Rosliany fought hard to escape the economic disaster and starvation consuming her home country of Venezuela. Her journey to the U.S. was filled with hope and the dream of a better future. As a trained surgical nurse, she envisioned a fulfilling career and a stable life. But what she didn’t expect was the most challenging battle of her life, one that would test her resolve and redefine her purpose. When Rosliany discovered she was pregnant, she felt hopeless about her situation until she stepped foot onto our Mobile Medical Clinic.
A New Beginning in the U.S.
When Rosliany first arrived in the U.S., she thought she had left the chaos behind. Her home country of Venezuela was sinking into a crisis worse than the Great Depression, marked by hyperinflation and widespread starvation. With her training as a surgical nurse, Rosliany was determined to continue her work in the U.S. But settling into her new life was more complicated than she had anticipated.
She navigated the arduous immigration process with determination, only to find herself tangled in red tape. After a meeting with her immigration advisor, she learned she was one step away from deportation. Every day, anxiety and fear consumed her. The thought of being sent back to Venezuela, where her family struggled to survive, was too much to bear.
A Life-Changing Decision
Amid this uncertainty, Rosliany discovered she was pregnant. Panicked and overwhelmed, she searched for pregnancy centers online. Her first stop led her to an abortion center, where she was quoted an $800 fee for an abortion. The baby’s father pressured her to choose abortion or face homelessness. Caught in this impossible situation, Rosliany didn’t know what to do.
But a glimmer of hope appeared when Rosliany found a pregnancy health clinic that was a Save the Storks partner, offering care through a Storks Bus (Mobile Medical Clinic). With nothing left to lose, she decided to seek help there.
A Turning Point
When Rosliany boarded the Mobile Medical Clinic, she was met with a team of skilled and compassionate health workers. Among them was Mariana, who listened to Rosliany’s struggles and offered more than just medical advice. She encouraged Rosliany to seek legal help regarding her immigration status and assured her that the clinic would provide the support she needed to care for her baby. For the first time in weeks, Rosliany felt a sense of hope.
Yet, despite the support, when Rosliany saw her baby kicking on the ultrasound, all she felt was guilt. She feared the impact of her decisions on her child’s future. “I was afraid to think that I might have made the decision to abort,” she recalls. “That overshadowed my first opportunity to see my son. I couldn’t experience it the way every mother would wish—with joy, with tears of happiness… because I felt guilty about what I could do to my child’s life.”
Finding Support and Clarity
Though Rosliany was still grappling with overwhelming emotions, Mariana was already working behind the scenes to empower her. Mariana referred Rosliany to a lawyer who offered his services pro bono, understanding firsthand the challenges of immigration as the son of an immigrant mother. With his help, Rosliany’s deportation case was addressed, giving her a fighting chance to stay in the U.S.
A church leader in the community also stepped in when they learned of Rosliany’s housing insecurity, helping her find a safe place to live. These acts of kindness and support became the foundation that gave Rosliany the courage to move forward. The clarity she gained through this network of support helped her make the decision to embrace motherhood.
A Brave Choice for Life
With newfound support and a sense of clarity, Rosliany chose to keep her baby. “Thank God he gave me more than one person to latch onto, to hold onto, in committing to keep Emmanuel,” she says. “They have been the cornerstone of saying yes to life for my baby.”
Raising a child is never easy, especially under such challenging circumstances. But Rosliany has no regrets. “Emmanuel is my joy,” she shares. “He is the beloved son I’ve always wanted.”
A New Vision for the Future
Becoming a mother has given Rosliany a new vision for her life. “I’d like to study law,” she says. “I like the laws in this country, and I feel I could do it well, litigating in favor of those less fortunate.”
Her transformation is a testament to her strength and courage. Mariana reflects on how Rosliany has blossomed into a fierce protector of her child: “From the beginning, of not even being sure that she could be a good mother, and then she transformed herself into this lion warrior for her child—we knew it was in her because she’s a fighter.”
Rosliany’s story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of adversity, we can choose life, find hope, and become stronger than we ever thought possible.
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With a one-time or monthly donation, you can help us support women’s health clinics to build more life-saving vehicles like the one Rosliany encountered.
