Elena's Story

When I first met Elena, she was sitting quietly in our parking lot with her two young children bundled up beside her. It was a cold morning, and they had arrived hours early, dropped off at 7:30 a.m. for a 10:00 a.m. appointment, with no other ride available. The sight of them waiting patiently in the cold tugged at my heart, and I immediately opened our doors to welcome them in.

As we began the intake process, Elena’s emotions quickly surfaced. With tears in her eyes, she asked if we could help her find a place to have an abortion. Her voice trembled as she explained she simply couldn’t afford to have another baby, not now, not in the middle of the chaos she was facing. She had come to the United States just a few months earlier in October 2024, after fleeing unimaginable danger in Nicaragua. She had left everything behind, surviving four difficult months in Mexico before finally making it to safety in the U.S.

Upon arriving, Elena met Carlos, who offered her and her children a place to stay. At first, he seemed kind and supportive, but that quickly changed. He became aggressive. Elena felt trapped, no income, no family nearby, and nowhere else to go. The weight of her circumstances made the idea of continuing her pregnancy feel impossible.

As I listened to her story, I could feel the depth of her pain, fear, and exhaustion. But I also saw something powerful in her eyes: resilience. I gently began sharing with her all the ways we could support her at HPHC. I let her know that she was not alone, that there were people who cared deeply for her and her children, and that there were resources and hope available to help her take the next step.

She admitted she didn’t truly believe in abortion and knew in her heart it wasn’t something she wanted to do, but it felt like her only choice. Now, hearing about other options and feeling genuinely supported, Elena made the brave decision to continue her pregnancy. We referred her to case management and reassured her that we would walk alongside her through every challenge ahead.

During our conversation, Elena shared that she was a Christian but hadn’t been to church in a long time. I gently encouraged her about the importance of walking closely with Jesus and how He meets us even in our darkest moments. I asked her if she would like to rededicate her life to Christ, and without hesitation, she said yes. Right there, we prayed together. It was a moment filled with both tears and joy. We celebrated her courage, her faith, and the hope that was now blooming where there had once been fear.

Elena’s journey is not over, but she is no longer walking it alone. Her story is one of incredible strength, deep faith, and a hope that is just beginning to unfold.