Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Bring us your ONESIES!!

First Way is in great need of ONESIES right now! We need more baby clothes in general. Have your little ones outgrown theirs? Or do you have a few extra dollars, when you're out shopping, to pick up a few?

We put onesies in the layettes for our new mothers when they have their babies, to help welcome them into the world. They don't have to be cute like the pictures I put here, just small and snuggly. They can be plain white as long as they don't have stains. We don't give stained clothes to our clients.

We also need volunteers. 


Looking for something charitable to do this holiday season? Consider us! 
 
We love babies and their mamas too.
 
Babies are us!
 
Do something special this Christmas...
 
even if it's just 
 
one onesie! 
  
 
 



Monday, July 15, 2013

1st Way "Tour"- Lots of Layettes!

Putting together layettes is one of the most fun activities for volunteers at 1st Way to do!

A layette is a  bag with special supplies that women take to the hospital as soon as they go into labor. 1st Way gives layettes to new mothers who visited us when they were not sure if they were pregnant and who decided afterward to give birth to their babies. This is 1st Way's special way to welcome their newborn to the world. What do we put in the layettes? 



Layettes usually have the same sorts of things, if we have them in stock at any given time. As seen above, we try to include a quilt and a receiving blanket. We get some really nice blankets! The boxes on the bottom shelf contain diapers.

We include newborn diapers and wipes and little containers of baby powder and lotion. Often, we don't have baby powder and lotion. These items can be picked up for $1 each at stores like Walmart in the "travel" section. We always welcome those donations!

 

Take a look at the picture above. What you see here on the shelves are blankets. In the baskets and boxes are things like diapers, wipes, baby hats and booties. When we have baby hats and booties donated, they also go in the layettes. These are also great donations! (hint, hint!)


In addition, layettes contain several cute baby outfits. Above, you see mostly clothes for newborn girls. Layettes contain 1-2 onesies, casual outfits and a dressy outfits. The clothes are arranged by gender and type- girls clothes, clothes for either gender, and boys clothes. This is one part I really loved as a volunteer- picking out the best outfits! Also, girls from Marist High School come in to make layettes sometimes and they have a lot of fun. It's also a good way to prepare girls for one day being mothers.

To top it all off, we always include two small stuffed toys for baby. Beanie babies are especially popular, or any little toy a baby can hold, like a rattle. When we're done, we cover the bag in gift wrap paper and tie them with blue or pink ribbons.

Then, they are all ready to gift to our mothers-to-be about two months before their delivery date!

Many thanks to the many people who donated all you see in this room.


Click on the pictures to enlarge!


Tuesday, July 9, 2013

1st Way's 1st Sponsored Race a Success!

1st Way's first sponsored race was a great success!

New T-shirts were designed for the Aquafina Butte to Butte race, in pink and blue, all with the 1st Way logo. The runners stood out and drew attention to the fact that they were running for the lives of unborn babies.

Our first running team had four runners and two walkers, all of whom completed the 5K race! Runners ran to represent many causes and it was good to see 1st Way well represented by such a dedicated team on the beautiful 4th of July day!

We appreciate those who sponsored this year's race. More sponsors are needed next time around, so please be thinking about pledging to support our runners next year.

Many thanks to Kendall Leatherman, our coordinator, for doing such a great job to start a new tradition here in Eugene!

Monday, June 17, 2013

Take a Look at Our Local First Way Center!

Take a look at our local First Way Center! 

We're located at 1667 High St, near downtown and the University of Oregon. 

Walk-Ins Are Welcome!




 First Way is a comfortable place for a woman to go when she needs someone to talk to.







We offer free pregnancy tests and free ultrasound. 


Come in and see us!

Call  541.687.8651.



Thursday, April 4, 2013

Should Infants Born Alive Be Protected?

Should Infants Born Alive Be Protected?

"What kind of question is that," most people would think, if they are not familiar with what is going on.

 (The baby on the left is alive, 21 weeks old.)


The Pro-Life World has become rather intense lately.

The media is beginning to show us some extreme positions being taken.

After-Birth Abortion: What is that? Does this make sense to anyone?

What is a "Born Alive Infants Protection Act?"

When babies are born alive after botched abortions, what should happen to them? Often these babies are missing limbs, or are paralyzed. They are breathing, crying and their heart are racing. Sometimes, as in the case below, the doctor is sued either for the damage done or the fact that the abortion job wasn't completed, usually depending on whether the parent sues or the child grows up and sues.

 http://www.lifenews.com/2011/08/16/judge-abortionist-must-pay-36m-to-botched-abortion-survivor/

 http://www.lifenews.com/2005/04/29/state-1014/

Should infants born alive be saved? 

