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The passage of Issue 1 in Ohio resulted in many heavy hearts as the PDHC team gathered together to process the outcome. We invited a pastor from one of our church partners to encourage us and he shared the story of Elijah from the Old Testament. Elijah was a strong person of God and as he faced much adversity and discouragement, he remained faithful.
Elijah hid in a cave to run from his "adversaries", and in taking a quiet moment to process and rest, the Lord spoke to him - not in a large booming voice (earthquake, wind, or fire) but in a very small whisper. And God told Elijah in a whisper that he was not done, that there was still work to do. He encouraged Elijah in his mission and purpose and sent him back on his way. Even though he didn’t understand God’s plan, he continued to seek God. He is an example of comfort and encouragement for us in our own walk of faith during times of discouragement; to be a prayer warrior, to know the Lord is God, to trust in Him, and to follow Him. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 PDHC’s founder and Chairman of the Board of Heartbeat International, Peggy Hartshorn, spent time with us and shared the history of the pregnancy help movement over the last 50 years and the “Watershed Moments” along the way. This is another one of those moments and to be encouraged for we know good will come from this as we continue the mission that God has placed in front of each of us. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. "For Such a Time as This"... this has been a challenging year and these moments of heavy hearts make the miracle of Jesus’ birth feel all the more relevant and important. For what else could make us feel such awe and wonder, even in the midst of trouble? As we head into the Christmas season, and with this heart-shattering news, it is a beautiful reminder of the miracle of birth - Jesus. That after the world lay in sin and darkness, it was struck with a “thrill of hope.” The birth of any baby is an exciting moment, "Oh Holy Night" goes on to remind us of the birth of Christ and how that birth brought about a glorious and new season and days to come...for such a time as this. PDHC continues on the frontline through the outreach of our 24/7 hotline and four pregnancy centers, providing life-affirming options, personalized care, and a community of support and resources to every individual who reaches out to us for help. We continue to walk alongside and empower women and families throughout their pregnancies and beyond through a robust Family Empowerment Program, including parenting education classes, family and community health advocate services, and practical resources through much-needed baby items. We continue to provide our youth with positive messages to help them build healthy relationships, make healthy choices in life, and avoid risky behaviors that may interfere with achieving their life goals. We continue to be a source of hope, healing, and community, to individuals struggling from a recent or past abortion experience. At PDHC, each comprehensive program and service began because there was an essential need in the community. Our programs and services have continued to grow and evolve over the last 42 years, positively impacting thousands of lives and we will continue to provide the same love and compassionate care to everyone we serve. Our work continues and becomes more important than ever as unexpected pregnancies will continue to occur, despite what is going on in the world around us. We are committed to being that source of hope and support in the community. We invite each of you to walk alongside us through your prayers, time volunteering, and financial support for the ministry of PDHC. Together, let us not grow weary of doing good as we continue to rescue lives and impact families for generations, one heartbeat at a time. Kathy Scanlon, President
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For Such a Time as This! We are so thankful for the hundreds of enthusiastic pro-life warriors in attendance and the many wonderful church partners represented at our recent Celebration for Life Galas in Lancaster and Columbus.
“…and who knows whether you have not come to the Kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 When asked what impacted you the most during the evening, we received overwhelming responses for the messages of our Guest Speakers, Melissa Ohden and Scott Klusendorf. If you were unable to attend, we will be posting their presentations on our SupportLifePDHC.org website very soon. Many were inspired by Shanae’s testimonial as she went from being abortion-minded to making a life decision after receiving compassionate care and ongoing love and support from the PDHC team. Her beautiful, healthy baby girl was born on Sept. 11th. Pegi’s testimonial inspired many as she shared the trauma, grief, and guilt she felt after her abortion experiences and the hope, healing, and redemption she experienced through PDHC’s abortion recovery programs and services. Many were amazed at the impact and numbers of individuals served and lives saved through the programs and services of PDHC in the community. Guests appreciated the information shared by David Mahan, Director of Policy for the Center for Christian Virtue, and Peggy Hartshorn, PDHC Founder and Chairman of the Board of Heartbeat International, on the importance of voting “NO” on Issue 1 in November. They shared how this amendment would allow for a child to be aborted through all nine months of pregnancy. Because it is a constitutional amendment, it would override Ohio’s existing regulations on abortion, including Ohio’s parental consent law. This means abortion clinics could perform abortions on a minor without her parent’s knowledge or permission. They encouraged us to stand up for those most vulnerable and vote NO on Issue 1. Guests were encouraged to educate themselves and explore resources for more information, including Center for Christian Virtue at: CVV.org, Ohio Right to Life at: ohiolife.org, Greater Columbus Right to Life at: gcrtl.org and Catholic Conference of Ohio at: ohiocathconf.org. God has called each of us to cherish, defend, and protect the preborn whom He created in His own image. Thank you for walking alongside us For Such a Time as This. “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 Rescuing Lives and Impacting Generations, one Heartbeat at a Time. Kathy Scanlon, PDHC President There have been so many beautiful moments and so many lives impacted over the last four decades at PDHC. Just like God worked through the life of Esther to fulfill His purposes, He has and continues to work through each of us every day, for such a time as this. It is through your gifts of prayer, time, and financial support, and the people, services, and programs at PDHC, that lives are saved and changed every day. The legacy that has been built at PDHC through God’s work and wisdom and your faithful support will continue to impact families for generations to come.
