04/27/2024
At our 50th Anniversary Celebration, on May 5th 2022, we were honored to hear Lise Strobel as she shared her life story. Wow… so very inspirational. Thank you Lise for choosing life and thank you for sharing your story with Birthright.
Below is Lise’s recap on her Facebook post on May 7th.
“My heart is overwhelmed. Tears of joy and a heart full of gratitude comes in waves. I can't find the words today, or yesterday, so, I'm just going to repost the 3 shares that explain the special time we had 2 nights ago from my 2 beautiful birth children and my birth son's mother. As I shared our story, I was met by so many huge smiles and happy tears throughout the crowd. Many came up afterward to share the joy and hope it inspired in them, and the honor they felt from having been a part of our story (and so many others). One of the servers came out to hug me in tears, thanking me for encouraging her in her own challenges. All I can say is that God will take our most profound challenges, our deepest fears and multitude of tears, and do what only He can do – Redeem and Restore our lives and Bring Treasure out of the things we entrust to Him. Romans 8:28
My Birth Son’s Mother:
Last night was a very special night. We celebrated “50” years of Birthright in Topeka. Over 120 of our volunteers and their guests attended. A very nice meal was served and we had a very special speaker. I had asked my Son’s Birth Mother if she would speak on her experience of making the decision to adopt her son and also her daughter out when she found out she was in a unplanned pregnancy. She gladly accepted, and her daughter, Abby even flew in from North Caroline to surprise Kevin so both were there to be a big part in this incredible story. Lise indeed is a beautiful person and the beautiful story she shared was very inspiring. Thank you Kevin, Lise and Abby for making this night so special. I love you all.
Kevin:
I consider myself so blessed to have these two strong, caring, determined, and loving women in my life! My mom invited my biological mom to speak at a dinner to celebrate 50 years for the Birthright organization and share some of her life experiences and she gladly agreed. Add in a surprise visit across the country from my long lost (outrageously hilarious) sister and you get a truly inspiring event and an evening I will never forget.
Life sometimes throws things at us we are simply not prepared for. How we react to them shapes us and how we grow from them defines us.
Abby:
50 years ago, a pregnancy center called Birthright was opened with the goal of helping women in unplanned pregnancies navigate their situation with grace, compassion and kindness. A little more than 42 years ago, a young woman walked into a Birthright. She was heartbroken, alone and scared. A volunteer held her hand as she anxiously awaited the results of her pregnancy test. Two nights ago, I got to stand in front of a room full of Birthright volunteers and thank them. That young woman was my birth mother and the baby she was pregnant with, was me. In what was one of the most deeply profound moments of my life, I got to sit next to my biological brother (who was also put up for adoption) and hold his hand as our birth mother told our stories. I got to thank a room full of people who have spent countless, likely thankless, hours being a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold, a compassionate listener for so many young women. I got to thank them for believing I mattered. For believing that my life had value. I wasn’t planned, but there were plans for my life. I am so grateful!
