Heart
A Program of the Eve Center

Welcome

Helping & Educating in Abortion Related Trauma

"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." John 8:32

Welcome to H.E.A.R.T.

Whether you found us by accident or were sincerely looking for assistance, please know we are here to help. Personally, we don’t believe in accidents. If you found us, there is a reason. You may want someone safe with whom to share. You may feel a little overwhelmed or scared by finding this site, or really angry that someone is talking about abortion again.

That’s okay. We accept you where you are. We are a safe place and have been for many women. We’ve been contacted by women who have had one procedure, several abortions, mid and late term abortions, abortions for fetal problems, abortions of twins, forced abortion, abortion due to rape or incest, and the list continues. Each situation, like each woman, is unique. All these women had questions. While their stories differ on how they came to have an abortion, they all have something in common. They want the memories and pain to stop. Many are tired of battling. Years of emotional control can take their toll. Are you tired too?

We aren't here to judge, but listen. We aren’t here to push, but care. We aren’t here to tell you what to do, but hope you will do something.

The women in the Heart program can be a resource and encouragement to you. If you are in the Greater Cincinnati area you may contact us directly for educational information as well as what services we provide.

Here are several ways to get in touch with us:

1.Telephone the Eve Center (513-985-9959) and ask for someone in the Heart program to telephone you. This way no one knows except the women of Heart whether you desire information for yourself or for your understanding of this topic.

or

2.Send an email to heart@evecenter.org. Again, only the Heart program coordinator gets these emails. It does not go into the general email of the Eve Center.

If you do not feel comfortable contacting us directly, but want to know if there is a support group in your area, call 1-949-679-9276 or on the web: www.abortionrecovery.org.

If you are pregnant and need information call 1-800-395-HELP or go to www.optionline.org.

Now that you have the information it’s up to you. Below is a prayer. Whether you have an active faith with God or not, we encourage you to pray this prayer out loud or take a moment to pray from your heart. Prayer can and does change things even when we don’t see or feel anything at the time. God bless you and keep you.

Jaclyn, Heart Program Coordinator
Sharon, Allison, Carla, Barb, Sheli, Lana, Cinny – group leaders

A HEART Prayer

     Dear Lord, I come to you asking for help as I search for healing and truth about my abortion(s). I know an opportunity to receive healing is being presented to me. Help me to reach out to those who will understand me and help me to understand myself and what I’m experiencing. Put the right people before me so that I can truly be set free. I need more than just a band-aid, I need deep, lasting healing. Give me courage to find the help I need. Take my fear and turn it to boldness. Take my pride and turn it in to a humble heart willing to be reached. Help me to trust and not give in to shame. Regardless of what our relationship has been in the past, Lord, I ask that you now come into my life and help me start fresh and new. In Jesus Name, Amen

"So if the Son shall set you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

A special message to post-abortive women from Jaclyn, Sharon, Allison, Carla, Cinny, Sheli, Lana and Barb . . .

Since you found us on the web,

Heart
A Program of the Eve Center

Post Abortion Distress
Does 'it' bother you?

Below are some questions for you to consider. Abortion can be a life long struggle of painful memories for many women. For others, abortion is an occasional depressing thought, to be quickly buried. Which are you?

As you read these questions, answer them honestly. It may surprise you to know that most women do not search for answers until 10 to 15 years after the procedure.  For some, it can be 20, 30, or 40 years after. The point is: abortion doesn't go away, but there are answers and hope.

• When abortion is mentioned, does your body react physically? Do you avoid talking or reading about abortion?
• Have you noticed yourself struggling to turn off feelings connected to your abortion?
• Do you have difficulty toward God? Have you had trouble accepting His forgiveness or forgiving yourself?
• Have the relationships with the people that were involved in your abortion decision been affected?
• Do you feel ashamed or secretive about your abortion? Has your self-esteem changed? 
• Are there times you're depressed, sick, or accident prone, such as the anniversary date of the abortion or the expected time of the birth?
• Do you suppress thoughts about what your baby's sex, name, physical features might be?
• Do you feel rage or anger when people talk about abortion, especially if they are against it?
• Are you asking yourself "Was it a baby?"  