I invite each of you to experience how God has worked through the lives of us all by attending our upcoming Celebration for Life Galas. In Lancaster, our guest speaker will be Melissa Ohden, abortion survivor, author, and founder of The Abortion Survivors Network (abortionsurvivors.org). In Columbus, our guest speaker will be Scott Klusendorf, President of Life Training Institute, author, and narrator in the movie A Matter of Life (thematteroflife.org). You will also hear from a mom who made a life decision for her baby after visiting and receiving love and support at PDHC, and from a woman who found healing from her past abortion experience through our Abortion Recovery program. Consider hosting a table and inviting friends and family to join you or help support our Galas through sponsorship opportunities. More information is below, and I look forward to seeing you all there! Rescuing Lives and Impacting Generations, one Heartbeat at a Time. Kathy Scanlon, PDHC President For such a time as this…. It’s hard to believe we are over halfway through the year. Together, through your prayers, your gift of time volunteering and sharing of your talents, and your gifts of financial support, we are impacting many lives. Here are some of the beautiful moments happening through the people and the programs and services at PDHC so far this year.  Individuals that encounter PDHC for the first time often experience this through the 24/7 crisis hotline. They are met with a kind and compassionate voice on the other end, someone who genuinely cares, who listens to their personal story and the challenges and obstacles they are facing, guides them through their emotions in this moment and connects them with an appointment in one of our pregnancy centers for help. The hotline team balances multiple connections, sends appointment reminders, makes schedule adjustments based on individual urgent needs, sends follow-up surveys after appointments, and most importantly prays over the individuals they encounter. Already this year, hotline staff and volunteers have responded to over 1,800 calls, more than 2,300 chats, and over 32,000 texts. Of the individuals who responded to the survey after services, 98% say they would recommend PDHC to their friends, 99% say they were given the help and referrals they needed, and 98% say the staff treated them with respect and showed an interest in their needs.  We have already served over 1,100 individuals through more than 1,900 visits to our pregnancy resource centers. We have provided over 800 pregnancy tests, and more than 600 ultrasounds, resulting in 529 life decisions. With 80% of abortions in Franklin County now occurring through the chemical abortion pill, it is critical that we can give women who regret starting a chemical abortion a second chance to save their baby through Abortion Pill Reversal services (APR). This year we have been able to give six women this second chance. In the centers, the staff and volunteers continue to meet every individual’s immediate and ongoing needs physically, emotionally, and spiritually so she never feels alone in her journey. We walk alongside, providing her with a vision beyond her circumstances, and helping her see her value and the life of her child through God’s eyes. A recent client shared: “I couldn’t do it, the decision to keep my fourth pregnancy was a difficult one. However, my encounter with PDHC made and brought a whole new meaning to life. Alyssa and the whole team made it happen. Through PDHC things came in handy, resources were easily available and accessible. By the grace of God, ‘our new dawn’ is here, and we give all glory to God and to PDHC. You made it happen,” she said.  