From Susie Muller, Nurse Manager

I became the nurse manager at Foothills Pregnancy Resource Center a little over two years ago. My background was almost six years in Labor and Delivery and Mother/Baby Care Unit at Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina.

I can still remember the day that my very first client came into the office. This client, Brittany, came in for a pregnancy test. She was 19 and in a relationship with her boyfriend, Daniel. Her pregnancy test came back positive. I asked her how she felt about that and she immediately burst into tears and said that she hadn’t told anyone as she was scared she would be kicked out of her home. I felt the pressure to be that person that she needed in that moment, but with zero experience, I knew that I might fall short. I listened to her fears and told her that we would walk through this together.

The first thing I shared with her is that I have seven daughters of my own. If one of them came to me and said, “I am pregnant” my immediate reaction would be disappointment. Moms have dreams of their daughters meeting the right man, walking down the aisle in a white dress, being able to clearly make the decision that this is the man with who she wants to spend the rest of life without the pressure of a baby clouding the decision. It would have taken me time as a mother to process all that.

One thing I know for certain, though, is that I love my daughters and I would love my grandchild. I encouraged her to truly think about how her mom might feel and give her the time she needed.

I asked her if she had any other support and having none, I reassured her that Foothills Pregnancy Resource Center was there for that exact reason. We come alongside young women and men to support them in any way they need.

Brittany and I discussed her pregnancy options; abortion was not an option and she was not interested in adoption. I assured her that if she chose to carry, we would help with resources, parenting classes, mentoring, and any other ways we could.

Women need to know all their options so that they can make an informed decision. We prayed together and she told me she felt a huge burden lifted.

Ultimately, Brittany’s mother received the news well and supported her the best she could. Mother to her little boy Nathanial, Brittany is a part-time student, working and expecting her second child with Daniel.

Since that first visit, she has come back to volunteer her time for Foothills Pregnancy Resource Center and shares her story to encourage others who may be in a similar situation.