News for February 2012

“Irreversible” is key, as the temporary loss of brain, heart, or lung function can occur with subsequent recovery. This can be seen with profound hypothermia, which produced the emergency department axiom that a person is not dead until he is “warm and dead” to ensure the loss of any function is not due to the temporary condition of low body temperature.

Since the brain is the body’s command center, when the brain is dead, the body is dead. Brain death quickly follows the loss of cardiopulmonary function, since the brain is so dependent on oxygen-rich blood.

Therefore, a trained medical professional usually can confidently declare a patient dead using cardiopulmonary criteria (irreversible cessation of heart motion). When the heart and lungs are being artificially maintained by a ventilator, either brain death criteria must be used or the ventilator must be withdrawn to see if the heart will stop beating.

A person who is declared dead by brain death criteria is dead even though he may have a heart rate and blood pressure artificially sustained by a ventilator and medications. Death of the body and organism has already occurred. The individual organs simply are being sustained by the life support systems and are no longer part of an integrated living organism.

George Delgado, M.D.

That same day, we told the nurse we didn’t want the baby, and she gave us options. We decided to take the option of abortion, and we never thought about giving my baby up for adoption. I was more terrified of my parents knowing about my pregnancy, about my family and friends calling me stupid for being pregnant, about being fat and having stretch marks the rest of my life. That same day, we made a Saturday appointment for the abortion. I told my mom I was going to San Diego to buy my prom dress (oh, I wished!).

Our drive from Calexico to San Diego took three hours or less, but it seemed to take a year to get there. I was horrified and just wanted to get rid of my baby… I had the worst feeling ever! I felt like a monster. Well, I was a monster.

We finally got there. On our way into the parking lot, an angel stopped us! I thought she was crazy or something. She gave us information about abortion. We talked for 10 or 15 minutes, but we didn’t care. We just wanted to get rid of the baby.

We went into the clinic, and, oh, what a horrible place! It was full of teenagers and some adults. We signed in and talked to a woman who was having her third abortion. She was only 23 years old and told us it never hurt, but I could see everyone’s faces–how sad, horrified, and confused they were. I just couldn’t stop thinking about that angel sidewalk counselor and what she told us.

They called my name. I was going to enter the room when my boyfriend called me and said the most wonderful words ever, “DON’T DO IT! LET’S COME ANOTHER DAY. I LOVE YOU!” I went running to his arms, and we left that horrible place.

On our way out, we looked for the sidewalk counselor. She was still there, like an angel, saving lives. She took us to another wonderful person, a doctor named George Delgado. We had a free ultrasound and he gave me prenatal vitamins. We thanked them so much for being there, at the exact time and perfect place. We drove back home, so confused.

The next day, we told my parents. I was expecting something so much different from what they told me, “Well, that’s a blessing, and it’s sad that it’s happening now. We wish it happened some years later when you finished your schooling. We are happy. We love and support you. Just don’t get out of school.”

I still considered not having my baby. I didn’t have a job and neither did my boyfriend or parents! How was I supposed to bring a baby to life without resources? But our angel saved us once again. She told us about some places where we could get shelter, food, and clothes for our baby. I lost my cell phone and couldn’t find her number again.

Going through my pregnancy was hard. My mom had to leave the city far away from me to get a job in the fields. I was by myself and had no air conditioning in the summer. I couldn’t feed my cravings. I was eight months pregnant when I moved with my boyfriend to a studio. We were getting aid from the government. I was still in school and got three scholarships, which I used it for my baby. Everything was getting better.

I had three baby showers! November 6 was my due date, and that day, I was at the hospital with contractions. On Nov 7, I delivered my baby boy, who was 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and 19.5 inches-everything was perfect.

I still hadn’t decided on his name. I just knew I wanted something that meant “Warrior” because he was a warrior. I liked “Andre” because it’s the name of a drummer I admire. One week later, I looked up Andre on Google, and “warrior” was the definition! “Sidewalk counselor” may mean something else, but for us, it’s “Angel.”