Through PDHC’s Family Empowerment Program, parenting education classes, along with much-needed baby items, provide a crucial resource for individuals and families throughout their pregnancy and beyond through the first year of their baby’s life. This year, we have held over 300 in-person education classes on topics such as Eating During Pregnancy, Healthy Relationships, Drugs and Alcohol, Help Me Grow, Parenting through Stages, and Fatherhood Community. Over 6,600 online classes have been provided on hundreds of topics. Over 1,000 baby boutique visits have provided diapers, wipes, clothing, car seats, pack-n-plays, and more. This year, 362 new moms and 99 dads have participated in these resources. Recently, a woman who was shopping in the boutique said she wanted to tell someone how much she had been helped. She said she was so grateful for the support provided through classes and baby supplies. She had not been prepared to have a baby. Her baby is healthy, and she reported she is even finding ways to give to others. Stephanie, the Family Empowerment Program Manager, said none of this is possible without the amazing team of volunteers who put in hours doing everything from sending online classes, assisting on shopping days, wrapping thousands of diapers, washing clothing, organizing the boutique, bundling hundreds of onesies, helping with remodeling, and cleaning. “So many Churches, VBS programs, individuals and businesses have partnered with us to be God’s provision for PDHC and these families. Thank you,” said Stephanie.  Matt, Director of PDHC’s Common Sense Culture Program (CSC), reflected on the impact of the CSC program: “The CSC program is continuing to impact students in central Ohio. This past school year, the CSC team reached 37 different schools and over 5,000 students with Character and Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) Education. Our students are making it clear that SRA education is needed in every school and community. One high school student said, ‘Keep educating others because you are changing lives.’ Another student said, ‘I liked that you were direct and always answered the questions truthfully.’ These are just a few of the thousands of comment cards we receive, with 95% of them being positive feedback. One of the most impressive takeaways from the school year is that we had two Directors of Curriculum reach out to us to come into districts that we have never been in after hearing rave reviews of our program from other participating districts. The favor of God is on the program, and He is using our educators as vessels to speak the truth in love to the students.”  PDHC’s Abortion Recovery (aR) programs and services provide a place where individuals can talk openly about their abortion experiences with someone who understands and helps walk them through their healing journeys. PDHC provides personalized consultations, drop in aR Connection Meetings, Recovery Support Groups, weekend retreats, and an annual Celebration of Restoration luncheon to provide a community of support. 56 individuals have started their healing journey this year and have found a community of support through over 300 participant sessions. The aR program also operates a 24/7 CareLine and has already responded to 119 calls and 1,790 texts this year. In addition, 63 individuals celebrated with their new sisters in Christ at this year’s Celebration of Restoration luncheon. Cindy, aR Coordinator, shared about a beautiful, self-assured woman who was confused by her sadness after a recent abortion, which she believed was the best decision for her. She stated she would make the same decision again. She came to the retreat expecting immediate relief, or a quick fix, from her emotions. Instead, she realized the truth of what she had lost and the impact of her decision. She allowed herself to grieve the loss of her child and to accept God’s love and forgiveness.  For such a time as this…thank you for walking alongside moms and their babies, dads, students, and individuals in need of healing.
“…and who knows whether you have not come to the Kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 Rescuing Lives and Impacting Generations, one Heartbeat at a Time. Kathy Scanlon, PDHC President Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of theoverturning of Roe v. Wade, and much has transpired in the pro-life movement over the last year. Ohio is one of 13 states considered to be a battleground state regarding laws on abortion and we continue to see this play out in our culture and with the upcoming special election In August and the November ballot initiative. It is crucial that we continue to pray and educate ourselves on the importance of building a culture that protects the sanctity of every human life.
