Recently, Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers hosted its annual banquet at which dozens of families, with the organization’s support, chose life. In the last 12 months, Advice and Aid taught a sexual risk avoidance class to 300 area public high school 9th-grade students and served nearly 300 walk-in clients. They also shared that five women underwent treatment protocols this past year to reverse the Abortion Pill. Of those five, two babies have been born, and one pregnancy remains viable.

About a year ago, Westsider Cindy Willich joined Advice and Aid’s staff as their lead sonographer, training and assisting countless mothers who’ve come in seeking help and care. We sat with her to hear more about her story and work. Her story is a beautiful example of what happens when your calling collides with the experiences, gifts, talents and abilities God has given you.

Nearly three decades ago, Cindy Willich was informed by her doctor that her baby likely had spina bifida. He encouraged her to consider what was for her the unthinkable.

“He told me, ‘Chances are he might not live. You should probably have an abortion,’” Cindy recalled.

The words stung. It was an unfathomable suggestion—one she and her husband wholly rejected. Putting their faith in God, she began moving through her appointments and, along the way, met a sonographer who had a tremendous impact on her and how she felt about the pregnancy.

“At each visit, she took a lot of time with me. She was able to look at the spine and showed me that it looked very normal. She was able to give me pictures of his face, too. The extra time she took with me really put my mind at ease.”

Months later, her son was born—completely healthy. In fact, he went on to earn a college scholarship for track and soccer!

That experience informed Cindy greatly about how she approached her work in the medical field. When she decided it was time to shift from medical assistant work and phlebotomy, she remembered that sonographer and trained to become a sonographer herself.

For the past 12 years, she’s worked in the field, primarily training others. Today, she works at Westside’s community partner, Advice and Aid Crisis Pregnancy Center, and she’s passionate about their work and mission.

“I love being able to show these mom their babies,” she says. “It’s often a huge turning point for them. But on top of that, I love that Advice and Aid doesn’t leave our work at saving the baby. They focus on helping the mom through it and making the process easier.”

Cindy added that in addition to the social workers on staff with Advice and Aid, they provide additional resources to walk the mom through the process.

As you might imagine, working in a crisis pregnancy center is not easy.

“We’re dealing with the good and the bad of this every day,” Cindy said as she reflected on a couple who came in, unsure about their pregnancy. “There are those moments of joy when the mom decides to have the baby. We had a couple who really bonded with an advocate during their pregnancy. We were their first stop after they got out of the hospital because they wanted us to know we changed their lives. We live for those moments.”

Located across the parking lot from an abortion clinic, the workers at Advice and Aid are very aware of the staggering abortion statistics. While abortions have declined nationally, in Kansas, they have increased by about 75%. Cindy says prayer is a critical piece of their ministry.

“We have volunteers who walk around our facility–inside and out–praying for our staff, volunteers, and clients,” she said.

And those prayers make a difference. Cindy says she sees miracles happen every day. “I’ve done my work long enough to know there’s no coincidence. We had one girl come in by accident [she thought she was going to the abortion clinic across the parking lot]; she was almost 20 weeks.”

When Cindy performed the ultrasound, she couldn’t believe what they saw.

“That baby was literally waving,” Cindy said. “She [the mom] lost it when she saw that and said, ‘My baby’s waving to me!’ There is no doubt that God is a part of it. Some days, I can’t even explain what just happened other than God.”

For Cindy, she knows her work at Advice and Aid is a calling. She feels blessed to align her professional skills and gifting in an area near and dear to her heart—helping mothers make informed decisions and choose life.

Westside, your generosity helps support important community partner ministries like Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers. If you feel called to support mothers and fathers facing a crisis pregnancy, numerous medical and non-medical volunteer opportunities are available. For more information, visit their website or call 913-962-0200.