If you answered yes to any of the questions listed, then get in touch with us (513.985.9959 or heart@evecenter.org).  Maybe for you, abortion is "unfinished business." Something has stayed with you all these years and no matter how hard you try to push it away, it keeps coming back.

The truth is, abortion has affected your life, perhaps in areas you haven't considered. We provide a safe, nonjudgmental, and confidential setting for women to truly be set free from the shame, anger, grief, depression, and guilt of abortion. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be rid of these feelings? To never have abortion haunt you again? Others have called. They've found answers and freedom from the memories of abortion.

Heart
A Program of the Eve Center

Services

The Heart program of the Eve Center offers:

A Women's Bible Study and Support Group Program - This program uses a workbook written by a woman who had four abortions and designed for women who've experienced spiritual and emotional distress from abortion. A small group gathers once a week for approximately 10 weeks to work on:

• The pregnancies
• Abortion decisions
• Guilt
• Anger
• Forgiveness
• Depression
• Acceptance
• Freedom
• Where is God in all this

As the program progresses, women find answers, encouragement, and hope. Through the support of the program leaders and other group members, women find they're not alone in the feelings they've experienced. This program is lead by women for women, and is conducted in a completely confidential setting. If you would like additional information, or want to know when our next women's group is scheduled to begin, please contact us (513.985.9959 or heart@evecenter.org)

One to one peer counseling - Using the same workbook as for the groups, (see above), a peer counselor of the Eve Center, trained by Heart, will meet with you.

Heart
A Program of the Eve Center

Resources

Here are several resources that may prove useful if you are:

• Doing research for school or college
• Desiring to understand this topic
• Searching for further information as you decide whether to contact the Heart program
• Looking for information for a friend and loved one struggling with whether to get an abortion or not

Web

• www.afterabortion.org
• www.abortionrecovery.org
• www.optionline.org
• www.abortionrecoverycounseling.org
• www.victimsofchoice.com
• www.postabortionhelp.org
• www.ramahinternational.org
• www.saveone.org

Books

• Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion by Theresa Burke with David C. Reardon
• Help for the Post-Abortive Woman by Teri K. Reisser & Paul Reisser
• Her Choice to Heal: Finding Spiritual and Emotional Peace After Abortion by Sydna Masse & Joan Phillips
• The Jericho Plan: Breaking Down the Walls Which Prevent Post Abortion Healing by David C. Reardon
• Men and Abortion: A Path to Healing by Dr. C.T. Coyle
• Pastoral Care for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Healing the Shattered Soul by Dalene Fuller Rogers
• A Season to Heal: Help and Hope for Those Working Through Post-Abortion Stress by Luci Freed and Penny Salazar
• A Solitary Sorrow by Teri K. Reisser & Paul Reisser
• A Time to Speak: A Healing Journal for Post-Abortive Women by Yvonne Florczak-Seeman
• Victims and Victors: Speaking Out About Their Pregnancies, Abortions and Children Resulting from Sexual Assault by Various Authors

Heart
A Program of the Eve Center

Sisterhood

H.E.A.R.T., Inc., the origin of the Heart program at the Eve Center was founded by Rose Diemler Knape. What she wrote in the 1990’s is as accurate today as then:

“I have had the unique privilege of working with hundreds of women who’ve had an abortion. I started this outreach in an effort to help a special group of people who are very large in numbers, but very ignored by most in our society. I know the needs of post-abortion healing is growing and the tide is turning.