Planned Parenthood says that decision is between a woman and her doctor.
 http://www.priestsforlife.org/alert/alert.aspx?id=36

Obama voted twice (as a senator) that if the mother wanted the infant killed, she should be able to choose that. It's even here on video:
 http://www.lifenews.com/2012/08/22/unearthed-video-shows-obama-supporting-late-term-abortions/

Obama, as a member of the Illinois Senate, opposed a state version of the federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, a measure that would make sure babies who survive abortions are given proper medical care. This is the same bill being considered right now in Florida.


I'm not just talking about late-term, third trimester pregnancies. Sometimes, an infant can be viable (able to live outside the womb) in the 5th month, by around week 20.
This is what a 21 week old baby, born alive, looks like. Notice how alert he is.
 http://www.endtimeprophecy.net/Articles-Non-EPN/5-21week.html

Look at what's happening in Canada- Hundreds of babies a year are just being left to die, because the law offers them no protection-
 http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/23/canada-491-babies-born-alive-after-failed-abortions-left-to-die/

In the UK, if a baby weighs under a pound, the baby HAS to be left to die, even if that is not what the parents want. In the government run healthcare system, the cost of trying to save babies that small makes it cost-prohibitive.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/12/18/miracle-accident-saves-preemie-baby-doctors-would-have-let-die/

In this situation, a baby was born although his mother's water never broke. So, you can see him still peacefully curled up, in his ambiotic sac, as if he was in the womb. In a late term abortion, a doctor often punctures this sac so that the water comes out and the baby is drowned.
http://www.lifenews.com/2013/04/03/doc-delivers-baby-still-in-amniotic-sac-would-abortion-be-ok/

Can you believe that this baby, as large as he is, could legally be killed or left to die without the protection of a "Born Alive Protection Act?" He could. He isn't breathing yet. The baby is also technically not considered, "born."

Could anyone read these facts and not be stunned by pro-choice "logic?" I can't imagine how much denial a person would have to be in, or how many lies they would have to tell themselves to justify killing an infant born alive. 

Of course, it all started with people getting comfortable with the idea that it is okay to kill a baby as long as it isn't born alive.

Be on the lookout for this movie, "22 weeks," which will be playing at Cannes, about a botched abortion survivor:
http://www.lifenews.com/2010/04/19/int-1514/

Click "like" and share their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/22weeks


Friday, March 22, 2013

We've got something better than the culture of death.


This morning, I've been contemplating the pro-life movement in general. I've been thinking about what we're doing to promote a culture of life, not just globally, but locally.

I go to Facebook in the morning and see links to all the many pro-life websites I'm subscribed to. This morning in particular, it has made me almost want to cry. For one thing, there's the Gosnell trial going on right now. For those who don't know, if Dr. Gosnell had snipped the spinal chords of several late term abortions 30 seconds earlier, they would have been "abortions," and not considered murders. Dr. Gosnell is currently on trial for infanticide on a large scale, when he was just barely breaking the law. 

From that page, I click to find out that pro-choice people are upset about "puppy abortions," and spreading the sadness all over the web. Also, I click to links with quotes from abortionists about how they have to work to block out the baby in order to do the procedure.

Yes, it is grim. I won't pretend it's not. But, although we need to face the harshness of the reality of abortion, we also need to put forward the most positive and life affirming message we can. The tragedy and the horror are not going to move people who are loyal to the pro-choice idea. Many think even the grimmest pictures of aborted babies are just part of "scare tactics." It breaks my heart to tell them they're not tactics, just facts.

If public opinion is to be changed, most certainly our approach must be to put forth the message that we have something better than the culture of death.

We are NOT just "anti-abortion." We are PRO-LIFE. We believe in putting babies, children, families and communities first, ahead of more self-involved interests. We believe in women and we believe they can make it in the world as mothers. We affirm the strength and courage women need in order to bring their pre-born children into life in the world. We believe in doing all we can to help that happen.

Help us send those messages out to the world. Help create blogs and memes. Help 1st Way find inspirational stories. We can't do it alone. Our success depends on you. 

Post below or email me on FB to find out how you can help.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Announcements

Hi Everyone!

