Meet Julisa
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I want to share my heart about how JMJ helped me in a really desperate time at 19 years old. I can’t believe how my life would have been without their support! When I came to the pregnancy center, I was happy to find out that I was pregnant. I thought my boyfriend would be supportive, since we were already living together, but to my surprise and incredible disappointment, he was not. When I went home to tell him I was pregnant, at first he was okay, but then he told his mother about it, and she was against it. She told him that I should have an abortion, and if didn’t, then he should kick me out of the apartment. He told me that he agreed with his mom, and since she was paying for his apartment, then he really didn’t want to argue about it. I was very upset and didn’t know what to do. After my second ultrasound, I found out I had twins. My boyfriend refused to talk further about the pregnancy. I tried to reason with him and his mother and asked them both how they could give up on me now knowing it was twins. They did not want to support me, and I even had to start moving my stuff out of the apartment and sleeping in my car in the parking lot for several days. This was so distressing that I had to go back and talk to someone at JMJ for guidance.
The advisors, Sharon and Margarita, told me they could connect me with some local resources for housing and other assistance, they were so positive. Even though I was working a full-time job, I knew I could not continue sleeping in my car being pregnant, and I didn’t have enough money to get started. I bounced from my car to my aunt and uncle’s house, who could only put me up for a short time. I tried several maternity shelters, but they were all way out of town and on waiting lists. I could not afford to be away from my job knowing the twins were on the way. Immediately, JMJ reached out to Catholic Charities to help me find stable housing, and they offered me several options for transitioning. JMJ also partnered with Bishop Moore Catholic High School and had a surprise baby shower for me and the twins. I felt like a princess that day.
When my boys were delivered, I was told they had to stay in the NICU until their weight and oxygen levels stabilized. It was the longest 4 weeks of my life, and it was killing me not to be able to bring them “home.” When I asked for prayers from JMJ, they sent me messages each day to follow up on how the boys were doing and if I needed anything. We continued to exchange pictures from the NICU and prayers from JMJ. Once the babies were healthy enough to be discharged, we sent JMJ a big smiley thank-you picture for all the prayers because they were feeling better and finally going “home.” I look at these babies every day and think they are my everything, literally, and I’m so thankful for them! I know I am going to struggle for a while to get back on my feet, but my life, my boys, Jeremiah and Josiah, we are so much stronger now because of all you’ve done for us, thank you.
So Grateful,
Julisa
The advisors, Sharon and Margarita, told me they could connect me with some local resources for housing and other assistance, they were so positive. Even though I was working a full-time job, I knew I could not continue sleeping in my car being pregnant, and I didn’t have enough money to get started. I bounced from my car to my aunt and uncle’s house, who could only put me up for a short time. I tried several maternity shelters, but they were all way out of town and on waiting lists. I could not afford to be away from my job knowing the twins were on the way. Immediately, JMJ reached out to Catholic Charities to help me find stable housing, and they offered me several options for transitioning. JMJ also partnered with Bishop Moore Catholic High School and had a surprise baby shower for me and the twins. I felt like a princess that day.
When my boys were delivered, I was told they had to stay in the NICU until their weight and oxygen levels stabilized. It was the longest 4 weeks of my life, and it was killing me not to be able to bring them “home.” When I asked for prayers from JMJ, they sent me messages each day to follow up on how the boys were doing and if I needed anything. We continued to exchange pictures from the NICU and prayers from JMJ. Once the babies were healthy enough to be discharged, we sent JMJ a big smiley thank-you picture for all the prayers because they were feeling better and finally going “home.” I look at these babies every day and think they are my everything, literally, and I’m so thankful for them! I know I am going to struggle for a while to get back on my feet, but my life, my boys, Jeremiah and Josiah, we are so much stronger now because of all you’ve done for us, thank you.
So Grateful,
Julisa
