March 6, 2021

Annual Catholic Appeal supports Clearway Clinic’s pro-life mission

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

SPRINGFIELD – When Odyssey Holley found out she was pregnant at 19, she said she felt scared and alone. She said she thought she made up her mind on abortion. But after meeting with a team of medical professionals at Clearway Clinic in Springfield, Holley said she realized there were other options.

“I think it was like a sign to come here. If I would have come somewhere else, honestly she probably wouldn’t have been here,” said Holley, the proud mother fourteen-month old Ciyanna.

The Annual Catholic Appeal supports Clearway Clinic, which opened in Springfield on East Columbus Avenue in May of 2018. The faith-based non-profit operates a pro-life, state-licensed free medical clinic. They specialize in pregnancy diagnosis and medical confirmation. In addition to pregnancy testing, they offer STD testing, ultrasounds and classes to help new mothers.

Holley said when she saw the ultrasound image of Ciyanna, it was love at first sight.

“This changed everything, everything, my whole life,” said Holley looking at her ultrasound picture.  

“I was very happy. I don’t know, I was excited, there was a whole bunch of things going through my mind. I thought, I shouldn’t go through with this (an abortion) because after seeing her in that form, I was like, this is a whole person. This isn’t something, just something that’s small and developing. This is an actual person.”

Four doctors volunteer at Clearway, but it is staffed by seven nurses.

“Most of the time, people don’t expect especially if it’s their first child, they don’t expect to see a heartbeat early where they just find out that they’re pregnant. The best way to describe it, they’re very amazed at how small it is but also that there’s already a heartbeat, there’s already movement,” said Maya Hannoush, a registered nurse at Clearway and mother of two small children.

One of the ultrasound machines was donated by Bob and Roberta Bolduc, who are members of Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield. Bob Bolduc is the founder and CEO of the Pride Convenience stores.

“Western Massachusetts is fortunate that Clearway’s support team has invested in our community with their concept to help young women who find themselves in trouble,” Bob Bolduc said.

“Their focus is on counseling and support at the time that they need it. And if they choose to keep their baby, they continue the support to the family as long as necessary,” he said.

The first Clearway Clinic opened in Worcester in 2000 and continues to serve families in that area.

“We help families who are pregnant and don’t want to be pregnant or they don’t know what to do with their pregnancy,” said Kelly Wilcox, the executive director of Clearway Clinics of Springfield and Worcester.

“We provide them their first medical care. We have a team of doctors and nurses and patient advocates,” she said.

Wilcox added 78 percent of women who see their ultrasound at Clearway Clinic keep their babies. In addition, Clearway in Springfield has helped welcome 233 babies into the world since they opened nearly three years ago.

“We stay with our clients through the entire pregnancy. Our goal is to encourage her and support her, whether that is resources she needs, encouragement, knowing where to go with her pregnancy, prenatal health, education classes, breast feeding, labor and delivery, taking care of a newborn. Our goal is to equip her to succeed as a new mother,” Wilcox said.

The Diocese of Springfield launched the 2021 Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) with the theme of “Sowing the Seeds.”  The goal of this year’s collection is $3 million which will support more than 43 community-based agencies, diocesan services and ministries like Clearway Clinic.

“Everyone who is a mother knows when they become a mother their identity changed. What happens with that is strength, courage, tenacity, love, compassion. It’s like moving from one mountain to another and all of a sudden their life that looked impossible now is filled with possibilities. That’s what a child is. That’s why we believe God gives people babies. We look at situations sometimes and scratch our heads, but that baby is what God has given to transform her life,” said Wilcox of the hundreds of mothers that have come through Clearway’s doors.

Odyssey Holley hopes to one day pursue a degree in psychology. She said she is grateful for the support Clearway has given her and calls little Ciyanna her best friend.

“When I’m with her, I know there’s someone here with me. There’s someone here I have to look after. It makes me feel like, it gives me confidence. I can do it. I’m not by myself,” she said.

A video version of this story will air tonight, March 6, on “Real to Reel,” which airs at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS and in the Berkshires Sunday mornings at 5:30 on Albany’s Fox 23, WXXA.