May 1, 2024

Hundreds attend Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley annual breakfast

REGIONAL
Staff report

 

HOLYOKE – Two hundred people gathered at Wyckoff Country Club in Holyoke for the ninth annual Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley Breakfast, Saturday, April 26. “Real to Reel’s” Carolee McGrath served as the moderator for the “Stories of Life” presentation which featured two mothers who chose life in difficult circumstances.

“I actually took the first (abortion) pill and ended up regretting it,” said Melissa Otero, who shared her story. Otero went to Planned Parenthood when she found out she was pregnant more than two years ago. She took the first dose of the abortion pill which is typically used early on in pregnancy. There are two different medicines given for the chemical abortion: mifepristone and then misoprostol.

“In my despair in the kitchen, walking back and forth, I was trying to figure out anyway to take that pill out of my system,” she explained. After a quick online search, she was connected with Clearway Clinic in Springfield, a pro-life medical clinic. Clearway’s doctors prescribed her the abortion reversal pill.

“I really didn’t want to get an abortion,” Otero said. “I was afraid. I didn’t know what to do. It was fear driven.”

The abortion reversal pill worked, and Otero gave birth to a healthy, baby girl named Ramiah, who is now 18 months old.

Clearway has two locations, one in Springfield and the other in Worcester. The clinics are supported completely by Christian churches. They also receive funding from the Springfield Diocese’s Annual Catholic Appeal. The clinics are overseen by four doctors and staffed by nurses. Clearway Clinics offer free ultrasounds to women facing a crisis pregnancy.

“They have always been there and they are still there for me,” said Otero of the Clearway staff and volunteers. “I appreciate them. We need more clinics like that. They are the light I really needed in a time of trouble and they still continue to be that light that I need.”

Tina Elmer, a parishioner at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Basilica Parish in Chicopee, also shared her story. The mother of three said she and her husband Rick were pressured by medical professionals to get an abortion because prenatal tests revealed her baby girl had Down syndrome. The couple refused. Jessica is now 7 years old.

“You can see Jesse is a wonderful little child. She has given us so much, so much to the world,” said Elmer. “I want to make sure if someone is in that position, don’t rush to judgement … she has been more than a blessing. She has taught us so much,” she said.

Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne encouraged those gathered to continue to walk with moms so that they have an authentic choice.

“It’s time for us to gather together, to support each other and to continue to do the good work of defending life and walking with moms,” the bishop said.

At the breakfast, attendees brought diapers, wipes and other baby necessities which were given to Bethlehem House in Easthampton, a pregnancy care center which assists women and their babies through pregnancy and beyond.

“We need to be here to support mothers, to walk with mothers. We have to show there is a viable alternative to abortion,” said Robert Sass, the new president of Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley. Sass was very instrumental in leading the opposition last summer to a controversial ordinance in Easthampton which would have affected Bethlehem House. The ordinance, which was vetoed by the mayor, would have notified the public of alleged deceptive advertising practices by a pregnancy care center, and provide protections to reproductive health care, including abortion. Bethlehem House is the only pregnancy care center in Easthampton.

“I think very few people realize what is available to mothers through support services. So here today we want to bring recognition to that,” said Sass.

Several young people were in attendance, including students from Pope Francis Preparatory School in Springfield and St. Joan of Arc School in Chicopee, as well as homeschooled students.

Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley also gave out awards to the students who won the pro-life essay contest.

Pastor Stephen Thee, lead pastor of Bethany Assembly of God in Agawam, did the closing prayer.