A Story of Healing

A Story of Healing  from our Sisters in Italy – received from a friend who wishes to remain  anonymous . . .

I found out that I was pregnant. At the beginning I thought I would have an abortion. My boyfriend agreed. He was scared and didn’t feel like he was ready to be a father. I was also afraid of losing my job: after a year and a half of contract work, I had finally been offered a permanent position.

I made the appointment, and I even remember the exact date. I was sick that my desire was finally coming true—before I hadn’t been able to stay pregnant and now I was not able to keep the baby.

The doctor who performed my sonogram explained that I could give the baby up for adoption if I couldn’t keep it. He said, “Think of how beautiful this baby will be!”

Then he let me listen to the heartbeat and from that moment I was in crisis. While I was on my way to make the appointment to have the abortion, I realized that my feet were carrying me, not my heart. The day was nearing, and I was increasingly in despair: I felt like I hadn’t made the choice.

I wanted to talk to someone. So I called the Sisters, who had always been close to me when I needed advice. I told them everything.

The Sisters listened to me and received the drama that I was going through, knowing that it is not easy for a single woman to raise a child. They said it was a choice I had to make myself, but that there were organizations that help mothers in difficulty. They assured me that even they were prepared to support me if the need arose.

After talking with the Sisters, it became clear to me that I did not want to have an abortion.

I called my boyfriend and told him I had decided to keep the baby even if I were alone and that I would manage somehow.

After a few days, he called back and asked to meet. We talked and began seeing each other again. We grew accustomed to the idea of the pregnancy a little bit at a time. We decided to live together and began making plans for the future.

One great thing happened during my pregnancy. When my boyfriend came home from work each day, he would immediately put his hand on my stomach and say to the baby, “Gimme five!” If the little one kicked, my boyfriend would say that the baby recognized him.

In my fifth month, the baby was diagnosed with a heart problem. I was very worried, but my boyfriend stayed by me and came to all my appointments. After the baby was born, he had surgery and is now fine. But we went through so much worry. Through all that time the “auntie” Sisters came to see us in the hospital and supported us.  

It still doesn’t seem real to me that I am a mother! Watching him grow is amazing, and I am happy to say that his father has learned to feed and change him. He is proud that everyone says that they look like ‘two peas in a pod,’ and I don’t understand why -- since I am the one who carried him for nine months!

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