Displaying items by tag: HeartbeatTeam

Amanda C., RN

Where did you grow up and go to school?

I grew up in metro Detroit, Michigan, and went to nursing school at the University of Detroit Mercy. I recently graduated from nurse practitioner school at Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Michigan.

Share with us about your family.

In addition to my parents, I am blessed with 3 siblings: a younger sister, younger brother, and older sister (4 siblings if you count my older sister’s husband!). I have extended family in metro Detroit as well as in Toronto, Macau, and Vancouver.

Tell us about what brought you to pregnancy help and the pro-life movement.

After watching the movie Unplanned in January 2020, I was amazed at how many tangible, practical ways there are to help and support women facing unexpected pregnancies. Since the movie portrayed 40 Days for Life and sidewalk advocacy as a positive and effective way to minister to abortion-minded women, after learning more about 40 Days for Life and Sidewalk Advocates for Life, I was inspired to go out and pray in front of a Planned Parenthood facility in my area. There, I got to meet a wonderful local community of faithful 40 Days for Life and Sidewalk Advocates for Life volunteers. Even though I have always been pro-life, praying outside of Planned Parenthood was the first time I actively got involved in the pro-life movement.

What brought you to Heartbeat International?

One day while praying on the sidewalk outside Planned Parenthood, I noticed one of our pro-life signs had a website on it. I went home that night and looked it up. I saw the many organizations that our community was partnered with, and near the bottom, I saw Abortion Pill Reversal. Since I had never heard of that before, I looked it up and found their website and started learning about the reversal process. I read some success stories and some of them mentioned talking to a hotline nurse about reversal. Something inside me sparked and I thought to myself, “I want to do that.” I found Heartbeat International’s contact information on the website and sent an email asking how I could get involved. When I heard that they were looking to grow their nurse hotline team, I jumped at the opportunity to join.

Tell us about your experiences helping women on the Rescue Helpline.

It’s exciting, challenging, and rewarding all at the same time. I truly appreciate the unique opportunity I have to help and serve the women who call our hotline seeking reversal treatment. Being able to be there for them in moments of desperation and provide them with real help and hope and a chance to save their babies has been one of the greatest honors I’ve had as a nurse. While not every case is a success story, the women who call us are so appreciative and grateful for the help that our nurse hotline team provides, and I’m so glad to be a part of it.

What has surprised you the most about the Rescue Helpline?

When I first started on the hotline, I didn’t expect a lot of the challenges that I eventually realized come with being a hotline nurse. Some of the women who call our hotline and are initially interested in reversal end up backing out after we get off the phone with them and choose to follow through with the abortion. At times some unfortunately miscarry before getting the chance to start the progesterone or shortly after they have started it. This is always heartbreaking. It was (and still is) a learning process of how to cope and manage my emotions effectively in response to the difficult situations that arise while working on the hotline.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

There are so many things I enjoy about being a hotline nurse. In addition to being able to love and care for women in such a tender and tumultuous time in their lives, one of my favorite things is hearing the success stories from the women I was able to help start reversal and seeing pictures of their babies that were saved through the reversal treatment. It’s always such a sweet reminder of how special our work is. Every successful reversal means another precious life is saved and another mother is beyond grateful for the opportunity to have her child in the world.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

I enjoy running, playing volleyball with friends, doing puzzles, knitting, and watching movies and TV shows with my family. I also like baking, traveling, and serving at church in the worship music ministry and as a youth leader for the high school students.

What else would you like to share?

Some encouragement from Scripture for all of us in the pregnancy help movement:

“And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.” -2 Thessalonians 3:13

Lorie Cox, RN

Where did you grow up and go to school?

I was born in Chicago and lived there until the age of four when my parents moved back to their home state of Iowa. I was raised in Northwood, Iowa until age 14. I went to high school in New Caney, Texas. I have lived in east Texas (Tyler/Longview area) since 1979. I went to Kilgore College and graduated from Nursing school when my daughter graduated from kindergarten in 1991.

Share with us about your family.

