“L’s Story”
“L” is a 38 years old woman, married, and has a 6 year old girl. She went through a difficult time with her husband, at one point she was a victim of domestic violence, and lately, she was struggling with anxiety and fear. When she found out that she was pregnant, she started to panic and fear was overwhelming her. “L” decided to do an online search for help. That’s when she found out about us and sent a message. Our first contact with her was through the website of our counseling center, but after a while, Alexandra continued to talk with her over the phone.
The talks with Alexandra were the only place where “L” was feeling secure and free to talk about her fear and anxiety. While sharing the news about her pregnancy, she admitted that because of her condition, she hasn’t seen her doctor yet. She was afraid to leave her home. “L” even mentions her thoughts about abortion since she is not sure if she would be able to take care of her child while struggling with anxiety, and the financial situation wasn’t ideal also.
Through the talks, “L” got her emotional support when she needed it. She made the first steps out of the house, to go and see her doctor. Although she was afraid, she felt she is not alone, someone is walking by her and is helping her to face the challenges.
One important moment for “L” was her first visit to the doctor. She was afraid would she be able to do it, would she be OK, would she survive the visit, or she would pass out in the hallway. So, she called Alexandra, and Alexandra was on the phone with “L” the entire time. Alexandra even had the chance to hear “L” excitement when the doctor told her the baby is perfectly fine and there is no reason to fear.
Throughout the entire pregnancy, they continued to talk, and “L” was encouraged to do little steps to help herself. As a Center, we got donations for her baby, everything that she needs for the first few months.
“L” is truly grateful for Alexandra being there for her, to feel loved, accepted, understood, and respected. And she knows we would continue to be her support. It is amazing to be a support for our clients and to be available for them in good times and in bad times.
“L” now has a beautiful baby boy and we are hoping to meet him very soon!
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“C’s” Story
To experience a reproductive loss is hard, but to go through three miscarriages is unthinkable and very hard to describe.
A few months passed when “C” came to us for the first time. She and her husband were trying to get pregnant, but they were experiencing miscarriages one, after another. “C” s husband was the one who initiated her visit. They were having marital problems for a while. In the beginning, she wasn’t open to talking about her losses, and she didn’t believe the counseling would help her. But with time, she started to open up and she realized she really needed someone to talk to, to share her emotions, and her feelings, to talk about her relationships with her husband and everyone around her. Through a creative task, “C” was encouraged to allow herself to mourn and grieve her losses.
One day she decided to get a balloon and together with her husband and daughter to write letters to their angels in Heaven. They putted the notes in the balloon, took a walk, and they let the balloon into the sky.
She shared that she never knew she is allowed to grieve the loss of her three children. She never knew that she is allowed to make significant her losses. “C” was encouraged to continue to come and together with her husband to work on themselves, on their marriage so they can understand each other better and to give mutual support they need.
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“K’s” Story
On a really warm August day, Alexandra got a phone call from a woman who found our number while she was googling. She decided to be courageous and call looking for help and support about an event that just happened recently.
“K” is 39 years old and lives with her partner. A few weeks ago, she found out she was pregnant, but very soon she was told the baby didn’t have a heartbeat. This was an unplanned pregnancy, but it was accepted with joy since her partner was talking about how much he would like to have children and be a father.
In the beginning, Alexandra and “K” were talking online through video calls and they were talking about her feelings and emotions “K” was having after the loss. The sorrow, melancholy, anger, pain, and fear were only one range of the emotions that “K” discovered she is having. At the same time, talking about it, she was able to process it and talk openly about it. She discovered how she can help herself.
During one of the talks, she shared that it is not easy to go through such a loss, however, she knows she is not alone and there will be always someone who will listen to her and understand her.
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“Petar’s Birth”
From the moment she entered the counseling room, B’s face revealed the intense struggle going on in her heart. The doctors had just confirmed that she was 11 weeks pregnant. When asked how she was feeling, she immediately responded: “Afraid, confused, ashamed”.
B was 20 years old and had been in a relationship with her boyfriend for 2 years. She lived with her mother and stepfather. Her boyfriend wasn’t ready to have children, so he and others with whom she talked concluded that abortion was the best and simplest option. According to him, the time hadn’t come yet for them to start a family. Her mother didn’t know anything about what B was going through.
Something broke within her. B was not at all sure that she was ready to take this step, to have an abortion. She asked about the risks of abortion, and the counselor talked about the prenatal development of the baby. She was very surprised by what she learned in answer to her questions. Her face began to relax as the conversation continued. However, there still remained the problem of the lack of support from her boyfriend. She was encouraged by the counsellor to talk with her mother. As she left, she told the counselor that she felt as if a burden had been lifted from her heart. She greatly appreciated the information she had received, and she said that for the first time since she found out she was pregnant, someone was telling her she could be a mother to the child she carried inside her.
She called a week later to say that she talked with her mother, who not only didn’t want her to have an abortion but also completely supported her decision and offered her help in whatever way was needed.
Today, B is a mother to a wonderful boy and is so happy with the decision she made. “Lydia – a beating heart” supported her in whatever way it could as she faced the challenges of being a single parent.
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“My life changed and took on new meaning the moment I held my son in my arms. I will never regret my decision!” – B