As some of you may have read in the last church bulletins, First Way is looking for any women interested in submitting an inspirational story to our new blog, "Talk to a Friend." These stories can be anonymous. It's not necessary to include a name unless you want. E-mail laura@carmelheart.com.

I've been discovering some really great resources on-line. There are many young ladies dedicated to helping other young women who have unplanned pregnancy learn to cope well with it and be successful.



Notable in my search today is:

Ashlee Bush- author and consultant
http://www.ashleebush.com/about/
(She has a great resource list on her website, too.)

Also, do not forget about the book-signing 
for Terry Ianora, our 1st Way Director!  

We are praying for a large turnout, so bring your friends!

All proceeds from each book sale go to 1st Way. Everything- aside from manufacturing cost of the book.- ALL for 1st Way.

Join us at The Mustard Seed, 227 W 10th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401,  (541) 683-0733

(Ever curious about how the pro-life movement got started and the awesome women who got together to make that happen? This book tells the exciting story.)

Saturday, March 16, 2013 1:00-3:00

Come out, lend support, have fun!

Friday, March 8, 2013

Until we really honor women, there will be no Happy Women's Day.

On this day, we celebrate women and all they give to our families, communities and the wider society. It is time to end violence against pregnant women. 

We live in a culture that tells women
  • Be liberated! No double standard! Sex is for fun, just wait two weeks into a dating relationship.
  • Use birth control. Eat organic food to keep your body pure and natural, but then  fill your body with potentially harmful chemicals and hormones.
  • If you make a mistake and forget the pill or condom, it's okay. There's no baby inside your womb yet. It's just tissue or a cluster of cells at this point. Just get it taken out.
  • If you don't abort, your future will be ruined. No more opportunity. You will sit at home eating greasy chips and watching soap operas, bemoaning the failure of your life as you live on welfare.
  • There goes your career! There goes your chance of a higher education! No man will want to marry you now. You're just done.
 So, into the Planed Parenthood clinic you walk.

 "Wow, we understand," they say. "You're a liberated woman. We will help you."

"I don't feel so liberated right now. I just feel miserable," you answer, and isn't there a baby in there, somehow? What happens in an abortion?"

"Don't worry. The doctor will just 'gently remove the contents of your uterus.' " (from actual Planned Parenthood literature and their website)

"But, it's still human, right? That's kind of like a sacred thing, right?"

"Oh, don't listen to that stuff from people out to take away your right to do what you want with your body," they say.

Most common line heard on the way to the abortion room-

"Will my baby feel pain?"

To which is answered, "There is no baby, just cells."

Still, you wonder, trying to comfort yourself with the thought of cells being removed. Surely, that's all it is. And then, it is over. Time to get out there and be that strong woman, let them hear you roar. You are liberated!

Wouldn't you REALLY rather hear this?

Woman, you are precious to society. You are worth being cherished, nurtured and loved by one man who is committed to you for life. You will have great sex when you want to and when you don't want to have children, you are strong enough to abstain from sex. You're not powerless.  You're worth deep, enduring love. Children will enrich your life, not take from it. You're smart and skilled and able to provide for your family. You can work if you want and receive an education and still be a great mom. I love you and I want this for you. You are amazing. You give life.

Why does no one hear this anymore? We are a jaded, sad society, lying to ourselves about our freedoms. 

Until we really honor women, there will be no Happy Women's Day.

Friday, March 1, 2013

The Psychology of Abortion Vulnerable Women

We've been getting excited about the new, "Talk to a Friend Outreach." In preparation, I have been studying an article about research regarding the psychology of abortion-minded and abortion vulnerable women. It turns out that these mindsets are very much tied in to self image.

Shame about pregnancy is a strong motivator for abortion, regardless of whether a woman has religious beliefs. Although she is ashamed that her friends will judge her for what they see may be putting her career in jeopardy, almost no women have shame about having a child "out-of-wedlock anymore. Because women may be afraid of being judged by religious people, they may avoid talking to them, however. 

First Way's success is due in part to our non-religious approach to women. We do not bring religion up. We do not mention it at all, unless she does. We give her "just the facts." Since Planned Parenthood does not give her the facts, the facts alone can be persuasive. For example, a procedure involving dismembering the baby limb by limb and sucking the parts into a tube is referred to by PP only as, "gently removing the contents of the uterus." 

With organizations such as Feminists for Life, Atheists for Life and Buddhists for Life gaining more prominence, fewer people are seeing the pro-life position as a "religious thing." This helps us help the women we serve. 

