We had just 24 hours to save a life.

A pregnant young woman was scheduled to visit Planned Parenthood on Tuesday, and her mother “Anna” called Stanton Healthcare on Monday morning to ask if we were open that day.

As I spoke with Anna, I could sense the desperation in her voice.

“My daughter has an appointment at Planned Parenthood tomorrow morning. But if I can get her to see how far along the baby is…”

My heart sank.

Our Mobile clinic had just been dropped off at the mechanic’s to have the generator replaced - a repair that we couldn’t put off any longer. We couldn’t provide this client with a full medical exam in our clinic that day.

But then I remembered - our portable ultrasound machine was not at the mechanic’s shop!

A few quick calls later, the team was notified and a plan was in place. Thanks to our wonderful partnership with a local pregnancy resource center we were able to provide a non-medical ultrasound to the pregnant mother that evening.

“Kaitlyn” was 10 weeks pregnant. Stanton’s experienced sonographer Jo found a strong heartbeat.

Again, my heart sank.

This beautiful young woman was not responding to the sound of her baby’s heartbeat as I had hoped (a response I have witnessed many times with other clients).

No joyful exclamations, no tears, no excited chatter with her mother Anna who sat nervously nearby.

I dashed out of the room to get a plastic model of a 10-week preborn baby to show Kaitlyn, hoping to give her a tangible example of her baby’s real size and shape.

The little “bean” shape on the ultrasound screen just wasn’t connecting with this mama’s heart, even with the heartbeat visibly and audibly going strong.

As I closed the door behind me, I begged the Holy Spirit to move in Kaitlyn’s heart. We had asked Stanton prayer warriors to be on their knees that evening, and my prayer was just one of many for the precious child and mother.

As I returned to the ultrasound room with a baby model, I gently cracked open the door to the sound of… laughter?!

I opened the door to reveal Kaitlyn wiping away tears and pointing at the screen as her mother and our sonographer Jo laughed along with her.

“What happened?” I asked.

“The baby is jumping around like crazy,” Jo replied. “I’ve never seen anything like these cute little froggy jumps from a 10 week baby!”

There on the screen, the image of Kaitlyn’s little one had transformed from a static “bean” to a dancing, waving baby.

Budding arms and legs flailed about for several minutes while I took video at Kaitlyn’s request.

And the entire time I held the camera in my shaking hands, I thanked God for His miraculous work.

Kaitlyn and Anna sat for some time after the ultrasound, crying and sharing their concerns and fears over the pregnancy. Jo and I had the opportunity to pray with them and to bless Kaitlyn with a gift bag.

Anna called Stanton in desperation one morning, and by the evening she had hope. Anna’s daughter connected with her grandbaby, and a sweet life was spared from the horror of abortion.

Kaitlyn was overwhelmed and scared.

Baby Lili and I in the Stanton office.

She found love and compassion at Stanton Healthcare.

Because Stanton Healthcare exists, Kaitlyn is not a victim of abortion violence and her child is growing safely in her womb.

This is a story from over 5 years ago, written during a challenging period in Stanton SoCal’s ministry - the upheaval of 2020. Our executive director resigned (on good terms, just moving on), our interim director had a high-risk pregnancy, I gave birth to my seventh baby, our Mobile was consistently breaking down, and Covid restrictions had prevented many outreach activities and limited volunteer contributions. Additionally, we didn’t have the income to hire a full-time executive director.

So, in obedience to the Holy Spirit, I was opening the mobile clinic 1-2 times a week whenever I could find childcare for seven kids (including a 6 month old baby) at home. Even in the daily struggle, I was confident the Lord was asking us to persevere in faith.

Not a month after I lived, wrote and shared this story with our ministry supporters, the Lord moved in the heart of a friend who donated the funds for 3+ years of operating expenses. This baby’s story had crystallized the life-or-death reality of our ministry for this friend.

The little one saved from abortion, the baby who did froggy jumps at the Holy Spirit’s urging, is now 5 years old. Her name is Lili, and although I haven’t seen her in several years, I was reminded of her sweet face and incredible story yesterday.

Yesterday, I was working in our office in Victorville miles away from my kiddos at home, thinking how I always end up “back here”. I’m back to a challenging season of working and waiting, but always trusting that the Lord will provide the hands and hearts and resources for this ministry.

And then, yesterday, a mom came in with her Stanton baby. A chubby-cheeked 6 month old who smiled at me when I lifted her car seat into the Mobile. Her mom had received her first ultrasound at Stanton, and had brought her little girl back to the Mobile. My soul was reminded of Lili.

I believe Lili was God’s gift not only to her mama and grandma, but also to me and to Stanton and our supporters.

I have always said: “Even one life is worth it all.” I know there are hundreds more babies (and kids and adults!) alive today because God has given me grace to do this work, but some days I only need to remember the one.

Today, Lili is that one.

In Hope,

Danielle