I have been thinking a lot lately about my motivation and my engagement in culture, in politics, and in the greater discussion surrounding life and abortion. What drives my action and/or inaction? As I have wrestled with this in my own life I have formulated a framework that helps me better understand my motivations, my [...]
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men… Frederick Douglass I recently came across this quote from Frederick Douglass and was amazed at the simple, yet profound truth these few words offer. Douglass wasn’t arguing for a culture or practice that chooses to not repair broken men. Instead, he was pointing [...]
We have spent the last year looking inward at our practices and outward at our patients trying to decide how we can better reach those in our city that are in vulnerable situations facing unplanned pregnancies and seriously contemplating abortion. This research and focused effort have produced some staggering data as we get a glimpse [...]
I love history, specifically, American history. Currently this love has me focused on the Civil War and the work to save the Union. I am often amazed to hear pundits argue that our nation, in the year 2020, has never been more divided. This argument would make sense if not for our nation’s history. A [...]
Born at 23 weeks and three days, Saybie is now the world’s smallest surviving baby. This little girl, nicknamed Saybie by her doctors, weighed in at 8.6 ounces. This is great news and truly a remarkable testament to medical advancement, prayers, and this little girl’s fighter’s heart. I am a sucker for a heartwarming story [...]
This week, Senator Sasse introduced a piece of legislation that sought to protect infants who survive botched abortions. Oftentimes legislation consists of hundred of pages of legalities and long-winded political speech, but the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act does not follow that trend. It, instead, simply seeks to provide the same rights to survivors of [...]
Just give me the abortion pills… These six words spoken by Jerryka, thankfully, were not the end of her journey. Instead, these six words were just the beginning. You see, Jerryka came to HOPE scared and uncertain of her future. A future planned, thought out, and within her grasp that didn’t involve an exam room [...]
It is hard to believe I am preparing to begin my fourth year with HOPE, and HOPE is preparing to start its twenty-second year of operation here in Knoxville. We have witnessed a lot of change since 1997, but HOPE’s focus and mission of service has weathered every storm and maintained its impact on our [...]
This past week, we were fortunate enough to host 18 baby showers for first-time moms at HOPE. For eight hours, we welcomed moms, dads, families, and friends inside our walls to celebrate the arrival of a little boy or little girl. This is nothing new at HOPE as we host baby showers every quarter, but [...]
This past week we were blessed to have partnered with Amanda May Photos for a photo shoot with some of our patients and their babies. The weather was a bit overcast, but the smiles were pure joy as these moms were celebrated. I have said it before, but it deserves to be said again, our [...]
