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At the Steps of the Abortion Clinic
from Ann Marie Banaska, sonographer for Pregnancy Solutions & Services [OH]
One day in the spring while driving the ICU RV in downtown Akron, OH, I didn’t realize that I was being followed. As we pulled into the parking lot, I saw one of our clients excitedly heading our way. As Lisa entered the RV, she proudly placed her 3-week-old daughter, Gloria, in my arms.
I was touched by the wonder of holding a newborn baby — God’s perfect creation. My eyes swelled with tears as the words “fearfully and wonderfully made” from Psalm 139 came to mind. A baby so perfect in every way: bright blue eyes, tiny pink lips, sweet baby smells, those tiny toes, and, best of all, the breath of life.
I’d met Lisa the previous summer. She and her boyfriend were walking up the stairway to the abortion clinic when I offered them a free ultrasound. They took the pamphlets I held out, but would not stop. All we could do was pray.
Forty-five minutes later, Lisa walked out alone and entered the ICU RV. Tears flowed from eyes as she saw the baby growing within. When her boyfriend found her, Lisa told him to leave. She was keeping the baby no matter what.
The relationship between Lisa and the staff at PSS grew, as did her pregnancy. She came faithfully for pregnancy classes and emotional support. She earned “Baby Bucks” to spend in our Lullaby Lane. I’ve been privileged to watch God at work in the lives of this couple. They’re now attending church weekly, God is answering prayer, and they have future plans for marriage.
As I held the baby in my arms, Lisa told me of a time shortly after Gloria’s birth when she and her boyfriend were gazing at their daughter in complete silence, wondering what would have happened if they had followed through with the abortion. I am overwhelmed with praise, knowing that God had saved this perfect baby from death even before she was born. To Him be the glory!
It’s a God Thing
from Cathy Smith, NDWC ED [Florida]
 People are asking, “Where did this RV come from?” which is normal. After three years, you suddenly show up with a new idea and a new home. This is the way it happened. I was doing research on the idea of a mobile clinic and was given the name and phone number of an organization in Ohio doing what we have envisioned, except in an RV. I had a nice long talk with the director, who offered to give any information that she could to help us. I thought that would be the end of our connection. Two days before of Dinner Show, I received a call from the same director and, to my astonishment, she asked if we wanted their RV! They were getting a newer model and wanted to give the one they had been using to us! After some e-mails back and forth and a trip to meet their board in Ohio, we are now the proud owners of a 34-ft. mobile clinic.
Heartbeats Takes Their Services on the Road
by L.B. Whyde, Newark Advocate Reporter
PATASKALA, OH -- A large RV sits in the parking lot of Kroger in Pataskala. The professional looking "wrapper" or message painted on the RV explains what services are provided inside: Image Clear Ultrasound and pregnancy diagnosis.
This is where Rachel Ahrens went to check on her pregnancy. It is the first pregnancy for the 27-year-old Pataskala resident and she can't see her doctor for two more weeks.
"I wanted to make sure everything is OK," Ahrens said. "I want to get worries off my shoulders."
Ahrens first went to Heartbeats of Licking County, 336 E. Main St., Newark, to verify her pregnancy. Heartbeats is a free pregnancy, health and medical clinic that supports women and men with material aid, emotional support and education. From there, Ahrens set up an appointment for an ultrasound in the RV, closer to home.
"Now I only have to travel one mile from my house," Ahrens said. "This is very nice, because now I get rid of some anxiety. There hasn't been anything (bad that can happen) that hasn't crossed my mind."
Rindy Brooks, of Alexandria, is the executive director of Heartbeats. She got the idea for using RVs for similar services from the Akron Pregnancy Support Services. They were the first in the nation to have mobile ultrasound units.
"We weren't seeing patients from the western half of this county," Brooks said. "The mobile unit intrigued me because it's a great way to put our toe in the water to decide if we should have a satellite center in Pataskala. We know there is also a great need in the Buckeye Lake area."
Currently the RV travels to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Buckeye Lake the first Wednesday of the month. The unit is in Perry County on the second Wednesday and in Pataskala on the third Wednesday. The RV will go to Johnstown next month.
"We'll probably go into the Thornville area soon to pick up Muskingum County women currently not being served," Brooks said. "We are going to the people, which makes sense, and we are going to continue to build."