Amidst the ongoing obstacles and challenges, pregnancy help will always be needed, no matter what. On our hotline, and in our centers, we will continue to hear from and see women every day facing real challenges and barriers with an unexpected pregnancy. As always, we listen, build trust, and form relationships. We continue to meet her immediate and ongoing needs physically, emotionally, and spiritually so she never feels alone in her journey. We walk alongside, providing her with a vision beyond her circumstances, and helping her to see her value and thelife of her child through God’s eyes. We provide a community of support and help her resolve her issues and problems in a life-affirming way. These new moms are impacted every day through “little moments” such as a smile and a listening ear, words of kindness and compassion, and prayers with her. These little moments lead to life-changing “big moments” that impact her life, the life of her baby, and her family. As Mother Teresa said, “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” There is a generational impact because of the compassionate care, love, and support individuals receive at PDHC. This time of year, we honor and celebrate the mothers and fathers who have greatly impacted our lives. Thanks to you, not only are new moms and their babies positively impacted by your support at PDHC every day, but new dads as well. Individually and together, they can participate in personalized parenting education classes and receive much-needed baby items to help them build and strengthen their families. Also, new this summer is a special series of gatherings to surround participating dads with a community of support and mentorship. They are learning how to become a better father, how to build a legacy, and how to raise strong children in the current climate and culture. We are thankful for our staff, volunteers, and each of you who make this possible. We are thankful for our partners who are helping to educate thecommunity on what is currently happening with abortion laws in Ohio. You can learn more by visiting the their information websites: Protectwomenohio.com Ohiolife.org ccv.org gcrtl.org/stop Rescuing Lives and Impacting Generations, one Heartbeat at a Time. Kathy Scanlon, PDHC President May has been a busy month at PDHC. This week, we held our 32nd annual Golf for Life outing, with 92 golfers enjoying a picture-perfect day! Jenn, PDHC’s Human Resource Manager, was helping at the registration table and shared this experience. “When we arrived for our annual golf outing, a tree service was onsite working not far from our registration table. It was a beautiful day, other than talking over the sound of their equipment. While we were still greeting golfers as they arrived, one of the tree service workers came to the table to show us a picture. He said they listen to The River, who was also there playing music for our event, and thought we would be interested in what they found. There was a mother bird who was determined to not move from her nest while they worked to cut back branches around her. They were careful to not harm her, but what struck me was her unwavering protection of life. What a beautiful reminder that no matter how loud or close those who don’t share our values may be, we are called to be like this mother bird, defending life no matter what is happening around us.”  We are so thankful for the many men like those at our event, who boldly defend and support the life-saving work of PDHC. They represent families, businesses, church partners, and other life-minded organizations. Before heading out on the course, the men listened intently during the lunch program as Rachel and Nurse Alyssa, members of our hotline and center team, shared their experiences surrounding the role and influence men have in the work we do at PDHC. “Not only are these beautiful stories of heart changes at the very last minute, including women who were sitting in consults at local abortion clinics, but they are women brought to PDHC by men – sidewalk intercessors and PDHC supporters, “ Rachel shared. “What a life-changing force men were in the lives of these clients and their children.” May is a month we honor moms. At PDHC, we honor mothers every day, from the moment she reaches out to our crisis hotline or walks through our doors. Each new mom has a unique story to tell that brings her through our doors today. Many are experiencing challenging circumstances, hurt, emotional trauma, or brokenness. It is important that we take the time to really listen, to learn the “why” behind her “what” so that we can establish trust, provide hope, and build relationships so she doesn’t feel alone in her circumstances. Already this month, we have served 356 individuals through 460 visits to our centers, including personalized consultations, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, in-person parenting education classes, and visits for much-needed baby items. We welcome Jesus into our centers every day and we want to entrust all that we do to Him. This month, we were blessed to have Bishop Fernandes pray a special blessing over our Campus center, our team, volunteers, and the women who come through our doors for help by performing a Sacred Heart Enthronement for the workplace. Plans are in place to have this special blessing provided at each of our centers.  We kicked off our Mother’s Day to Father’s Day Bottles for Life campaign with many of our wonderful church partners participating. Several churches are also holding much-needed diaper and material aid drives to bless our new families.