I have been married for 37 years to my best friend, David. We have two daughters ages 37 and 35 years old. We are also blessed with a son we adopted when he was 3 years old. He is now 27 years old and has overcome many life challenges with special needs. He is a true miracle baby born at 27 weeks gestation weighing barely 3 pounds. Through many years of therapy (PT/OT/ST) he did learn to walk and talk, surprising the doctors who said he probably never would. If this was where God’s blessings ended, I would be undeserving of even that and content.  Yet, He gave us the joy of four grandchildren ages 6, 2 1⁄2 & 2 years (and one on the way - due in February).

Tell us about what brought you to pregnancy help and the pro-life movement.

I cannot remember a time when I wasn’t pro-life but my level of active involvement started growing about 25 years ago. When I was at my lowest God put people in my path to comfort, guide, teach and intercede for me. To even count those people is difficult, for I would certainly forget someone. All I could attempt to do is pay it forward somehow. He has put in my heart the desire to similarly help families through the church and community. I took a leap of faith in my career from working at the hospital on the cardiac floor to becoming a case manager doing home visits to expectant mothers in crisis (primarily teens or first-time moms). Having had an unplanned pregnancy myself 37 years ago, I felt compelled to show these women that God created them with and for a purpose. That purpose began before they were born. If God could take my messy choices and make me new, He can do it for anyone.

What brought you to Heartbeat International?

It’s a God thing. Several years ago, I received a call from a social worker at a pregnancy resource center who asked if I could come teach their clients. I did not realize at the time that she was in the very baby steps of getting this center off the ground. She mentioned Heartbeat International, and I researched it from there. After a couple of years, the center had really grown, and the new director asked me to come again to provide prenatal classes to clients. I ended up volunteering for approximately three years as the nurse educator. Since they had an affiliation with Heartbeat at the time, I was able to see The Love Approach material and my heart said “Yes! this is what I should be doing.” Eventually, God helped me rearrange my schedule to apply to work the Rescue Helpline.

Tell us about your experiences helping women on the Rescue Helpline.

For me, working a shift can have emotional ups and downs with tugs at the heart. Even though there are certain clients, or situations that are memorable, each woman who contacts the Abortion Pill Rescue^® Network is at that moment “the most vulnerable, yet most courageous woman on earth.” You never know what situation she is in. The word “regret” is expressed by many women desperately looking for hope at this time. Listening to their stories is humbling to say the least. There are some who decide to complete their abortion which makes my heart ache. They are given resources for help and support they will need in the days ahead. Most callers are usually grateful to have someone who listened without judgement and offered help.

What has surprised you the most about the Rescue Helpline?

I was surprised at how many people call the hotline. I didn’t really have an idea of the numbers until I started working in this role. Heartbeat reaches so many families. I think of how many more women are out there who don’t know that they can try reversal. Even friends in my personal circle who have been active in the pro-life movement were unaware that there was such a thing as reversal. My prayer is that even more women find us. It is a goal of mine to tell as many people as I can so they can take part in this mission to save babies. The times we live in have proven that abortion pill reversal is needed now more than ever.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Witnessing miracles. And I don’t just mean the miracle of birth, which is a blessing in itself, but the actual creation of this miracle coming about. Life is created in such a beautiful way that there is no possibility a human could take any credit for it at all. It is God bringing all the pieces together despite our imperfections and weaknesses. I cannot say I understand how each woman is connected with a provider from all over the world, but I can say that it happens. From the woman calling the rescue helpline, to her deciding to move forward with reversal, to the amazing APRN providers who are available to assist the client, and to the client getting an ultrasound and the prescription she needs. The process in its entirety occurs in a specific time frame. What I do enjoy most is seeing when it all comes together to bring a mom the hope she was looking for.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

Most of my spare time is spent spoiling my grandchildren. We have some property with a pond to take them fishing and camping. I also love family nights playing board games. My personal time is filled with listening to audiobooks while doing my housework or working in my garden (my new hobby this year-salsa garden). I love to read and listen to Christian theology by classic pastors and authors.

What else would you like to share?

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Susan Keeny, RN

Where did you grow up and go to school?

I grew up in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, a small town in south central PA.  I received my LPN from Hanover Hospital, Hanover, PA and my RN from South Baltimore General Hospital, Baltimore, MD.

