Letter to the Editor: My life has been changed forever thanks to support from volunteers at Birthright

I don’t always understand politics, but I was surprised to read recent articles that characterized pregnancy help centers in Illinois as a bad thing. I want to share my experience with one back when I lived in Quincy. 

My life before meeting Patty (Adam, Birthright director) was hard. To be honest, I was alone and scared and felt like I didn’t have a choice. The choices I had made recently before that were not good ones. I’m not proud of them. I was using street drugs, and I was in a very toxic relationship. I had moved to Quincy with my sister to try to get away and get better, but that was difficult to do on my own.

I called around to try to get help, and somehow, I called Birthright. I believe God sent me to their number for a reason. I give thanks to Birthright because they provided me with so much support. They never once gave me any false information about abortions. They only told me things that I knew were true, only the basic knowledge of abortions. They didn’t use scare tactics to try to force me into keeping my child. They took me to get my first ultrasound of my daughter (who is almost 5) to make sure me and the baby were in good health. 

They also made sure I had maternity clothes. I was wearing clothes that didn’t fit, and I barely had any at all. They never judged me. They just showed me as much love as I needed. 

Birthright became a safe place for me and my two children. As a single mother with limited resources, they provided me with so much support that I badly needed. They also provided me with strength, guidance and unconditional love, not because they have to but because they choose to. 

Honestly, some days I look back and wonder what my life would be like if I didn’t choose life for my child. It’s difficult for me to believe there are people in this world who believe people like the volunteers at Birthright could be considered evil. They take time out of their own lives to help people and are really only trying to save a woman and her child’s life.

These people are miracle workers! They saved me and my child’s life. Birthright has been the only place I have ever felt comfortable sharing my story with. When I was 15 and pregnant, I also used Birthright. Now I also have a 14-year-old son. 

I look at both of my children every day and thank a pregnancy crisis center for guiding me though a hard time. The favorite thing that Birthright has taught me is that no matter where you go in life, your children will be there with you, loving you no matter what happens.

By the grace of God and the support from the volunteers at Birthright, my life has been changed. I will forever be grateful for them. They dedicate their time to help young, struggling mothers who don’t have what they need. I think we should appreciate them more for what they do.  

Rebecca Miller
St. Louis, Missouri