Last week, we held a legislative education evening with panelists Peter Range, CEO of Ohio Right to Life (ORTL), Nilani Jawahar, Legislative Liaison with Center for Christian Virtue, and Jessica Warner, Marketing and Communications with our affiliate Heartbeat International. Over 100 individuals attended this information-packed evening, followed by a great question-and-answer session. Peter talked about the November Ballot Initiative, Article 1, Section 22, and shared what the Ballot language says vs. what it would really mean. He shared that it would take away parental consent for minors obtaining abortion services and make abortion legal without any restrictions through all nine months of pregnancy in Ohio. More information is below. Nilani talked about the August special election to vote on State Issue 1 – which if passed, would elevate the standards to qualify for and to pass any Ohio Constitutional Amendment. More information is below. Jessica shared updates on the abortion pill and the impact of lives saved through abortion pill reversal services. Mother’s Day is a difficult time for women who have experienced abortion or any type of pregnancy or infant loss, and we were able to provide compassionate care and a supportive community. “It truly is beautiful and even overwhelming to witness the transformation that occurs in our Healing Services participants time and time again. Our God is faithful,” said Carolyn, Director of Client Services. "This experience was life-changing, this has removed the pain, shame, and guilt that I’ve felt and have kept hidden for many years," said a participant. "Through the support and healing I have received from God and PDHC Healing Services Programs, now I truly believe that I am a mother who completely loves her child and that my child is safe in the arms of Jesus." Thank you for walking alongside us each and every day! “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 Ohio Right to Life Talking Points Article 1, Section 22 Ballot Language Rescuing Lives and Impacting Generations, one Heartbeat at a Time. Kathy Scanlon, PDHC President PDHC is blessed to be an affiliate of Heartbeat International, with a network of 2,023 pregnancy help service provider locations in the United States and another 1,227 in other countries. This week, several members of our team, along with over 1,800 leaders from around the United States and other countries are attending the Heartbeat International Annual Conference. The importance of this event and the information provided for those in the pregnancy help movement is crucial. We are surrounded by like-minded leaders from all over the world, who share a wealth of experience, ideas, information, support, and resources, that we can then bring back to help further our ministries and continue the life-saving work of pregnancy resource centers. It is a time to refresh, refocus, and regroup and we are incredibly thankful to Heartbeat International for this opportunity, along with their ongoing support, resources, and education they provide to help all of us be the best we can be for the women and families we serve.
We also hear stories of lives saved from all over the world, and we are filled with renewed hope that the work being done by pregnancy resource centers is saving hundreds of thousands of lives from abortion! At PDHC, we hear it every day in our centers. Just last week, these stories were shared by grateful moms. “My husband and I first came to PDHC shortly after we found out I was pregnant. I was bleeding, thinking I was miscarrying and PDHC was the only one willing to help me get an emergency ultrasound. Today, our baby girl is healthy! My husband and I are so grateful for the village PDHC has built around us through my pregnancy. From free diapers, wipes and prenatal vitamins to simple texts to check on my well-being, PDHC has been there. PDHC really shows people that having a baby doesn’t mean you will be out to sea without a life-raft! They have been a huge blessing.” “I couldn’t do it. The decision to keep my fourth pregnancy was a difficult one. However, my encounter with PDHC brought a whole new meaning to life. Alyssa and the whole team made it happen. Through PDHC, things came in handy. Resources were easily available and accessible. By the grace of God, Roxy our ‘new dawn’ is here and we give all glory to God and to PDHC. You made it happen.” Together, we continue to provide compassionate care to women facing unexpected and challenging pregnancies through services, programs, and resources, helping to make abortion unnecessary. Ohio is one of 13 states considered to be a battle ground state regarding laws on abortion. Our work and the services provided is more important than ever, and we are thankful for our community partners who are helping to educate on what is currently happening with abortion laws in Ohio. You can hear from the experts regarding information to help understand current legislation updates and this year’s ballot initiative that would enshrine abortion into the Ohio Constitution, at an upcoming panel discussion and Q & A. See information below. Also, more information is available at: Protectwomenohio.com Ohiolife.org ccv.org gcrtl.org/stop Thank you for walking alongside us. Rescuing Lives and Impacting Generations, one Heartbeat at a Time. Kathy Scanlon, PDHC President Dear Friends,
