Client Story: Oksana’s Journey to Motherhood
Oksana was once a vibrant and intelligent young lady, with a successful career and a loving family. However, her life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm at the age of 33. Thanks to the skilled doctors in Kyiv, her life was saved, but she suffered partial paralysis on her right side. Sometime after, Oksana secretly started a relationship with Alexander, against her family's wishes. At 42 years old, Oksana found out she was 23 weeks pregnant. Her mother was adamant about terminating the pregnancy, and the corrupt staff of the hospital were willing to perform an abortion despite the legal limit being 22 weeks in Ukraine. However, a young intern heard about Oksana's story and sought help from Save a Life International. This dedicated doctor was a member of a Baptist church in Khmelnytskyi and asked the church to pray for Oksana. The pastor then introduced Save a Life International to Oksana and provided her with the contact information of Life Center Khmelnytskyi. She reached out to Natalia, the director of the Life Center, who then together with the pastor visited Oksana. The conversation was delicate and complex, as Oksana's mother was pressing for an abortion since she was battling cancer and was afraid to leave Oksana alone with the baby.
Over the next few days, the volunteers at Life Center Khmelnytskyi helped Oksana see the possibilities of motherhood and assured her that Save a Life International would stand by her side with care and compassion the entire time. Inspired by their words, Oksana decided to give birth to her son, Oleksiik, on March 29, 2023. Her mother also triumphed over cancer and now adores her grandson, profoundly regretting her initial intentions.
The bond between Oksana and the team at Life Center Khmelnytskyi has grown into a genuine family relationship. Save a Life International has supported Oksana throughout her pregnancy, providing financial assistance for childbirth, baby essentials, and hygiene supplies. Today, Oksana continues to participate in online learning programs, and the volunteers from the center visit her and the baby regularly, ensuring continuous support for this remarkable family.