I now feel proud of myself-blessed and thankful to God for putting such wonderful people in my path. I’m still a teenager, maybe more mature than the ones my age (or boring, they call me). I still go to the movies, concerts, and do teenager stuff. But I’m also a mom, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Now we are taking classes from the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program (IVROP) to become better parents. We were chosen as Parents of the Year! We are both in college and working. I’m studying business marketing, and Hazael is becoming a physical therapist. I work at Sonic, and he works at our college bookstore.

Sometimes I wish I could have more time for my baby. I wish I could be rich and not work, but it didn’t work out that way. When I think about the sidewalk counselor, I want to thank her for being there. If it wasn’t for her, I would’ve been coming home and feeling empty inside, crying all night. But every time I get home now, I see my baby, and I smile, feeling joy inside.

Thanks to everyone who prayed for me. I did get your blessings. Thank you to the sidewalk counselor, my angel and inspiration. I hope to be like her one day. I’m starting now by talking to girls who plan to abort. Soon, I want to open a place for those girls who don’t have a home or resources for having a baby.

Thank you, all. Thank you, God. Thank you, Angel Sidewalk Counselor.

(You may contact Nadia at NadiaZapata@live.com.)

Reading Nadia’s story on the front page gives us insight into the life of a pregnant teenager. How easy it would have been for her to continue through that abortion clinic door to “fix” her problem in a few short minutes. How hard the fall out would have affected her and her boyfriend for the rest of their lives. The picture of Nadia’s smiling baby, Andre, puts a face on Roe v. Wade. Unfortunately, we can’t glimpse the sweet faces of the over 50,000,000 children who have been killed since the law was passed. Each with his or her own unique features and future.

At COLFS, we resolve to give real solutions to tough decisions that parents in crisis pregnancy must face. January 22, 2012, is just one day in the struggle to give abortion-intent women options that bring peace and joy to their lives. Everyday of the year, our crisis pregnancy counselor is there to take the calls of those desperate for assistance.

My resolution for 2012 is to make COLFS known to more women in need of our life-affirming services. Will you help me?

Scott Maxwell

Without our generous donors of time and treasures, we could not do our Lord’s work of protecting the innocent lives that He creates. Thanks to you, we can offer women in crisis pregnancies a free sonogram. Once a mother-to-be sees her baby, 70% chose life!

• 8 Baby Bottle Boomerang fundraisers, to create awareness of pro-life issues, raised over $30,000
• 60 free sonograms to crisis pregnancy patients
• 151 crisis patients seen by Dr. George Delgado, Dr. Karen Saroki, and the medical staff
• Now open on most Saturdays, the day with the highest rate of abortions performed
• Increase in prenatal care services and a collaboration with an obstetrical group to help with deliveries
• High rate of referral to COLFS from sidewalk counselors and other pregnancy resource centers
• Enshrinement of the medical practice to St. Gianna Beretta Molla, with the presence of her daughter Gianna Emanuela
• Bishop Cordileone of Oakland, CA, made a visit to San Diego to give a talk to the pro-life community
• 1st annual Our Lady’s Tea—a great success with a sold-out crowd of over two hundred women
• 2nd Annual Gala with another sold-out venue of 630 attendees
• Redesign of the COLFS website and the launch of the Pregnant and Scared site (www.PregnantAndScared.me)
• New logo and marketing material helps COLFS create a greater presence at events, health fairs, and parishes

Here at COLFS, it is our mission to serve others in need as if they were Jesus. Without the grace of God and you, our supporters, it would be an impossible task. I marvel at the selfless servitude of Dr. George Delgado, Dr. Karen Saroki, the rest of the medical staff, the office staff, Debbie Bradel, and our faithful volunteers. To me, they personify the words of Christ in the gospels.

As I reflect on my first year at COLFS, I thank God for the opportunity that He has given me to meet some of you and to explain our direction and goals. You have responded generously, and I pray that our needs continue to be met throughout the coming year.

As you read on the first page, COLFS has touched many lives this past year. We have been led by the Holy Spirit to fight for what is right and to bring souls to the foot of the Cross, where true peace and happiness can be found.

I pray you all have a blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with hope and joy. As you continue to fight for the rights of the unborn in the coming year, may your battle armor be the Word of God, and the Truth your sword.