Recently, we held our annual meeting with the PDHC staff and Board members. It is the Board’s favorite meeting of the year as they enjoy listening to members of the team share the stories of impact from the individuals served at PDHC. This particular story was shared by Rachel, PDHC’s Connections Manager: In January of this year, the Crisis Hotline staff received an online appointment request from Sarah* seeking "Pregnancy Options and Abortion Information". Sarah stated that she would like a pregnancy test, verification, and ultrasound, but would have to be reached through email due to having no working phone at that time. During further email communication with Sarah, she confirmed two positive home tests and shared the following: I'm already a mother of four. I started dating someone recently and I'm now pregnant. I showed him the positive test and his first suggestion was to 'get rid of it' because he's not ready for a baby. I'm very scared and would love to have someone to talk to because I don't feel like he cares and I'm just feeling very alone. Sarah and her boyfriend John* showed to her appointment at PDHC's Campus Center later that week, during which they had the opportunity to receive the support and encouragement they so desperately needed from one of PDHC's nurses, Kara. Sarah shared that she was not planning to become pregnant and has other children at home. Sarah described John as a "really good guy, but I was just hurt when at first he said he didn't want the pregnancy". John later confessed that although he does want Sarah to continue the pregnancy, he was very fearful given that he doesn't have any kids and lost a pregnancy due to miscarriage at four months during a previous relationship. John disclosed, "I'm still traumatized from it" but "always wanted to be a father eventually". Sarah also expressed being scared, including of abortion and how "it will affect me". Sarah indicated she "has always been against abortion"; she loves kids and since she has four already, "It would be really hard on me to lose one of my babies". Sarah described minimal family support and a desire to shelter her children from those difficult relationships in her life. John and Sarah were engaged during conversations about pregnancy options and were encouraged by Nurse Kara about parenting support and resources available to them as well. They had an opportunity to meet their little one through the wonder of ultrasound, revealing a nearly seven-week baby with strong fetal heart tones. Although the couple admitted it was "a lot to take in", they took ultrasound pictures home and agreed to return the following week for a repeat ultrasound. Despite several attempts to reach Sarah and John subsequent to their first visit, contact with the couple through email and text was unsuccessful over the next five weeks. But early in March, the hotline team received a new online appointment request from Sarah, this time seeking a "Community Resources and Referrals" visit. Sarah wrote: I met with Nurse Kara a few weeks ago. I would just like to come back in and speak with her if she'll be there. I need help getting insurance and I would like to get another ultrasound and just check on my baby if possible. My partner and I were considering abortion the last time we came in and we've decided we're keeping the baby. Sarah also reached out to PDHC's Family Empowerment and Connections text lines with a new phone number for follow-up. During those communications, she stated, "We had more time and thought to put into our decision, and we've decided to keep the baby. You were very sweet and kind and helpful during this process, and I just wanted to thank you for that and for reaching out again". Sarah has since received a subsequent ultrasound, this time capturing beautiful images of an active, nearly 14-week baby. The couple has been linked with support services and continues to be in contact with staff and various PDHC program offerings. Sarah and John's story is just one of many here at PDHC that highlights how important each piece of the puzzle, each touch point, is with a client. Every communication, every staff member, volunteer, and supporter - from point of first contact to consistent follow-up and ongoing support - contributes to engaging clients with love and encouragement and is so necessary for the work we do. It represents a beautiful tapestry weaving back and forth at this couple's point of need and preference, to ensure service provision at every stage. Sarah and John felt love and consistency here at PDHC and are now eagerly awaiting the birth of their child, instead of grieving another loss in their lives. PDHC nurses have a special calling to serve the Lord through the ministry of PDHC. They build trust and relationships with every individual, serving with care and compassion and a genuine heart for women in crisis. If you are a nurse or know someone looking for an opportunity to serve in this way, we would love to have you join our team. Click here for more information. *Names changed for confidentiality. Rescuing Lives and Impacting Generations, one Heartbeat at a Time. Kathy Scanlon, PDHC President Dear Friends,
Pregnancy Resource Centers have been on the frontline for more than 50 years, walking alongside women facing unexpected and challenging pregnancies, compassionately caring for them and their babies, helping save women from the known trauma of abortion, and empowering them to choose life for their babies. It begins with that unique and crucial intervention piece that happens in our center, taking the time to sit with a woman and really listen to her personal challenges and obstacles, providing her with a vision beyond her circumstances, and helping her to see her value and the life of her child through God’s eyes. Relationships are formed and trust is built as we help her resolve her issues and problems in a life-affirming way. At PDHC, when we say we are rescuing lives and impacting generations, one heartbeat at a time, that is exactly what we are doing, and the ultrasound is one of our most powerful tools in the center. You will see this in today’s story shared by a woman who came to PDHC abortion determined. After seeing her baby’s arms and legs fully formed and moving, and a strong, beating heartbeat on the ultrasound screen, she immediately changed her mind and chose life