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Jakia's Story 2022One of our favorite stories, of a client we've gotten to know so well, is from Jakia. With two very different and close pregnancies, our staff has spent two years alongside her and her kiddos. We are grateful for the opportunity to share a piece of her story!
Jakia initially came to us 5 months pregnant with the father living in another country. She was unemployed and unprepared. She became an A2A client and gave birth to baby K’yng in 2021. She continued to be a client and eventually started to become stable. But soon after birth, on a trip for K’yng to meet his father in person, she became pregnant again, in a nonconsensual act. Because of the circumstances, Jakia quickly decided she would abort. Three weeks later, she took a trip to Illinois, with Planned Parenthood even paying for her hotel room. But one thing changed her mind...the ultrasound! Seeing her beautiful baby developing, she changed her mind and came straight to My Life Clinic - deciding not to take the life of her growing son. Baby Marvin was born in 2022, just days after K’yng’s first birthday. Since then, Jakia has continued engaging with the clinic and our staff, taking advantage of parenting classes and the baby boutique. She has a stable job, a home and is one of our favorite success stories. Jakia's life looks different these days, in more ways than her two beautiful boys. We are grateful to have a front-row seat to her growth personally & as a wonderful momma! Janette's Story 2021She was pregnant and homeless, without a place to stay as she arrived in our clinic in late August of 2021. She was in great distress as she had nowhere to go. Her family and the father of the baby were not supportive and left her feeling alone. She felt that she had no one. As our Client Specialist continued the intake, she encouraged her letting her know that My Life Clinic and the staff here were supportive and ready to help in any way possible. After a long conversation and words of encouragement, our client specialist called maternity homes in and around Columbia to find her a safe place. By God’s provision, a maternity home had an opening that day. Our client applied, got accepted, and had a home all in one day. She has been thriving ever since and even growing in her relationship with God. She was able to get a job and car through our help and partnership we have with the maternity home. She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl in February of 2022. She radiates God’s joy and is better than ever before. We praise God for this transformation and for donors like you willing to sacrifice and give to support this ministry and pregnant women in need.
Kassidy's Story 2021It was a Wednesday, like any other day I went out to get a few things from the store. Life was going good, but as of late I had been worrying about breast cancer (and pregnancy) because I had clear liquid draining from my chest. Later did I realize the true and obvious connection when I bought a cheap 99 cent pregnancy test from Walmart. I came home without a care, hanging out before taking the test, as I expected it would come out negative like the past few. Though, today was not that day for a negative test. As I stared at the 2nd faint line bleeding in onto the test strip my heart dropped. The first thing I did was show my Stepmom the test and all I could utter were the words "Noo, no no noooo, Malissa…", as a pleading look of ,"say it isn't so", plastered across my face. She gave me a stone expression and said "yes Kassidy, yes.." She immediately had me return back to the store to get the highest quality test, and sure enough, still the same outcome...positive. My life felt like it was falling apart. Everything I was working towards was going to be put on hold, as now I had huge decisions to make. What was I going to do about college, my relationships, friendships? How would I break the news to everyone? I quickly mustered up the courage to tell my boyfriend the news and decide what we should do. When he came over the night I showed the pregnancy tests to him. We sat down and I explained how scared I was and how unready we both were, on top of the fact that we still hadn't known each other for more than 4 ½ months. After all that could be said was, we both left in silence over the decision we had chosen, because it was a decision that we weren't proud to say aloud.
Fast forward a few days to the dreaded day. The day that I almost went through with it. Planned parenthood, the infamous place where abortions take place, and where I almost went, if it hadn't been for an older lady grabbing my attention to talk to me about the new life growing inside me. I was hesitant to listen, let alone follow this woman. Her name was Mary and she told me about a place called My Life Clinic and the endless amount of benefits/resources they had to offer. I was very skeptical but followed her right across the street. As I entered the clinic for the first time Mary introduced me to the staff and helped me set up an ultrasound. Now this is where things become unreal. It was like one thing after another lined up perfectly as if it were fate. Now to preface, I do believe in God. And to this day the way that everything played out, had to be something that only He could've made happen. All the coincidences involving a kind woman named Mary, a generous staff and doctor, and of all days, that day just so happened to be the only day for ultrasounds. On top of that the sonographer doing so had the same name as me! It was very difficult to leave that day with the same opinion over what my original intentions were. So, after the visit I talked to my boyfriend about my experience and how the coincidences made me realize that maybe, just maybe, we didn't need the other option. If it wasn't for My life clinic I don't know what I would've done without their help. Being able to confide in the women on staff and to receive the warmest welcomes and smiles, it made all the difference in my future with the weight of a newborn on the way. My Life really helped me to not feel so alone. The classes I got to take gave me a sense of comfort, belonging and readiness as I prepared for my new life as a mother. Now that I've had my son, Remington, I can say that I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world. I'm so happy that My Life clinic encouraged me to choose life. AaRaya's Story 2018“I don’t think I could be making it through my pregnancy without these sweet women [at My Life Clinic.]”
