BERNADETTE:  Congratulations to Bernadette on the birth of her son, Kullin, on March 29th!  Bernadette is very excited that he is here and that her swollen ankles are gone.  The go-getter that she is, Bernadette is already making plans to go back to work.  She had a set-back with starting her CNA classes, which was very demoralizing for her, but with patience and perseverance, she will get there.  Please pray that she continues walking the straight and narrow path and does not get discouraged!

CELINE:  Celine had an abortion two years ago, and it has haunted her every day since.  When she discovered she was pregnant again, she knew she could never go through with another abortion.  However, some of the nightmares she has had since her abortion have cast a shadow of doom upon her current pregnancy.   She dreams that she will never be able to carry another child to term, and the fact that she is now experiencing a high-risk pregnancy only confirms her fears.  She was rejected by every high-risk pregnancy doctor in Fredericksburg because of her fibroid tumors, her borderline hypertension, and her weight.   We told her about Tepeyac Family Center, a group of pro-life OB-GYNs in Fairfax, and she made an appointment.  As we hoped, Tepeyac accepted her as a patient.  But a few hours after her first appointment, she became so ill that she was admitted to Mary Washington Hospital.  One of her fibroid tumors is the size of a grapefruit and the baby, undoubtedly annoyed by this invasion of her space,  started attacking it.  Celine was in excruciating pain.  After two days in the hospital, the doctors were able to get her stabilized, and released her with a cocktail of drugs to manage the pain.  There is nothing else they can do for her.  Celine had just been offered a great job at Macy's right before this happened.  Please pray that she is able to keep her job, keep her pain under control, and keep her faith.

CATHERINE:  Catherine, in her 8th month of pregnancy, was offered a job at Wal-Mart.  Kudos to Wal-Mart!  She was hesitant about accepting the job since she did not have daycare for her son, and since the Fredbus has such a limited schedule.  However, the other Mary's Shelter residents came together and took turns watching her son, and her great volunteer Christina offered to help with transportation.  It was all going so well for about two weeks, and then her doctor put her on partial bedrest!  Catherine was very disappointed.  However, her baby will be here soon, and after a suitable recovery and baby-bonding period, we hope she'll be back at Wal-Mart!  Please pray that there is still a job for her after her baby is born, and that she can continue to find reliable daycare and transportation.

LUCY:  Lucy is due in July with her first child, a girl.  Were it not for the moxie of a concerned neighbor, Lucy would have aborted her baby girl, whom she plans to name Melody.  Lucy's mother was not thrilled that her 20 yr. old unemployed and poorly educated daughter was pregnant.  She let Lucy know, under no uncertain terms, that no more babies were welcome in her house.  Lucy and her mother made a visit to the abortion clinic, but were told that she was not far enough along and needed to return at a later date.  Somehow, Lucy's neighbor got wind of this, and had the courage to invite Lucy to the Arlington Project Gabriel office.  The counselors there told Lucy about Mary's Shelter.  She told them that if Mary's Shelter had room, she would consider canceling her abortion, which was scheduled for the following week.  Fortunately for baby Melody, we had room!  We are proud of Lucy for choosing life, but she still has a lot of growing up to do.   We are praying that she will pass her GED test this summer, that she will find gainful employment, and that she will take the initiative to prepare herself for childbirth and parenting.  Please pray that Lucy can meet the many challenges that lie ahead.

FELICITY:  Felicity is technically due in mid-May with her second son, but she has been experiencing a lot of early labor, and will likely give birth early.  Just last year, 20 yr. old Felicity was living with her husband and baby son.  Their brief marriage fell apart, and Felicity moved out.  She began seeing another man and within a few months, Felicity became pregnant.  The baby's father quickly left her, wanting nothing further to do with her.   The friend with whom she was staying moved away, and Felicity found herself homeless.  She sought help from Birthright, and they put her in touch with Mary's Shelter.  Since moving to Mary's Shelter, Felicity has been attending GED prep courses, and her instructor tells her that she is prepared to take the test in May.  She is in touch with her husband, and is hopeful they can make amends.  Please pray that Felicity is able to discern what is best for herself and her children.

In addition to the moms you have read about, Mary's Shelter provides homes to other mothers and children.  Please keep them ALL in your prayers.