Women who have a self-identity as maternal and who see being a woman as connected with motherhood are more likely to be "abortion vulnerable" than "abortion minded." These women are the ones most likely to be propelled into abortion due to a sense of shame. So, these women should be handled with lots of compassion and TLC, while helping her feel good about herself as a woman and about her ability to make choices for the sake of herself and the child.

Many women do not identify with motherhood and they primarily see their pregnancy as a threat to their career success. In these cases, few things are more powerful than showing them examples of women who are successful (or even more successful) following delivery, and who are proud of the achievement of balancing both. Also, the stories of women who "never really thought of themselves as mothers" are bound to have a greater impact.

The new "Talk to a Friend Outreach" is meant to convey these positive, empowering and inspirational messages to women, to reach them in the way psychological research most strongly indicates will lead to success. 

We appreciate your help and support. Please let us know if you or someone you know has an inspirational story to share, or if you would like to work as a peer counselor with us. Thanks!

Research Summary- Vitae Foundation

Newest 2013 Research- Vitae Foundation

Talk to a Friend Blog


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Support The New "Talk To A Friend" Outreach!

Imagine being a young woman, about twenty-two years old, struggling on your own, making under $12,000 a year. Your get pregnant and your boyfriend either abandons you or pressures you to get an abortion. 

42% of women fall into this sort of profile. They earn under 100% of the poverty line. They are aged between 20 and 24. And they are overwhelmed. Most were barely making ends meet before they got the news about pregnancy. For a few hundred dollars and in just a couple of hours time, this woman could be free of the "problem" forever (so she feels) and just get on with her life.

What could help a woman in this scenario? I've been researching this demographic of women to find out what they want and need. The result is a new online outreach idea: Talk To A Friend. 

"Talk To A Friend" now has a facebook page and a blog. We've reserved talktoafriend.org and info@talktoafriend.org is a working email address now. Although it will take a while to get all the components running and polished, it is okay to link to the Facebook page and blog now.

Sponsored by 1st Way, "Talk To A Friend" websites  have no direct mention of abortion, 1st way or any other crisis pregnancy center, although some do have a link. These sites are designed to be warm, friendly and comfortable places for women to go to get support. Some of our former clients will be volunteer peer support workers. An extended list of resources will be kept, so that the women can get the help they need to keep their child. Through this resource, women will be referred to 1st Way, but reason for this effort is to make the experience more appealing and welcoming to them.

Please subscribe to http://talktoanewfriend.blogspot.com and "like" http://www.facebook.com/Talktoafriend?ref=hl. Share both links. Pass them on in emails. Please do all you can to help and support "Talk To A Friend."

Thank you!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

New Outreach Needs Support: Talk to A Friend


We're launching a new Facebook page today as an outreach to women in crisis pregnancy. The new page is called, simply, "talktoafriend." It links to 1st Way only in the about section. We'll be posting non-judgmental articles to help women know we're empathic and care. Up until now, almost all on-line efforts have been towards the pro-life supporter community, and we'll continue to provide the most up to date news for you. There will be a new blog up soon, too. 

Please "like" this page AND share this page with whomever you can AND suggest any articles you'd like to see added. Thanks! 

http://www.facebook.com/Talktoafriend

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

So, abortion is not a holocaust, you say?

Infancy is a time of innocent trust. The newborn has a lot of development to do and she requires safety and protection to grow up healthy and well.

A newborn infant is not like you and me. They can't sit and debate philosophy or jet ski or write novels. They don't really do much but sleep, poop, cry and eat.

An article posted a few hours ago on Crushable.com is about someone's opinion that, for similar reasons, it is ludicrous to compare abortion to a "holocaust." The reason the author gives is that, "It’s an event in recent history that resulted in the systematic murder of six million people. SIX MILLION LIVING AND BREATHING HUMAN BEINGS.  People who had jobs and lives and families and histories before being enslaved, tortured and murdered. To compare their lives to the lives of developing fetuses disgusts me."

Let's take a look at this. These "people" of the "holocaust" had jobs, lives and families, unlike "developing fetuses." Also, they had jobs and families, unlike infants and children who do not have jobs and have not yet created families. Children are DEVELOPING, just as the "fetus" in the womb is developing. So the reason the author gives why the pre-born aren't people so they cannot be victims of a holocaust isn't sensible at all, since she defines a person with such lazy and careless terms, in a tone (all capitals, emotional language, such as "disgust," "offensive," and "makes me want to foam at the mouth") that is more akin to a person spouting off about their bad hair day than someone writing an intelligent article.

