The follow-up appointment with the doctor further confirmed not only the heartbeat, but the baby seemed to be developing just fine.

How like God. To turn mourning into dancing and ashes into beauty. When we least expect it, when things look their darkest and bleakest, God is continually showing up. He rises unexpectedly from the grave. Death is defeated in a most impossible and unlikely manner. Out of the depths of despair, hope is restored and His glory magnified.

This grateful young couple will now be mentored and discipled by the local Church. Resources to help them with specific needs will be provided. The Church met them in their moment of greatest need and a precious image bearer of God was saved.

“You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”

2 Chronicles‬ 20:17‬ ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