Kayla and her son Maverick are grateful to Hill Country Pregnancy Center in Boerne, Texas, for the support they received from the center, and they share their gratitude with all who would listen during Babies Go to Congress in our nation’s capital earlier this summer.

Kayla recalled that day two years ago when she was referred to the pregnancy center while facing an unexpected pregnancy.

“I never knew there was even a pregnancy care center in Boerne before becoming pregnant,” she said in an email exchange with Pregnancy Help News.

Kayla did not have support from the baby’s father. She walked into the pregnancy center without him, and, she said, “I was greeted with welcome arms and felt very comfortable in the cozy office.”

Kayla took part in the center’s “Earn While You Learn” program, racking up Baby Bucks and securing important items for the little boy growing in her womb. She earned a car seat, stroller, diapers, and clothing.

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That first visit, however, meant so much to Kayla.

Lulu Belz is the Development Director at Hill Country Pregnancy Center. She discussed Kayla’s first visit to the center in an email with Pregnancy Help News.

“Kayla shared at our gala that when nurse Melinda prayed with her, it changed her,” Belz said. “She said she never had anyone pray for her.”

“Our nurses pray for our clients if they allow them to,” Belz added. “It’s permission based.”

As time passed, Kayla began to express a desire to grow in her Christian faith. The client advocate at the center offered her a Bible study.

Kayla took part in the study and was later baptized. Belz and Executive Director Donna Klingaman were present for that special day, Belz said.

Belz said Kayla was a clear candidate for the Babies for Congress opportunity.

Babies Go to Congress is an initiative of Heartbeat International, the largest network of pregnancy help organizations both in the U.S. and globally. Heartbeat has been taking moms and babies who have been served by pregnancy help organizations, along with personnel from those organizations, to tell their stories in the office of federal lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Heartbeat has taken more than 180 moms and babies to Washington D.C. for almost 400 Congressional office visits since the first Babies Go to Congress trip in 2009. The message these moms, babies, and sometimes dads, and pregnancy help workers bring to Members of Congress and their staff is that pregnancy centers are good for America.

Kayla had already shared at the center’s gala earlier in the year when the opportunity to attend Babies Go to Congress came about.

“While all our clients are remarkable, Kayla stands out because she has roots in the hill country and used multiple services from our pregnancy center and still does,” said Belz. “Kayla knew that she needed not only material help but emotional support. She received that from our staff, close friends, and family, especially when Maverick was born prematurely.”

Baby Maverick arrived at 32 weeks gestation. He is now a toddler and has become an important presence at the center in Boerne.

“Maverick is pretty much a mascot for them,” Kayla said. “He can be seen running the halls of the center and visiting all the lovely staff.”

“We’ve built a beautiful relationship with everyone at the Hill Country Pregnancy Care Center and frequently have dinners at Mrs. Lulu Belz’s house,” she said.

Hill Country Pregnancy Center has existed since 1987 in two locations. Belz said the center is preparing to open a third location in the near future.

For more information on the Babies Go to Congress initiative click HERE.

LifeNews Note: Tabitha Goodling has been writing for media outlets for more than 20 years in her home state of Pennsylvania. She has served as a client services director at her local pregnancy center since 2018. She and her husband are raising four teenage daughters, which include a set of triplets. This column originally appeared at Pregnancy Help News. Photo: Lisa Bourne.