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