“I’m 17. Still in high school. It was unplanned, etc. I was beyond scared and I didn’t plan on keeping my baby. But wow! No matter what decision I made, they were supportive and brought me so much positivity. They are the reason I kept my little boy! I don’t think I would have if I hadn’t met them. They made me realize how big of a blessing being a mommy is. They never judged me, they were always SO SWEET and they always encouraged me to make the right choice. I’m so happy I did! I would recommend ANY woman I know to go see these ladies. If you are needing somewhere to turn and looking for help, GO TO MY LIFE CLINIC! They are the best and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. God is looking down on you all so proudly.” Help us continue freely providing this ministry just as we did for AaRaya by virtually 'filling' a baby bottle. Click the button below to give a gift!
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MLC's 2022 Client Stories |
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Kelly's Story
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Jenny's Story
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Brooke's Story
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Bari's Story
This is my second pregnancy and I am expecting a beautiful baby girl. With my first pregnancy, I was surrounded by family and friends who were there to support me emotionally. For someone who has always struggled with depression, it is important to me that I have a strong support system. Although I can spend time on the phone with my family, it is not as comforting as being face to face and having them by my side during pregnancy.
My Life Clinic has been a blessing in both the support and kindness shown by each staff member. The classes offered that both teach and enlighten as well as the bible study I get to participate in goes to strengthen my faith in God. Candice, in particular, has been outstanding in offering a listening ear as well as being open in sharing her own life experiences allowing me to feel that I am not just a client, but a friend. Shirley is such a great teacher, I am able to follow along and have great discussions with her in both the classes and bible study. I really feel the love and dedication from all of the staff and the effort they put into My Life Clinic. I also really enjoy being able to share my experiences with other women attending the classes. I was very ecstatic to find out that by taking these classes I would earn “Baby Bucks” which allow me to shop in the boutique for everything I could ever need during pregnancy and items for the new baby! From the bottom of my heart, I want to extend gratitude and thanks to My Life Clinic as well as the donors who make it possible for me to get the support, learning, and friendship I need!” - Bari
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Elizabeth's Story
"Sixteen years ago, a few weeks after the beginning of my senior year at Mizzou, I discovered that I was pregnant. As I'm sure all young girls are in that situation, I was scared and in denial. I had already taken a test on my own, and was hoping that I had done it wrong. I was pretty sure that I would not have an abortion, but I really didn't know what I would do. My older half-sister had been forced by her mother at the age of 15 to have an abortion against her will, and had attempted suicide on her 16th birthday. Her grief always stuck with me, and I didn't think I could live with choosing an abortion. I remember that it was on a Tuesday morning that I drove by myself to Planned Parenthood to get a free pregnancy test. I knew that they may try to persuade me, but all I wanted was a pregnancy test. By God's grace, they were closed, so I drove to what was probably Open Arms at that time. I remember speaking with a counselor, and I remember her praying with me. It was strange to have someone else pray with me, but it was not unwelcome. I've never forgotten how she prayed with me. My pregnancy was confirmed. The counselor helped set up an appointment for me with Dr. Michael Burks. I received amazing care from him and his nurse, and went on to give birth to my beautiful daughter, Jocelynn, on May 2, 2000, just 24 hours after I walked across a stage and received my college degree."
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Brianna's Story
"When I was 19, I found out I was pregnant with my first child. I wasn’t working and had no clue what to do, the only good thing was that I already had my own place. A friend told me I should go to My Life Clinic and that they could help me. When I arrived they comforted me and let me know that everything would be ok. Not only did they give me a pregnancy test, but they also gave me an ultrasound and information on the next steps to take. After I had my son, they welcomed him and helped me get things I needed. A few months passed and I found out I was pregnant again. My son was only 3 months old, what was I going to do. I was not ready for another baby. Again, My Life Clinic helped. They gave me plenty of information with details about abortion. During my ultrasound to determine how far along I was, they also discovered it was twins. And not only was it twins, but they told me the babies would be born before my son turned one. This was crazy, what was I going to do. I’d have 3 babies under the age of one and I was only 20 years old. I had read enough information to know that abortion was not going to be an option. Today I have 4 month old twins, one boy and one girl, and a fourteen month old little boy. I love my children to death and because of the continuous support from My Life Clinic I am finding the courage to better myself by becoming a nurse. I graduate in May 2015 as a Licensed Practical Nurse."
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