We all have hopes and dreams for the future. What happens when those hopes don’t come to fruition in the way you planned? Nothing threatens to compromise your life plan quite like an unexpected pregnancy. What happens when an unexpected pregnancy threatens jeopardize your goals?
If you just found out you’re pregnant or you’re concerned you might be, Avenue Women’s Center is here to help. We have provided free services since 1981 to women in the Chicagoland area facing unexpected pregnancy. A positive test can turn your world upside down, but it doesn’t have to destroy your life plans. Contact us today for a pregnancy consultation with one of our expert client advocates. We can discuss options on the next steps in making a pregnancy decision that can help benefit your future.
My best friend growing up had a “hope chest.” This was a chest that she put her “treasures” inside and saved them for her future. The chest was a representation of what she hoped was to come. In it she had her Christening gown that she hoped one day to be able to pass along to her child. Her mom had given her a pretty teapot so that as she became an adult they would have many years of sipping tea and sharing life together. A favorite aunt had knitted a blanket that my friend could use someday sitting by a fire with someone special on a cold winter night. To my friend, the chest was a culmination of the hopes and dreams that resided deep within. The common denominator was relationships, both current and future.
Personally, I never had a hope chest in the physical sense. But in the deepest places of my heart was a “virtual one.” It was not as pretty as the real deal and definitely not as tangible, but I held on to it just as vitally. In it, the memories of the past and hopes for the future intersected in a big way.
Unfortunately, things did not turn out as I had planned. I remember the day when everything seemingly went dark. The relationship I had put all my hopes in for the future had ended. I had literally poured myself into him with great personal sacrifice and all I had to show for it was discouragement and pain. The loss was heavy.
This heaviness left me seeing all of life from a very dim place. Hope was nowhere to be seen. I tried, but it seemed my entire life had been consumed. Maybe you can relate. Perhaps the dreams and plans you had stored up for the future seem to be lost. Like me, it could be through the end of a relationship, or it could come in any form of loss. Maybe for you, this season is a result of an unexpected pregnancy. When you aren’t planning for it, a pregnancy can feel like you’re losing the hopes and dreams of your future. But it doesn’t have to be …
If you are facing an unexpected pregnancy and it seems like your hope is lost, you are not alone. Everything may look differently, but it won’t stay that way forever. Contact us today to set up a free pregnancy consultation with one of our caring client advocates. Avenue Women’s Center is here to provide a safe, nonjudgmental space for you to process through your questions, concerns, and options. We are here for you, and we care about helping you find your hope again. Call, chat, email, or text today to set up your free appointment at one of our five locations in the DuPage Country area.
The information provided here is general in nature. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a medical professional. Before any medical procedure, it is imperative that you discuss your personal medical history, risks, and concerns with your doctor. If you have questions during or after a procedure, your doctor should be immediately contacted. Avenue Women’s Center is not an emergency center. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, such as bleeding and/or pain, seek immediate medical attention. Contact your physician, go to an emergency room, or call 911.