This author even titles her article, "Someone Needs To Explain The Difference Between A Holocaust And An Abortion To The Duggars." For those who don't know, the Duggars are the parents of over twenty children who have recently formed a coalition of pro-life groups who will work together, called, "Life United." The idea for this coalition came to them as they were touring a Holocaust museum and they realized that abortion was a form of holocaust.

So, the author, Jenni Maier, is concerned that the Duggar family has not been educated about what a holocaust is and how it is not the same as abortion. 

Looking up the definition of holocaust in Merriam-Webster online, we see, "a thorough destruction involving extensive loss of life especially through fire." Call a pre-born baby what you will, from a "fetus" to a "sea monkey," you still can't logically say it is not alive or not human. So, the definition of holocaust applies. The Duggars never used the word "holocaust" with a capital "H," which would refer to the most famous holocaust, the Holocaust that occurred in Nazi Germany.

So Jenni, have you been able to stop "foaming at the mouth" long enough to think about things before writing an article on a major internet website?  As I look around the web, I see many examples of this crazy, lazy thinking, which is hungrily embraced by others who want to be lazy in their thinking to justify what they want.

The only reason why it would even occur to me to critique such an inane article is that today's world is so filled with emotion-driven people who lack critical thinking skills. When a person's emotions "resonate" with the emotions of an author, that's all a person needs to make a point these days.

Surely, opinions like this cannot sway an intelligent public from protecting the lives of the unborn.

Jenni Maier's Article


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

"Roe" of Roe v Wade AND "Doe" of Doe v Bolton- Both Pro-life Activists Now

Well, the memorial of Roe v Wade has passed and I have taken some time to collect and integrate my thoughts after hearing so many more talks and reading so many more articles than usual.

One of the articles that impacted me most was realizing that both women who fought hard to legalize abortion (Norma McCorvey "Jane Roe" of Roe v Wade and Sandra Cano "Jane Doe" of Doe v Bolton) no longer support abortion and wish these decisions were revoked.

The Doe v Bolton case made abortion legal up to nine months, at the discretion of the states. However, Sandra Cano said she was forced to sign an affidavit agreeing to an abortion she didn't want to have and even tried to flee the state to prevent abortion. The irony of this situation is that one of the most famous "victories" for the pro-choice movement didn't involve a choice at all.

“No one should have a right to kill their children. No mother should ever want to do so,” she said, describing her case as a “covenant with death.” -Sandra Cano (Jane Doe)

Norma McCorvey "Jane Roe" was a pro-choice activist who worked at abortion clinics. Once, she was on her cigarette break and struck up a conversation with an "operation rescue" preacher and in time was converted, baptized and became a pro-life activist.

Over the past forty years, the two women who sparked the landmark pro-abortion legislation have both re-thought it and had a dramatic change of heart.  

It's not impossible to hope that our country won't be too far behind.






Thursday, January 17, 2013

Learning More About the Effects of Abortion on Society

Hello Everyone!

Last week's blog was about how men, families and society are affected by abortion. This week, I'd like to share some excellent links, for those who would like to learn more about these issues.

(1) Six Reasons Why Men Can Speak on Abortion

Here's a comprehensive list of the many ways men are hurt by abortion and have a right to have their say:

http://www.lifenews.com/2013/01/16/six-reasons-why-men-can-speak-on-abortion/

(2) Abortion's Forgotten Victim:  The Aborted Baby's Father

A well-written editorial about the harm which falls on fathers when their child is aborted.

http://www.lifenews.com/2013/01/14/abortions-forgotten-victim-the-aborted-babys-father/

(3) Abortion's Terrible Consequence: The Shrinking Adoption Poll

Due to the greater availability of abortion, fewer and fewer infants are given up for adoption, forcing families to seek to adopt their children from overseas.

 http://www.lifenews.com/2013/01/15/abortions-terrible-consequence-the-shrinking-adoption-pool/

This weekend, many pro-life activities are scheduled on the Anniversary of Roe v Wade. Stay posted for updates!




Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Abortion Hurts Society (even if you don't believe it hurts a woman and a child.)

At today's First Way staff meeting, I gave a brief presentation about the psychological effects abortion can have on men. After all, it's their child, too. And, they are powerless to do anything. Beyond that, communication between the man and woman breaks down, because any opinion the man might have about saving his child may be seen as an affront to her "rights" as a woman.

