Pregnancy Decision Health Centers (PDHC) has a rich history in central Ohio and its Celebration for Life Galas in September offer an opportunity to learn more about what is happening this year and the impact its work is having in the community.
PDHC’s Celebration for Life Gala in Lancaster is set for Thursday, Sept. 12 at The Tree Church starting at 7 p.m. with Dr. Anthony Levatino, a former abortion provider, as the featured speaker.
In Columbus, the Celebration of Life Gala at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 at Villa Milano will feature David Bereit, an author and former CEO of 40 Days for Life.
Both speakers will provide insights into the next steps for the pro-life movement.
In addition, a PDHC client will be on hand with her husband and baby daughter to share a successful abortion pill reversal story through PDHC. The couple will also recount their journey through healing after their abortion experience.
PDHC founders Mike and Peggy Hartshorn got involved in the pro-life movement after the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade on January 22, 1973. With the support of their Catholic friends and other passionate, pro-life Christians, they envisioned the first pregnancy help center in Columbus.
PDHC opened its first center in German Village, known as the Pregnancy Distress Center, on the eighth anniversary of Roe v. Wade, on January 22, 1981. Before the center opened, Mike and Peggy answered calls on an established 24/7 crisis hotline from a bedside phone and welcomed single pregnant moms who needed help into their home.
In 1998, Pregnancy Distress Center changed its name to today’s Pregnancy Decision Health Centers. PDHC now operates four pregnancy resource centers and continues the 24/7 hotline.
Since 1981, PDHC has continued to grow and expand programs and services to further meet the needs of women and families in the community.
In 1984, PDHC was the first pregnancy center to receive a grant for abstinence education and initiated its prevention program for sexual risk avoidance and character development education known as Common Sense Culture (CSC). CSC is one of nine collaborating nonprofit organizations in the state with the Ohio Adolescent Health Centers Project (OAHCP) providing healthy choices education to students in middle and high schools.
“The Common Sense Culture Program is one we have been using for many years,” a high school teacher said. “It is a great resource that gives teenagers an opportunity to look at their own relationships and future relationships.
“What do these relationships look like 5-10-20 years from now based on the habits they currently have? This program really gets them to think. I enjoy how (the program) gets students to realize how important self-love is when it comes to the many topics discussed in this program.”
A participating high school student said, “I’ve learned a lot through these past few days. I appreciate you so much and will apply what you taught us to life.”
In 1989, PDHC was the first pregnancy center to add after-abortion support programs and services. PDHC provides hope and healing to women and men struggling from a past abortion experience through a 24/7 CareLine that receives calls or texts at 614-721-2010, consultations, drop-in connection meetings, six- and eight-week study groups, weekend retreats and linkage to a community for ongoing support.
“I found this retreat to be extremely helpful with my healing process,” a female retreat participant told PDHC. “Before this, I had no idea how to heal and was trying to suppress my feelings. I felt like I didn’t deserve to feel sad about my decision. I now know that’s not true at all.
“This retreat has brought me closer to God as well and I’m very thankful for all of the grace I’ve been shown by others this past weekend as well as immense support.”
A male retreatant shared, “The retreat was Christ-centered, Spirit-guided, safe, welcoming, and caring, I felt valued and important. It was well-staffed. I felt well-loved. It was purposeful and targeted. It was gentle and nurturing. It was a beautiful conduit for Christ to move.”
In 1995, PDHC was the fifth pregnancy center in the United States to add ultrasound services. The impact of seeing and hearing a precious baby’s heartbeat on an ultrasound is undeniable. It gives moms an opportunity to see the beauty and reality of life growing within them and begin bonding with their babies.
At PDHC, more than 90 percent of moms who are at risk for abortion who see their baby’s heartbeat on the ultrasound choose life.
“I came to PDHC in tears. I knew I was pregnant. I just lost my job, broke up with my boyfriend, and it seemed like my life was going in the wrong direction,” a PDHC mother who gave birth to a baby girl in April said. “The staff at PDHC gave me all the resources possible. I am really blessed to have come here. PDHC helped me with everything for my daughter, clothes, car seat, crib.
"When I felt defeated as a mom and as a woman, God led me to their office. I am forever grateful to PDHC and the staff.”
In the fall of 2019, PDHC joined Heartbeat International’s Abortion Pill Rescue Network (APRN) and began providing Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) Services to navigate the ever-changing landscape of abortion.
In Franklin County, at least 87 percent of abortions are now chemical abortions via the abortion pill. Individuals can order the pill online and have it delivered to their doorstep and initiate a self-managed abortion at home with no medical intervention services.
PDHC has been able to successfully help many women reverse their abortion decisions through APR and healthy babies have been born.
In 2020, PDHC opened the Family Empowerment Center due to the growing need for additional parenting education classes and material aid support for new moms, dads and families. Last year, this program provided over 14,000 in-person and online classes, over 2,200 material aid visits for baby items and practical support and distributed over 121,000 diapers.
“Our staff and volunteers are truly a reflection of being the hands and feet of Christ every day at PDHC,” PDHC president Kathy Scanlon said. “PDHC is rescuing lives and impacting generations, one heartbeat at a time.”
For more information and to register for the galas, go to SupportLifePDHC.org.
