This is a story that will demonstrate the powerful impact that services provided by places like Southside Life Care Center have in the lives of young women all around the country.  It is a story of life and the unexpected challenges it can bring.  This is the story of the hard work and determination to survive for one young woman and her child.  Some of the names and details have been changed to protect privacy.

Kim was 18 when she found out she was pregnant. She had been with John, her boyfriend, throughout their high school years.  From the moment Kim told her family about her pregnancy, they were against it.  Her mother especially urged her to have an abortion. Kim was young and confused. She knew raising a child would be difficult and she wasn’t sure she would be able to handle it. Kim took a bus to an abortion clinic downtown and was prepared to abort her baby. Soon the nurse called her name, “Kim, we’re ready for you.”

“I am sorry, I can’t do this,” she stammered as she hurried out of the clinic. While sitting in that waiting room she’d become overwhelmed by emotion. How could she kill the one person who could love her the most? This child could be the start of a new life. This was an opportunity to do the right thing, in a way that no one in her family had done before.  She needed this child, as much as it needed her.  She made the decision to keep her child and she was willing to do whatever it took to give her baby a good life.   As a result of her decision, she was thrown out of her parents’ house and received no help from her family.

Kim found refuge in a maternity home in St. Cloud called “New Beginnings.”  It is the only facility in Minnesota that offers young pregnant women a place to stay throughout their pregnancy.   This program offers women the opportunity to get on their feet and gives them the tools they’ll need to be successful mothers.  John went to college at St. Cloud State University in order to stay close to Kim.  He also found work wherever it was offered knowing that they would need money when the baby was born.

John and Kim’s baby was born on October 3, 1990. She was a beautiful baby girl. They named her Bethany. Despite the anger Kim’s mother felt, she was at the hospital when Bethany was born. John and Kim found an apartment in Hopkins along with jobs to support themselves. After nine months, John and Kim split. Kim wanted marriage and a family and John had decided he wasn’t ready for that. Even though they were high school sweethearts it wasn’t enough. John moved out and Kim was left alone with the child. They had decided Bethany would live with Kim and see John every other weekend. John married a year and a half later and started his family.  Kim also married and went on to have more children as well.

Kim’s decision to keep her baby is one that especially touches my heart and my life. Why?  Because my name is Bethany.  I am the child that Kim decided to keep. Every day I thank God that He was with my mother and helped her make the right decision.   Without programs like Southside I would not be here today.

I get pretty emotional knowing that every day, women don’t have access to resources like New Beginnings or Southside and end up terminating their pregnancies.  Unfortunately not everyone values those types of resources and since they are 100% non-profit organizations – it is that mindset that determines whether or not those resources are available in those communities.

It has become my mother’s mission to open the minds and hearts of people all over the country with her story…with our story.  Together we hope – no, we BELIEVE - that we’ll be able to inspire not only young pregnant women to choose life…but that we’ll also inspire people just like you to support programs like Southside in their own communities.

For those of you who give to this program already – THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.  You are giving other kids like me the opportunity of Life.  For those of you who haven’t yet decided to support Southside, I hope you’ll seriously consider it after reading my story.   I pray that you will give my mom Kim  - you know her as Kimberly Rynders, the Executive Director of Southside Life Care Center - the opportunity to ‘pay forward’ the gifts and resources given to us 18 years ago.

Our story…and our lives have come full circle.  Maybe 18 years from now – a child that YOU saved through your support of this program will be able to share their message too.