Share with us about your family.

My husband and I have been married 38 years and have four grown children, Jason, Amy, Lisa, and Daniel. We are empty nesters with 13 grandchildren which I love spending time with.

Tell us about what brought you to pregnancy help and the pro-life movement.

I have always been pro-life, but my journey to pregnancy help and the pro-life movement began for purely selfish reasons. I was in a deep depression and one of the ways to help with depression is to help someone else. My church supported a local pregnancy center, so I started volunteering as a client advocate. When the pregnancy center realized I was a nurse, I was asked to train as a nurse sonographer, which I gladly did. Through the work in the pregnancy center, I saw how my own painful life experience of sexual abuse and depression gave me a compassion for the women I was seeing in the Center. Helping women, especially women with unplanned pregnancies, has become my passion.

What brought you to Heartbeat International?

It was through working in the pregnancy center that I became aware of abortion pill reversal. At that time, Dr. Delgado was still running the hotline. I started reading the studies and the testimonies and realized how life changing this work could be. I started advocating to get the Abortion Pill Reversal^TM treatment into our Pregnancy Center which did eventually happen. When I saw the Abortion Pill Rescue^® Network was looking for nurses to work on the hotline, I initially didn’t think I had time. But my thoughts kept coming back to the Abortion Pill Rescue Network. God has shown me I have time to do his work.

Tell us about your experiences helping women on the Rescue Helpline.

I am humbled by the women we help on the hotline. Desperation often leads them to an abortion clinic in the first place. Then desperation to save their baby leads them to call us. We can offer these women a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, or an encouraging word to give them hope.

What has surprised you the most about the Rescue Helpline?

Even though each woman has their own circumstances that led them to start a chemical abortion, they all have a sense that something isn’t right about ending the life of their baby. I shouldn’t be surprised at this, after all God has called us to this, but the nurses and providers are so adamant/compassionate about helping these women. We weep with those that weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I enjoy working with a faith-based organization that is drawn together for the common cause of helping women. Whether the help is in listening to them, connecting them with a provider, offering pregnancy help resources, or in the case of loss, providing them with resources to help with the grief process, we offer hope to these women.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

I love to spend time with my family and friends, taking my camera for a walk, doing word games, and reading good books (usually mysteries or historical fiction).

What else would you like to share?

God doesn’t waste our personal pain. No one likes going through trials, but it is in the trials that our faith grows. How we respond to the trials is what makes us who we are.

Kelly McCallister, RN

Where did you grow up and go to school?

I grew up in Minden, a small town about 30 miles east of Shreveport, Louisiana. I studied nursing at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana.

Share with us about your family.

My husband and I have been married for 20 years and have 5 children: Michael, Matthew, Katie, Shelby, and Caleb. Our kids are growing up and we now have only 2 at home!

Tell us about what brought you to pregnancy help and the pro-life movement.

My journey to pregnancy help and the pro-life movement began many years ago with my own unplanned pregnancy. I remember feeling scared, overwhelmed, and the strong desire not to become just another statistic. Interestingly enough, months before my own unplanned pregnancy, I learned about abortion through the experience of a friend's family member. She went to the clinic in Shreveport and they "took care of it."  She would be off work for a couple of days, but then could go on about her life. It sounded so easy and simple! When I confessed my pregnancy to my mother, thankfully, she knew differently. She explained to me that a life was already growing inside of me and what had been done, well, was done. She became my shield and my refuge during that time. Being a teen mother had so many trials! There was so much to learn and there were so many sacrifices to be made. Looking back now, I would not trade the momentary affliction of those sacrifices for the heavy life-long burden of regret that I would carry had I had an abortion. My son became my inspiration and my motivation! My mother passed away a little over a year after my son was born, making him the only grandchild that she ever met. It was my son that kept me from giving up on life after she passed away. I made some of the best decisions of my life, not despite him, but because of him! Knowing that I had to support him, I went on to nursing school after graduation.  When I met my husband, he loved us both, and showing us the love of the Father, adopted my son as his own. In 2010, a friend from church that knew my story asked me if I would be interested in working at a local pregnancy center. Of course, I was humbled and amazed at how the Lord took all of my ashes and created something so beautiful! I would have a chance to be that shield and refuge for others that my mother was for me all those years ago. When my son was born, I was told that God must have a special purpose for him. He did and still does, as He does for each and every life He creates! My baby is now 24 years old, and I can solemnly say that I have never regretted a single day of his life.

