TESTIMONIALS

When Caitlin's family moved to New Zealand they hoped for a better life and education for their children. They were honest, hard working, church going people. While they were busy working, Caitlin was developing a friendship with a guy at school.

She called us one day, shocked, almost paralyzed by the knowledge that she was pregnant. She didn't have the courage to tell her boyfriend, much less her parents and was very fearful of their reaction. The counselor talked with her about various options, including adoption, which she had not considered, and ways of telling her parents that might be easier than simply blurting it out.

Caitlin called again, some days later, and this time gave her mobile number to the duty counselor. Someone from her area called her back and has kept in touch ever since. She did eventually tell her parents, who sent her off to live with relatives the other side of the city. At this point she wondered whether she was doing the right thing in remaining pregnant. She called her counselor to talk about abortion once again.

This seemed to settle her down and she has continued with her studies, calling her counselor once a week to talk things over and receive some encouragement. She is considering adoption but has several more months to make that decision.

Yvette knew what it was like to go through abortion. She had been 18 at the time, already caring for a five month old baby, living far from her family with a very arrogant, controlling partner. In her desperation and despair she chose abortion. She eventually broke up with that man, came home and tried to get on with life, but admitted "You never forget."

When her teenage daughter, Alissa, became pregnant to a young man who reminded Yvette of her previous partner, there was much discussion about what should be done. Alissa's boyfriend thought she should have an abortion as they were both "too young." Yvette couldn't bear the thought of her daughter suffering from an abortion as she herself had.

Alissa wanted to continue her studies to be a beautician and feared "getting fat and then my boyfriend won't want me." She visited a doctor and talked about a referral for abortion. "Take a week to consider it and try PCS for some counseling," advised the doctor.

A counselor visited the couple, discussing with them the possible impact of the pregnancy, abortion, adoption or parenting. At the close of counseling, Alissa was still undecided. She knew her mother could afford very little in the way of maternity clothes or baby gear but the counselor promised to help as much as possible.

A week later, she had decided to continue the pregnancy, with financial help from her boyfriend's family and lots of emotional support from her mum, who was so happy and relieved not to have another abortion in the family.