The primary biological drive in a woman is to nurture children. The primary biological drive in a man is to protect his wife and children. When a woman chooses abortion without the agreement of the baby's father, not only is she going against her biological nature, but she forces a man to go against his biological nature as well. How can any of this be good for the human psyche?

Not all men who have lost a child to abortion will experience recognizable trauma any more than the child's mother did. The key word is "recognizable." Many men and women experience PTSD-like symptoms and cannot trace the symptoms to any traumatic event. People are experiencing this more and more now that abortion is increasingly seen not only as socially acceptable, but as a desirable alternative for a woman who finds herself pregnant. So, many men and women have no idea why they are suffering.

What happens to the relationship when a man and woman disagree about whether to abort? Once communication breaks down, the relationship is rarely salvaged. While this is an expected outcome when the couple disagree, statistically the majority of relationships do not survive post-abortion, even when the couple mutually agree to abort.

Abortion is not natural or healthy for women, men, relationships or families. Abortion may be considered good for careers, for independence and for gathering material financial success for men and women. Meanwhile, 60% of marriages are ending in divorce and 33% of women are having an abortion in at least one point in their lifetime. Since abortion has been legal, primary biological drives of men to protect and women to nurture are repressed. As men and women go against their natures, the concept of "family" has been less and less important, so no wonder we are seeing so few intact families. Abortion is both a causal factor and a symptom of the problem. How could abortion not be damaging psychologically to men, women and children?

Abortion is not a decision made by a woman that only affects herself and her body. Abortion affects the father of the child and society at large. Even for people who don't view human life as sacred or even worthy of respect, the wider ramifications of abortion should be of concern.



Wednesday, January 2, 2013

What Happens When Government Takes Over Health Care?

What happens when government takes over health care? In some ways, I like the idea of health care being available to all citizens. I think any first world country should have citizens who can have access to health care. However, when the government is footing the bill, the government can call the shots about who lives and who dies. Some have called this, “death panels,” but it is worse than that. Panels don't exist as much as hard and fast rules that doctors must follow.

In England, doctors may only save premature babies that weigh one pound or more. To save smaller babies is considered a drain on state resources, so infants that small are not provided the medical care other premature babies are offered, and almost all of them die. Here's a link to an article in which a tiny baby's life was saved because the medical staff made an accident and allowed scissors to touch the scale adding weight. So, it is okay with the government to call the shots over what is human or not, alive or not, salvageable or not .


Also in England, “Geoffrey Clark, who sought a seat on the Kent County Council, set off a firestorm of criticism when he recommended that the National Health Service, the British government-run health care system, mandate that mothers of unborn children diagnosed with disabilities have abortions. He said such abortions would be a big help in reducing the nation’s debt, by supposedly cutting the medical and other costs associated with raising such children.” While Mr. Clark was removed from his affiliation with his political party, what is to stop government from taking actions such as this? After all, they are paying the bill and in the USA, our current administration dismisses all pro-life concerns. What Mr. Clark recommended could happen here, probably more easily than in the UK.

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/12/27/candidate-suspended-who-okd-mandatory-abortion-of-disabled-children/

Now, to be fair, those who live in the UK have half the amount of heart attack and stroke that Americans do, and at half of the cost. So, the United Kingdom is doing something right and I believe we have a lot to learn from them. Health care is a mess in this country, but in our desperation for hope, we cannot end up selling our soul. When a society becomes desensitized to protecting our most vulnerable, we are losing that soul. 

Let's work together in 2013 to stand up for the unborn who cannot speak up for themselves. Humanity depends on it, for without basic respect for life, "humane" has no meaning.

(Granted, corporations and private industry may not be counted on to do a better job either, although more possibility for change exists with them. Ultimately, we need to change our culture's values to assure humane treatment for all.)

Monday, December 10, 2012

There Is NO Social Justice Without Protecting the Unborn

I've often wondered why so many well meaning social activists and even human rights organizations rarely protect the rights of the unborn. In fact, many of these organizations somehow see having access to abortion as helpful to society, since people believe many pregnant women cannot afford to be parents. Rather than working to solve the underlying social issue of poverty, these organizations seem to believe that human rights are best served by ending the human lives of the unborn.