What brought you to Heartbeat International?

While working at my pregnancy center, I read an email that was seeking nurses to serve on the Abortion Pill Reversal^TM Helpline. I had previously been intrigued by the research done regarding reversal and even remember reading an article about the personal experience of a mother that had successfully reversed her chemical abortion. There was no hesitation on my part, I knew without a doubt that the Lord was calling me to serve on the hotline!

Tell us about your experiences helping women on the Rescue Helpline.

I am brought to tears even as I write this, moved by the courage the ladies that call the hotline have. In some cases, it is minutes after she has begun the chemical abortion. These mothers are willing to admit what they have done and reach out for help. Most of them are still unsure that anything can be done, but they are willing to try! It is a decision filled with questions, uncertainty, and a deep, often-times very secretive, internal struggle. I have found that what they need is compassion, a listening ear, and a voice of hope. Women from all over the world express desperation to save their babies, this feeling is a universal one that transcends geography and even language barriers.

What has surprised you the most about the Rescue Helpline?

I am uncertain why we are surprised by the Lord's work, but I can't help but stand in awe at what He is building through Abortion Pill Reversal. A network of nurses, providers, believers, mothers and even survivors! The vastness of it can only be attributed to the Lord. What a beautiful tapestry of testimonies He is creating.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I believe the most enjoyable thing about my work is simply that it is a calling. I find great joy in serving in the roles the Lord has given me. Kingdom work far outweighs the riches this world can offer! I am humbled and amazed still every day that such a task is entrusted to us as His children.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

Quality time is my love language, so spending time with my family and friends fills my cup! Speaking of cups, mine usually has hot coffee in it. :)  I also love to read and enjoy singing!

What else would you like to share?

A wise friend once told me that the Lord doesn’t waste a thing. I have found this to be quite true. He has taken my personal and professional experiences, knit them together, and positioned me in such a way to serve others. He did it for me, so I know He can and will do this for you as well!

I believe that with the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade in our nation, we will see an increase in clients that begin a chemical abortion. I also know that those who regret that decision and change their minds will have a whole network of compassionate helpers waiting to serve them!

Elizabeth Whitely BSN, RN

Where did you grow up and go to school?

I grew up in the farm country of Northeast, Ohio. I received my BSN from Franciscan University of Steubenville!

Share with us about your family.

I was raised in a beautiful, faith-filled Catholic family and am very close to my parents, brothers and sister. My husband, Justin and I will celebrate our first anniversary next month! We are so blessed by the love and support of both our families.

Tell us about what brought you to Heartbeat International.

I had worked as an inpatient pediatric nurse for four years and was looking for new opportunities. I heard about Heartbeat International and the Nurse Advocate position through my friend, Teresa Tholany. Having grown up in the pro-life movement, the cause of life has always been near to my heart! I could never have imagined working as a nurse for Life in such a direct and powerful way! As the doors kept opening, it became quickly apparent that this was where the Lord wanted me to be. My time at Heartbeat has been a joy and blessing!

Tell us about your experiences helping women on the APR Hotline.

Humbling is the best way I can describe it. Hearing the voices and stories of women seeking a second chance and fighting for the life of their child is truly an honor! The courage and strength of the women we serve never ceases to inspire me! It has given me a deep awareness that the choice to have an abortion is born out of very difficult, complicated and deeply personal circumstances. When a woman calls the hotline the circumstances of her life have not changed, but her heart has! I am grateful for the opportunity to witness her courage, offer hope and let her know she is not alone!

What has surprised you the most about the APR Hotline?

