March 29, 2025

Clearway Clinic celebrates 25th anniversary

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

HOLYOKE – Clearway Clinic, a licensed, pro-life medical clinic with locations in Worcester and Springfield, celebrated 25 years of helping women facing an unplanned pregnancy, Wednesday, March 26, at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The Worcester Clinic opened in 2000 and the Springfield clinic opened in 2018 on East Columbus Avenue. Through the years, Clearway has welcomed more than 2000 babies into the world.

“Just remembering the stories of the last 25 years. We’re the evidence when it says in the Bible that the Lord uses fools to confound the wise. We have just had God’s faithfulness to Clearway and here we are 2600 babies and counting,” said Kelly Wilcox, Clearway’s former, longtime director who flew in for the celebration.

The clinics are supported completely by Christian churches. They also receive funding from the Diocese of Springfield’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 also offer and have had success with the abortion reversal pill. Melissa Otero’s two-year-old daughter, Ramiah, is living proof. Otero took the first abortion pill and then changed her mind.

“I feel like it was a godsend. I didn’t think to search it up after taking the abortion pill. I thought it was a gimmick when I saw a hotline on Google. It turned out to really be true and a miracle for me and it actually did work,” said Otero. “She is definitely living proof. She means everything to me. I love that little girl to pieces. Every time I look at her, it’s proof that miracles do exist.”

Clearway also offers post-abortive support with a retreat “Forgiven and Set Free” and an 11-week Bible-based program.

“I was 18 with my first abortion and 19 with my second,” said Mary Walsh, who participated in the healing retreat. She said she carried around the trauma of the abortions for 40 years.

“It was amazing to experience that healing that I knew I had. But now I really knew I had it. I experienced God’s forgiveness and I was able to forgive those who were part of it: the doctors, the clinic, my mother who supported it, the father, everyone who was involved. God heals. His desire is that we be made whole,” she said.

Bishop William D. Byrne opened the evening with prayer.

“Clearway is all about birthdays and making sure it happens. And to come here to celebrate their birthday here in the Diocese of Springfield is a wonderful occasion,” Bishop Byrne told IObserve.

“And so, this is exactly the ministry that we as a diocese have committed to and to partner with them, is to walk with moms. It’s not just making sure they get to the delivery room, but making sure they feel supported as they raise the child.”

A banquet was also held Tuesday, March 25 at Mechanics Hall to celebrate the Worcester location.

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel,” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22NEWS.