Amanda’s Loving Choice for Life

We have heard every justification you can think of as to why walking into the abortion clinic is the right decision for the women we come in contact with. Everything from being homeless, to not having the baby’s father present, to going to college. The most common demon we face though…is drugs.

If you have never been addicted to drugs or have not been close to someone who has, it may be hard for you to understand the insatiable hold drugs have on the women we work with. Many times it is the reason they feel abortion is the right answer. They simply can’t see past that present day to the burdening consequences that come from making a decision to end their child’s life.

Here is Amanda’s story.

One day, as Teri, Founder of the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants ,NJ, was praying outside the Cherry Hill Women’s Health Center, she saw a woman she had tried to wave over the previous day. “She seemed genuinely upset and looked as if she could be the mother of the girl she brought with her to the clinic that day,” Teri explained. Amanda’s mother came over and told Teri… “I don’t want to be here but you don’t understand that my daughter is on heroin and is 16 weeks pregnant. She is not capable of being a mother.” The woman continued to explain that they had thought about adoption but had no clue as to how to go about that process nor did they believe anyone would want a “heroin baby.”

We knew that was not the case! Every baby, no matter how they come into this world, is God’s perfect, wonderful creation. Every baby is wanted!

Without any judgment, Teri explained that The Helpers work with different adoption agencies and we know of many couples that would be thrilled to love and raise her daughter’s baby. We also know how to make it happen! Teri continued to tell her that we would not only help with the adoption, but we would work to get Amanda off the streets and off heroin. “I told her…you will have your daughter back in a good way and save her baby’s life today by simply asking her to come out and speak with me. I could give her this option and we could begin today,” Teri said. Her mother was unsure, saying that Amanda can be difficult. Teri reassured her…”You bring her out and I will handle the rest.”

After speaking with Teri for just a few minutes, Amanda was convinced. She wanted help, she wanted to save her baby, and she trusted that The Helpers could do this. The Helpers moved Amanda into Teri’s home to get her off street drugs and the NEXT morning she was in a treatment program and situated with a $16 an hour job where she would use her background in accounting. The Helpers drove her to appointments, work and treatment. She was able to work out an adoption with a beautiful young couple and made the decision to have an open adoption.

On November 6^th Samuel Richard was born. Amanda and the adoptive couple named him after Amanda’s father and grandfather. Samuel was 6lbs, 9oz and 20in long. He needed a little assistance breathing for a few days but is doing well now. Amanda is also doing well! She was able to understand and deepen her awareness of God’s presence and His purpose for her and her baby’s life. She is now helping lead other mothers to The Helpers…so we can show them the kindness, grace and mercy of our wonderful Father…and how he loves each one of them and their babies more than we can ever explain to them.

We truly care for, and love Amanda , her mother, and her son, Samuel, and to this day her mother and she believe The Helpers were sent to them by God’s grace. Oh how He loves us!

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38 (NLT)