I was surprised by the roller-coaster ride that is APR! There are the beautiful high moments of finally being able to find a provider or seeing a text from a client stating that she delivered her healthy baby. Then there are the low moments when a client decides to continue the abortion or experiences a loss. Often these experiences are woven together as you offer words of support and sympathy to the client who lost her baby and then turn to congratulate the other client on the birth of her child.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

One of my favorite bible verses is Revelation 21:5 “Behold, I make all things new.” The best part of my work is seeing the countless ways the Lord brings newness into every situation! Whether it is the client with a successful reversal, an insincere caller or the client who experiences a loss, the Lord uses APR to not only save lives, but also to change hearts. Even the most difficult situations are an opportunity to speak the truth and share the love of Christ with our clients. We may not be able to save every baby, but each call is an opportunity to offer new life to the women we serve!

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, building a small homestead with my husband, reading good books (especially Tolkien and C.S. Lewis), baking sourdough bread and pretty much anything outside in the fresh air and sunshine!

What else would you like to share?

I would like to say thank you to all our wonderful APR providers! Your availability, skill and care for our clients never goes unnoticed. I have been inspired by the sacrifices you make, and the mountains you move to care for these women and their precious babies! May God Bless you!!

This month we are highlighting Bryan Williams, one of our Ultrasound Consultants. Bryan brings wisdom, humor, and encouragement to our team. As he teaches medical professionals in the pregnancy help setting, they benefit greatly as they gain knowledge and inspiration. Bryan has a desire to help others learn the skill of imaging life so they can in turn show life to those they encounter in their pregnancy help center.

Where did you grow up and go to school?

I grew up in Mtn Grove MO. A small town near Springfield, MO. I went to a hospital based x-ray and ultrasound school at CoxHealth in Springfield, MO. I completed my business degree from Evangel University. I completed my MHA at Webster University in St. Louis, MO.

Share with us about your family.

I have been married to my wife Lindsay for 18 years. We have two daughters. Addy is 12, and Izzy is 6.

Tell us about what brought you to Heartbeat International.

I was brought to HB because of my desire to train. The story is long, but I met Cindi Boston at the center in Springfield, MO when I volunteered and trained nurses there. She offered our names up when HB began to think about starting their own training.

What do you enjoy most about your role as Ultrasound Consultant for Heartbeat International?

I get so much joy when I get to teach at trainings. My cup gets filled at each training event. This literally gives me the energy I need to go back to my other job at the hospital with joy and renewed efforts.

What do you love most about ultrasound?

The ability to see life and make an impact in people’s lives.

Tell us about sharing your love of ultrasound with new nurses in the pregnancy help setting.

OB is not something that I really wanted to do. It is something that God pushed me to do. I really enjoy the ability to train others so they can be equipped to do the work God has called them to do.

Where else do you work and what is your role in that setting?

I work at CoxHealth in Springfield MO. I’m the Administrative Director of Neuro and Cardiovascular Services.

What are your favorite things to do?

Spend time with my family, fish, and run.

What else would you like to share?

I’m extremely humbled by the people who do this job every day. I get to play a role part-time, but the people who do this on a regular basis are doing the real work. They are dedicating their lives to serve the ones that cannot speak for themselves.

This month we are highlighting Tammy Stearns, one of our Ultrasound Consultants. Tammy brings love and encouragement to our team, as well as to the many pregnancy help medical professionals she teaches the skill of ultrasound. Tammy and her family have a heart for the world and for all to come to know and love Jesus! It is a blessing to us all to witness the many ways God uses Tammy to bring light to the darkness.

Where did you grow up and go to school?

I grew up in a tiny town called Pontiac, Missouri located on Bull Shoals Lake. I went to college, Radiology and Ultrasound School in Columbia, MO and Springfield, MO. I have a Master’s in Administrative Studies with an emphasis in Communication, along with being credentialed in Radiologic Technology, and Abdominal, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vascular Technology, Pediatrics and Neurosonography.

Share with us about your family.

I married my high school sweetheart 32 years ago. We have four children. A son who is 30. He and his wife live in Houston TX. Our daughter, Taellor, passed away in 2014 at the age of 19 in the mission field with us. Our two younger boys are Antonio (14) and Slaton (13) who both serve on the mission field with us in Nicaragua. 