In 2004-2005, Heartbeats had 1,052 individual clients with a total of 2,748 client visits. Of those visits, 289 were ultrasound and 943 were for pregnancy tests, of which 431 were positive. The majority of the women served are 19 to 30 years old. Erin Ness, client services manager at the agency, has records of 25 babies born whose mother initially was either undecided or was going to have an abortion.
"We also know of 210 babies born to clients," Ness said.
Jannie Wicks is the medical services manager and registered nurse that travels with the RV. The bedroom of the mobile home has been converted into an exam room. The unit first went out to the public in April, and while they did no advertising, word is getting out about their services.
"It was slow at first," Wick said. "But a lot of interest is created by people driving by. This is going to be very useful. We are taking our services to the people instead of them coming to us."
Posted with permission of the author. Original article can be found at NewarkAdvocate.com
Ultrasound on Wheels
published in Life Issues Connector, February 2005 edition. Posted with permission.
Visit Life Issues online at www.lifeissues.org
 Here is a spectacular idea for those of you who reach out to abortion-minded women. Image Clear Ultrasound is the brainchild of Pregnancy Solutions & Services in Akron, OH. It’s an ultrasound machine on wheels. The idea is to bring this equipment and services directly to women. The acronym ICU also stands for “I See You” which is very appropriate for this application.
They purchased and refurbished an RV. It contains top-of-the-line ultrasound equipment, in addition to waiting and examining rooms. They use trained ultrasonographers and counselors. It operates as a mobile medical unit, and all services are free of charge.
In the past, they have provided free ultrasound to women, but they had to travel to a doctor’s office to have it done. Sometimes the women didn’t show up for their appointments. Now, this new concept allows women to see their unborn children immediately, only steps away from the center.
Three to four days each week, the RV rotates to various set locations, so appointments can be made in advance. However, walk-ins are welcome. Locations include crisis pregnancy centers, college campuses, abortion mills, inner cities and suburbs. The pregnancy center estimates 90% of abortion-minded women change their minds after seeing their babies on ultrasound. They promote the mobile units through advertising on billboards, newspaper and radio.
The program is in its infancy. However, they would love to assist other centers in establishing a mobile ultrasound unit in their area. Their goal is to replicate this exciting and effective new tool throughout the state of Ohio and into other states as well. Stated another way, they want to have a “Fleet for Little Feet.” If you are interested, contact them at: Pregnancy Solutions & Services 3515 Manchester Rd., Akron, OH 44319. Phone 330.644.4490. E-mail info@pregsolutions.org.
Faithful Friend, Friend of Faith
from Cathy Smith, NDWC ED [Florida]
 Some friends are just special. They are fun to be with, they don’t forget you when you move away, they listen with all they’ve got when you need a listening ear, and—most importantly—they encourage, challenge, and yes, correct you from the Word of God. I’ve been blessed with more than my share of such godly friends, and for that I am deeply grateful.
Ann Marie is one of those friends. We spent the day together on Friday. Our time together was short, but we managed to pack a whole lot of “catching up” into the time we had. We had lunch together at my favorite local Italian restaurant and just talked.
Ann Marie is an ultrasound technician and works for a pregnancy center in NE Ohio. Works isn’t the right word. She serves young, frightened and confused women and their unborn babies. She ministers to them; body, soul, and spirit. Most ultrasound technicians work in hospitals or doctors offices, but Ann Marie ministers in a mobile unit. (Not only does she administer the ultrasounds—she drives the unit!)
To say that Ann Marie loves her job, well, that would be an understatement. She daily gets to use her skills, talents, and gifts in the service of women, babies, and the Lord Jesus Christ. She brought along a 15-minute DVD that showed not only the wonderful mobile facility, but also some of the women that were being loved and cared for through this ministry. I watched it twice. I got teary both times. It was so moving to get a glimpse into Ann Marie’s life and ministry.
The video showed her talking with a 16 year old girl named Crystal. All the grown ups in her life were encouraging her to have an abortion. She didn’t want to do it, but when you’re young and pregnant and scared, the pressures brought to bear can feel overwhelming. She ran away from home at one point and one of her friend’s mothers called the clinic and asked them to pray for this young runaway. They prayed for her for four weeks and even though they did not know her name, when she showed up unannounced at the clinic and began to tell her story—they knew her immediately. She is carrying her baby to term because God providentially brought her to the mobile clinic through the prayers of His people and then used Ann Marie to share the Gospel with her. Crystal is due to have her little boy, who she has named Brett, in the first week of November.
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