Carol’s Story
“I felt that I had no other choice”
When Carol found out that she was pregnant she felt that she couldn’t keep the baby because she was homeless and without support from anyone. It wasn’t safe for her to take the abortion pill because of her low iron levels and she was told to come in again soon. She was homeless, hungry and even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to go through with the abortion she felt she has no other choice.
“They were there for me no matter what”
When she found out about Gianna Care and met with our volunteers she was directed to a hostel for homeless women and was provided all the emotional and physical support she needed to continue with her pregnancy. She was designated a client support worker who met her each week and accompanied her to various meetings and information centres to help her improve her situation. She was considering adoption as she had nowhere to live with the baby but her social worker in the maternity hospital informed her that a place would be found for her to live with the baby.
When the time came for baby Thomas to be born, Carol’s client support worker stayed overnight with her in the hospital throughout labour and delivery supporting and encouraging her on. Gianna Care volunteers from another county were on standby ready to take her and her baby for Christmas if the hospital had no place for them to go. A week later they were offered a room in a hub in Dublin. Both Carol and her baby are doing quite well and will continue to receive from Gianna Care all the necessary support they need to live and improve their situation.
From the minute I went in I was at ease, I felt completely relaxed and no judgement and not under any pressure at all to make a decision. Gianna Care helped me out both financially and just having someone to talk to all of the time.