Tell us about what brought you to Heartbeat International.

I had the privilege to work with Cindi Boston at her Pregnancy Center in Springfield, MO launching her medical mobile unit. While there, I also helped train some of the nurses given that my background is a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Educator. When Cindi came to work for HBI, the opportunity presented itself for me to join the team to develop a Limited Obstetrical Educational Program for nurses.

What ministries are you involved in?

My family and I serve as full-time missionaries in Nicaragua. We moved there in 2012 to serve with Project HOPE. I am the Director of Women’s Ministries with a feeding center in the city dump called Center of Hope, UnShackled. This is a place that offers restoration and redemption to ladies coming out of prostitution along with serving women in the jails and hospitals. I also perform ultrasound exams with our ministry’s physician. 

What do you enjoy most about your role as Ultrasound Consultant for Heartbeat International?

I love being part of something so much bigger than myself! God has put together an incredible team whose focus is to share life through imagery. I love being able to come alongside those trying to learn ultrasound to image life and getting to be an encourager in their journey. 

What do you love most about ultrasound?

I love when mom sees her baby for the very first time. Each and every time there is a sense of wonder when we see what God is knitting in the mother’s womb. I never get tired of that! 

Tell us about sharing your love of ultrasound with new nurses in the Pregnancy Help setting.

I love when it begins to make sense. You can tell when someone is worried or concerned about not understanding it. We then find a different way to explain and teach the method or technique and watch the moment of awareness that every teacher teaches for. For some, it clicks faster than others and that is okay as we each have our own journey and our own process. God always equips who He calls. 

What are your favorite things to do?

I love to serve. I love to play with the kids at the city dump or hang out with the ladies from our outreaches. I love spending time with my family exploring the world. In my quiet time, I love to read and write.

What else would you like to share?

It is such a privilege to be able to do ultrasounds. I’m thankful for the technology and the resources that allow us to image life literally bringing Light to the darkness.

This month we are highlighting Darcy Noltemeyer, one of our Medical Impact Office Assistants. Darcy brings joy and encouragement as she provides organization and assistance to our team in many ways. She is a blessing to us all as she serves with a smile and a servant’s heart in all she does. We are so thankful for Darcy and all she brings to our team!

Where did you grow up and go to school?

I grew up in Grove City, a small town just outside of Columbus, Ohio.  For college I attended The Ohio State University for Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Share with us about your family.

I have been blessed with such a close family despite being so spread out across different states. My dad passed away when I was a senior in high school, so I am thankful to still have my wonderful mom to hug. I am the youngest of four children, and have six adorable nieces and nephews. I started dating my high school sweetheart when we were 16. We have now been married for almost 3 years, with two rescue Pomeranians, Bingley and Evee.

Tell us about what brought you to Heartbeat International.

Growing up as the daughter of a pastor, I understood from an early age the struggles that many people faced in their lives. I could see for myself how much expressing and sharing God’s love could change the hearts of people and help them when they needed it most. My heart has always been designed to help and serve others, and I never felt like I was accomplishing that fully in the beginning of my adult career. By God’s grace I stumbled upon a job listing for Heartbeat International and I was instantly intrigued. After researching the company, delving deeper into its founding, learning of the current works they were involved in, and their vision for the future; I knew God was calling me to place roots in the good ground they had cultivated. My desire was to be a part of an organization that aligned with my beliefs that would allow me to work wholeheartedly towards advancing their mission. I am thankful to have found that with Heartbeat. 

What do you enjoy most about your work as Office Assistant for the Medical Impact?

Every day is new and varies in what I get to do! I enjoy a job that gives room for growth in ideas and responsibilities. I am very detail oriented, and love being given statistical tasks or projects that allow for me to be creative in presentation. It is so encouraging to be able to share with people all across the world the new hope we can give women, and to receive so much intrigue, excitement, and willingness in response. Overall, I am thankful for the trust that has been placed on me to support the Medical Impact Team.

Tell us about working on the Medical Impact Team.