I am struck with the word, "human," because I regularly contemplate how little regard is placed on the value of human life in general. Our unborn have become commodities in fertility clinics, torn in pieces for experiments, and looked at clinically as developing humans, but not humans. Although I won't argue "personhood" here, I will say that it is undeniable that a zygote and baby that is developing in the womb are human. They are not made up of corn cells or mouse cells, but human cells. Does that mean anything to anyone?

Protecting life carries a broad range of responsibilities. Opposing the death penalty is one of them. Refusing euthanasia or anything that smacks of euthanasia is another. Raising the quality of life for those alive is another responsibility. But to me, for anything we say and do to be logical and consistent, we must begin our conversation where life begins, with human DNA.

People who support pro-life get a bad rep for "caring more about the unborn than the born," but that is not intended. It is simply not true that the only solution to poverty and unintended pregnancy is to kill the unborn. One thought (poverty bad) does not lead to another (kill unborn). As a volunteer at 1st Way, I can assure you that we are thinking hard and working hard to help women who are in crisis pregnancy find ways and resources to support that child. We are also available throughout the early years offering diapers in all sizes, baby and toddler clothing and even car seats and high chairs when we get those donations.

It's simply wrong to say that to be pro-life means not to care about social justice. Social justice begins with protecting the basic building blocks of life, human DNA. Ask Dorothy Day. Ask Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Both of them would agree with what I'm saying, unquestionably.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Just Say NO to Political Deception. Stay Up to Date on Pro-Life News!

Hi Everyone! I'll be gone for about a week and unable to post, but I want to be sure to leave you with some great things to read. Here are some pretty good recent news articles:

Even after the election, most Americans are still pro-life:
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/27/poll-abortion-didnt-cost-gop-election-more-americans-still-pro-life/

One of the most controversial subjects in the pro-life world ever- Abortion and Breast Cancer. Anti CPC web-sites (and even Wikipedia) slam crisis pregnancy centers for giving out false information about the link between abortion and breast cancer. They have a lot of support behind that claim, since many major medical associations agree that there is no link. I recently debated the Wikipedia editors of the CPC article and it was like being thrown in a shark tank. Each study I cited, they disregarded as biased.. However, more solid research keeps coming out that does show a link.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/26/study-shows-abortion-linked-to-high-breast-cancer-risk/

Wow. This is what some people think the human species is worth- Make our children's DNA marketable, like that of a farm animal.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/22/ivf-doctor-commodifies-children-selling-discount-human-beings/

You may have read about this already, but Planned Parenthood really wants to eliminate what little "prenatal care" they offer. It's pretty obvious those services are only on the menu so that they can say they serve all women's health needs and issues, but prenatal vitamins are not nearly as revenue generating as abortions, are they? It seems they're not worried about letting the facade go, now that they are confident of continued government funding and support.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/25/planned-parenthood-wants-to-elinminate-prenatal-care/

Hope I haven't gotten anyone overly riled or upset. Remember, despair is a sin. We have to keep fighting back against the outrageous assault on the dignity of human life. I'll leave you with a GOOD news story. Abby Johnson's organization has helped 38 former Planned Parenthood workers get other jobs, 8 recently and 5 from the same clinic. Go Abby!
http://www.lifenews.com/author/abby-johnson/






Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving from 1st Way!

This year, I am grateful for Terry Ianora, our wonderful director, and all my co-workers at First Way I have come to know and love. I am grateful to all our donors and supporters who help keep us going day to day. I am grateful for all I have learned about how to reach out to women in crisis and for the infants who are alive today because our prayers and friendship touched their mother's hearts.

Happy Thanksgiving 
from First Way!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Would you like to help with fundraising?

Let's have fun and raise money for 1st Way!

1st Way will be celebrating 40 years of service to the communities of Eugene and Springfield. 1st Way is a pregnancy center dedicated to protecting and saving the lives of pre-born babies and supporting their moms in crisis.

When a woman comes to 1st Way distressed by an unplanned pregnancy, 1st Way volunteers offer reassuring support and friendship to help her make the most important decision of her life.  After the birth of her child, we provide free help with needs such as diapers, clothing, and equipment.  Most of all, we offer hope so that pregnant woman can choose life for their babies.

After 40 years of serving, we need help to find fresh ideas for raising funds and help to organize these efforts.  Are you experienced in fundraising? Let us know.  Do you like to organize and help with events?  Come talk to us. Do you just like to help out? No experience necessary. With your help we can go on into the future!

Leave a comment here or email firstwayeugene@gmail.com