for her baby. I envision Jesus smiling. This intimate bonding time between the nurse and the new mom and between mom and her baby is just the beginning, as a miraculous moment of seeing her baby for the very first time is shared. Their journey together continues as their relationship grows, and mom is provided with ongoing physical, emotional, and spiritual support so she never feels alone. In the last 15 years, PDHC has provided 13,792 initial ultrasounds (a total of 16,734, as sometimes a new mom requires multiple scans), resulting in 10,894 life decisions. Think about those thousands of lives saved from abortion that are now 15 years old. They will become our future doctors, nurses, teachers, pastors, priests, missionaries, first responders, moms, dads, grandmothers and grandfathers, and the list goes on. Each with God-given spiritual gifts and talents which will impact the next generation. Some of those 15-year-olds may now be in our schools, hearing messages from our Common Sense Culture educators, learning about the importance of their character development and the healthy choices and behaviors they need to achieve their life goals for a bright and healthy future. Our fight to help rescue lives and impact families for generations continues. PDHC is part of the Ohio Pregnancy Resource Center Coalition, made up of over 100 pregnancy centers in Ohio, helping to make abortion unnecessary. According to the latest abortion statistics released by the Ohio Department of Health, in 2021, there were 21,813 abortions in Ohio, of which 3,551 were in Franklin and Fairfield Counties. The importance and impact of pregnancy resource centers in the community as one of the first lines of defense are undeniable. The latest impact numbers of Ohio pregnancy centers includes 126,590 individuals served, and over $9 million in free medical services. See full report here. However, there are many who don’t want us to succeed. Last week, pro-abortion advocates announced the language for their ballot initiative to enshrine abortion into the Ohio Constitution in this November’s General Election. It would allow abortions after babies have heartbeats and feel pain, overturn Ohio’s parental notification law when a minor seeks an abortion and eliminate the legal requirements for abortionists to follow basic hospital health and safety standards. According to Ohio Right to Life, the language is dangerously deceptive and would remove nearly every single regulation on abortion, allowing for abortion through 9 months of pregnancy. See full amendment language here: Ballot initiative to enshrine abortion into the Ohio Constitution Testimonies provided by Ohio Right to Life: As an Ohio physician committed to the highest standards of care for all of my patients, I am opposed to this initiative. This abortion-industry-led proposal lowers health and safety standards for women and girls by allowing abortionists to skirt basic hospital health and safety standards. As someone who has dedicated her life to protecting and preserving my patients’ health and wellbeing, I reject this dangerous measure. - Dr. Lillian Miller, OB/GYN The current proposed amendment to the constitution of Ohio would not allow any public discourse on the merits or lack thereof of any restrictions to abortion which most Americans agree upon. The language in this proposed amendment leaves a wide open door to legal abortion without any restriction on fetal age or development. Abortion is complicated, personal, and sensitive, and should be debated with thoughtful and honest dialogue. I’m calling on my fellow physicians and fellow citizens to reject this ill-conceived initiative and begin an honest dialog on how to move forward. - Dr. Lucy LaPerna As we continue on the frontline, we are so thankful for your prayers, your time volunteering, and your financial support that helps provide programs and services to make abortion unnecessary. Rescuing Lives and Impacting Generations, one heartbeat at a time. Kathy Scanlon, PDHC President Dear Friends,
January is Sanctity of Human Life (SOHL) Month, which began on January 13, 1984, when President Ronald Reagan issued a presidential proclamation designating the third Sunday of January as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. On that day, President Reagan referenced the 15 million babies who had lost their lives to abortion. “I call upon the citizens of this blessed land to gather on that day in homes and places of worship to give thanks for the gift of life, and to reaffirm our commitment to the dignity of every human being and the sanctity of each human life,” he said. Today, the number of lives lost to abortion has grown to nearly 65 million. Just 3 years prior to the President’s proclamation, PDHC had opened the doors to its first pregnancy resource center, and for over 42 years has continued to be a beacon of hope in the community to serve individuals right where they are, at this moment in their life, during their time of need, thus saving and changing thousands of lives. To recognize Sanctity of Human Life Month, 20 of our church partners and their congregations came together to support life through Bottles for Life events, baby showers, and diaper drives. We were blessed to receive several in-person invitations to speak about the impact of PDHC services in the community and how everyone can get involved through prayer, volunteering, and giving. We are thankful for all of the lives saved and impacted in 2022 and as we move forward into 2023 together, we ask for your continued prayers of support and protection for our centers, staff, volunteers, and for the women and families we serve. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14 Rescuing Lives and Impacting Generations, one heartbeat at a time. Kathy Scanlon, PDHC President |
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