Working with the Medical Impact Team is so unique! We are spread across two countries and still remain well connected. The trust that is shared amongst each other is nothing short of extraordinary. I have always been so impressed with how valued everyone’s ideas, thoughts, and questions have been with the team as a whole. Since I started here at Heartbeat, I have seen the passion Medical Impact has for the unborn, the commitment to the women, and the sincere heart for the people they interact with daily. They really do keep such a positive and loving atmosphere no matter what the team faces. I have only felt acceptance since I joined, and I love being a part of it!

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

I enjoy the outdoors! Many of my past times include hiking, kayaking, fishing, and walking my dogs with my husband and friends. I am a certified scuba diver, but I don’t get to do that as often as I would like to outside of Ohio. If it involves tea, I’m in! I spend time going to local tea shops as I travel, and enjoy a nice cup or glass of tea when relaxing at home. I have always loved being an aunt, and spend a lot of time playing with them as well.

What else would you like to share?

Joining Heartbeat International has been such a wonderful experience, and I am proud to be a part of an organization that is moving forward to do great and impactful things in the world.

This month we are highlighting Maria Beigel, one of our Medical Impact Office Assistants. Maria brings joy and encouragement as she provides organization and assistance to our team in many ways. She is a blessing to us all as she serves with a smile and a servant’s heart in all she does. We are so thankful for Maria and all she brings to our team!

Where did you grow up and go to school?

I grew up in a very small farming community called Coldwater, Ohio and attended Wright State Lake Campus for my associates degree in Business Administration. I graduated with that degree in 2015.

Share with us about your family.

I’ve been so blessed by my family and I’m so thankful to have the relationship that I do with my parents and my siblings. I am the fifth of six children and all of my older siblings are married with children now, so I have a lot of nieces and nephews to love on! 14 to be exact. I’ve been married to my husband, Austin, for four years this past December and we have two children - a 2-year-old daughter named Vera and a 5-month-old son named Graham. We also have a very spoiled ragdoll cat named Shapiro (Ro for short).

Tell us about what brought you to Heartbeat International.

When I moved to Columbus and I was looking for a job, my former pastor at my parent’s church, Michael Spencer (who now works for Project LifeVoice), recommended I look into Heartbeat International. As I was growing up, Michael played a big role in developing my passion for the unborn and I was eager to take his advice and I’m so glad I did!

Tell us about your experience sharing APR with others.

It’s always very interesting to tell people what I do for work, because most of them previously had no idea that it is even possible to reverse the effects of a chemical abortion. I love spreading the word about Abortion Pill Reversal!

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Hands down, the best part of my job is reaching out to former APRN clients to see how their experience with Abortion Pill Reversal was and how they’re doing now. The responses that I’ve gotten have brought me to tears. I get to see photos of ultrasounds and born children who wouldn’t have had a chance at life without the APRN, and I get to hear the testimonies of their moms, who are so thankful and moved that there was someone who could help them, even when there were others pressuring them to continue their abortions.

Tell us about working on the Medical Impact Team.

I couldn’t have asked for a better group of women to work with. From the day that I started working with the Medical Impact Team, I’ve felt welcomed and loved and appreciated. This team has faced many spiritual battles and continues to overcome and manages to stay positive in spite of everything. We are a unique team, in that only one of us is actually in office in Columbus. The rest are remote and working all over the country (and one in Canada), which presents a unique dynamic. Because of this, it’s extremely special when I do get to see others on the Medical Impact Team in person and I look forward to our weekly Tuesday meetings where we get to see a glimpse into each other’s lives.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

I really enjoy visiting my hometown and my parents and taking my kids to the places I went as I was growing up. I stay at home with my children and love being a mom to them and getting to watch them grow up. I also enjoy reading, doing puzzles, playing tennis, playing board games, listening to podcasts, and going on date nights with my husband.

What else would you like to share?

I’m very thankful to be part of the Medical Impact team! I can see that we are making a difference and I’m so excited to see how God uses us in 2022.

This month we are highlighting Ashley Vance, one of our Healthcare Team Managers. Ashley assists our affiliates with medical questions and oversees the Abortion Pill Reversal Hotline. Before joining the Medical Impact Team almost three years ago, Ashley served as an Abortion Pill Reversal Hotline Consultant. Ashley also brings a background of Medical Surgical Nursing to the Medical Impact Team. If you speak with Ashley, you will be blessed with wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration in your work within the pregnancy help community!