Scott Maxwell

If you do not see your parish or school listed, please consider a Baby Bottle fundraiser in 2012!

• St. Timothy
• St. Joseph Academy
• St. Columba
• Sacred Heart, Coronado
• St. Jeanne School, Temecula
• St. Anne
• Our Lady of Grace
• Good Shepherd
• St. Didacus
• Our Lady of the Rosary
• Our Lady of Angels
• St. Luke
• St. Jerome
• St. John the Evangelist
• Holy Family
• St. Gregory the Great
• Christ the King
• St. James

A: The zygote is the single cell individual that results from fertilization of the egg by the sperm. He or she becomes the embryo who becomes the fetus, then the baby and adult. So, we have a biological human life continuum.

The human zygote, embryo, and fetus are self-directing, self-programmed, self-affecting, self- actuating beings who require only the proper environment and nutrition to live and develop. This is fundamentally no different from human babies or adults.

Let’s look at these characteristics. They direct their own development; we all know that every single cell has a full component of the DNA that is required to direct all of the development and growth of a human organism. They are self-affecting; all processes or transformations that take place are put into play by the organism him or herself. They are self-actuating; any process is started by the human organism not from some trigger from the outside. At each stage of life, the human person looks and develops just as he or she should.

George Delgado, M.D.

Their baby bottle collections during the month raised over $1,200 and will help us fund free medical care for those women who come to us for crisis pregnancies!

In honor of the feast of the Presentation of Mary in November, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac School also generously adopted COLFS as the beneficiary for their Child Mary Celebration. St. Jeanne families blessed COLFS with donations of clothes, gift cards, toys and baby items, such as diapers, shampoos, and wipes. The month culminated in an event where the children performed many beautiful songs, and all items were presented to COLFS Executive Director, Scott Maxwell.

(Please send us pictures of your fundraisers for COLFS to include in future newsletters. Email comments and pictures to Scott Maxwell at newsletter@colfs.org.)

Miss S found her way to COLFS through another pregnancy help center and God, of course. After her ultrasound and an exam with Dr. Saroki, Miss S said, “This is the nicest doctor’s office I have ever been to.” It had been a long time since she smiled, and she was nervous because she felt a little crampy, so she wasn’t sure if she was miscarrying.

It was at her second visit, that Dr. Saroki asked me to spend a little time with Miss S and see how COLFS could help support her during this stressful time. True to COLFS mission, we were able to assist Miss S with transportation costs to the home of her older cousin in Georgia, who has two available bedrooms and the stable support that Miss S needs to finish her education and earn a living. Defying the odds that a young black single woman faces when she finds herself expecting a baby, Miss S is happy that she is still pregnant. The smile has returned to her face as she prepares to start a new life with family who cares and is able to help her.

R

What could have been a tragedy turned out to be an opportunity of neighborly love. R was pushing her baby in his stroller when a car hit them just as she reached the sidewalk. The force of contact knocked R over and the “little man” fell out. Neither one was injured, thank God, but the stroller was bent beyond repair. Unfortunately, this is an essential item for a single mom with no car. How else can a mom and son look for a job, attend school, and shop for groceries?

About two hours after R called to tell me what happened and ask if we had a stroller to donate, a friend of Dr. Saroki’s called saying he was just discharged from the Marines and wanted to know if there was anything he could offer in the way of time and/or talent. I couldn’t believe the perfect timing, but wanted to be respectful of his offer and not ask for too much. So I said, “Sir, it is very kind of you to offer to help us! We can use anything from a box of diapers to a stroller.” I proceeded to explain the story of R and how desperate she was to have a stroller. He went to Toys R Us that day and put a stroller on layaway so he could pay for it when his final paycheck came in. The next day he came in with a box of diapers and helped me put labels on baby bottles. Talk about generous! When the stroller was paid off, I accompanied our volunteer to R’s house, and she was filled with gratitude. Not only did she receive a brand new stroller but a car seat, as well, so she can ride with others.

This is truly a story of love of neighbor. Not only had our COLFS volunteer performed his duty to serve America in the Marines, but he came home and served a single mom who could have been housebound without wheels. This is the priceless support we give to moms who can easily be persuaded to abort when they have so many situational obstacles.