Where did you grow up and go to school?

I grew up in northern Alberta. I left my hometown in the last year of high school where I moved to British Columbia and pursued my nursing career. I completed my nursing degree through Athabasca University.

Share with us about your family.

I am blessed to come from an extremely tight knit Christian family. I have one brother and I call my mom my best friend! I have a family of my own with my lovely husband and we have two small children, plus another one on the way set to arrive January 2022!

Tell us about what brought you to Heartbeat International.

Well, that is a God thing! I felt so strongly in my last year of nursing school that I wanted to join the prolife movement and have God use me in whatever way I was needed. I reached out locally and through my church but never heard back. Doubt crept in and I began to wonder if I was wanting to do something that didn’t actually exist! However, I could never shake the feeling of the call God placed on my heart so I started to do research and every time I kept coming back to the same name- Heartbeat International. I learned about Abortion Pill Reversal and was desperately eager to join! However, being Canadian I assumed that wouldn’t be possible so I reached out to see if anyone could connect me with a Canadian contact. To my surprise they let me know that they were looking for hotline nurses and the opportunity was open to me as well. I was SO excited! Along with being a mother, working for Heartbeat has been the biggest honor, joy and blessing of my life!

Share with us about your experiences sharing APR with others through presentations.

Public speaking and presentations are the biggest areas of growth that I have experienced in my career. It’s so humbling for me to speak in front of other prolife individuals because I deeply admire and respect them! With the guidance, support, and prayers of Christa Brown I have learned so much about this extremely important skill- Spreading the word about the APR mission! Every presentation I have done has connected me with others in the movement and strengthened my understanding of the many other life affirming roles as well.

Tell us about how you offer assistance to affiliates within their pregnancy help centers.

We offer assistance to affiliates in whatever capacity it is needed. That could be establishing medical services, information on STI testing, adding APR or how to find a medical director. For example, during the onset of Covid-19 we worked quickly to ensure we could assist pregnancy centers with policies and insights in a rapidly changing landscape. We work diligently to make sure we provide affiliates with the most up to date and in-depth information available.

Tell us about your experiences helping clients on the APR Hotline and now overseeing the Hotline as one of the Healthcare Team Managers.

My time on the hotline was where I fell in love with the mission. I remember my first shift so well and the feeling of my first call- I was so nervous but so grateful that I had the opportunity to speak with someone in the midst of a pregnancy crisis and share the good news: There are people out there that have no judgement for you, only love and that help is available. This line of work is hard, I’ve shed happy tears and sad ones alone in my office, but every second has been worth it! Now as a manager I work closely with the nurses, and I have seen the network grow in so many ways. It’s been an absolute blessing to witness!

Tell us about working on the Medical Impact Team.

In my eyes the Medical Impact Team is its own family. We are bonded by a love of women, the unborn, family and medical science. We have a unique role within Heartbeat where we oversee the APR hotline, nurse consultants, answer affiliate questions and assist with ultrasound training. There is always more to learn and it’s very fulfilling!

What do you enjoy the most about your work?

My favorite thing (and this is harder than one might think to choose!) is seeing God in details. He really comes through, and often in the most surprising of ways for these women. Sometimes it’s through a Provider willing to see a client after hours on a holiday, sometimes it’s a pharmacy that is open a few minutes late which allows a client to get started on the Progesterone in the middle of the night. Most often it’s in the courage He gives these women to reach out and find us. He whispers into their heart that there is a way out, a second chance available. Witnessing the ways they find us and hearing their stories gives me tremendous respect for these women that fight so hard to fix a decision that they regret and to now save the life of their precious unborn baby.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

Outside of work I enjoy slow days drinking coffee on my front porch surrounded by family! I love books, current events, horses, and good conversations with loved ones.

What else would you like to share?

How much we value and pray for the many Pregnancy Centers and prolife ministries around the world! We see how deeply you care and love for these women. None of your hard work goes unnoticed. It’s a true honor to serve alongside all of you!