More women, men, grandparents, siblings, extended family, friends, professionals, and lay workers are surfacing in an effort to understand what they can do about post-abortion pain. A metamorphosis is occurring. The day will come, soon I hope, when those who’ve experienced abortion pain will be validated. Some post-abortive women are led to believe their pain is not a direct result of their abortion experience, but rather from past traumas. Women of faith often believe if they pray for forgiveness all their pain will disappear. Neither is completely accurate. While some events before an abortion may cause emotional scars, the abortion itself is identified as the DIRECT result of specific traumas by many women.

Additionally, women of faith need to realize abortion is more than forgiveness. There are many other areas which need to be addressed such as shame, anger, and grief. If forgiveness is the only focus for healing, then a woman will continue to struggle. She may pray again and again for forgiveness, but never feel the peace she is seeking. An abortion decision is not made in a vacuum and forgiveness is only a part of the healing process.

Many people have strong feelings about abortion as an issue. As an outreach, we do not intend to debate abortion. We would rather recognize that, regardless of what a person’s view is on abortion, there are many people, especially women, who do suffer emotional trauma directly related to their abortion experience. Abortion is not pleasant, and for some, it can be a crippling event. Most women can function, but not without the classic "limp" that prevents them from living full lives. For these women abortion is a dark shadow from the past. Shame and intense anger constantly rear their ugly heads. Many woman use tremendous amounts of physical and emotional energy to keep these and other strong emotions hidden and under control.

This is not to say every woman experiences emotional trauma from abortion, but for those who do, can we really deny them? No one has the right to tell a woman that her trauma isn’t real or originates from prior experiences. This is especially evident when political or personal views on abortion block rational thinking. Disregarding a woman, because she experiences emotional trauma from abortion, is censorship, bigotry, and denial at its worst.  You may not agree, even if you’ve had an abortion, but the fact remains: THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE EMOTIONALLY SCARRED DIRECTLY FROM THEIR ABORTION EXPERIENCE. No amount of denying, ignoring, or cajoling will change that fact. In addition, time will not make abortion pain disappear. The opposite seems to be evident."

There is a sister-hood of women that is growing, one that has been slow to find its voice, but will not be silenced. We hope you will become sensitive and educated to the realities of abortion pain through our web site” (and additional informative links).

Rose Diemler
Founder of H.E.A.R.T., Inc.

Affirmed by the Advisory Board of the Eve Center, and the leaders of the Heart program

We are incredibly proud of you. Taking this step to even ‘look’ at what has happened or is being held out to you as an ‘option’ that is abortion, shows a sense of strength in you. Every woman has the right to all information about this subject. So if you would like to talk to someone who knows, who has been there – had an abortion, and can feel the churning emotions with you, we are that place. We stay by you on the roller coaster of contemplating what happened, how it may have impacted you and how to move ahead. We know – we’ve been that wounded woman, but no longer do our abortions make us feel forever as failures. We are forgiven and set free!

Cinny Roy, Eve Center Director

Center for Women’s Ministries, Inc, Regional Director

Sandy Morgenthal, M.Ed., RN, LPCC
Director, Creative Counseling Center, Inc.

"There is nothing else anywhere available that is more effective for healing from the trauma of abortion than the Heart program! By committing to this program you will have the opportunity to be transformed by 'God's Grace' in the company of very compassionate, loving women. After experiencing an abortion myself, the Heart group allowed me to be 'raised from the dead.' I am forever thankful for this experience!"

Terri

"The Heart program is precious to my heart! I helped Rose in the beginning and it was clear from her vision that God was going to use this ministry in a mighty way. I will never forget the first group. It was so awesome to see God moving in the hearts and minds of those precious women as they learned the truths of God's Word, felt His love and forgiveness and began to experience the freedom they need in order to be set free from the bondage of their past. I still use those skills today as I continue in post abortion counseling at my church."

 Vicki Seabold
Faith for Life Director
Faith Church, Milford, Ohio

"My experience with the HEART program was more than I ever thought it would be. God gently moved in me to take down my protective walls and examine my experience and trust Him for clarity, release and healing. The cool thing was I didn't even know He was doing that until it was all over and I could look back at it.
The leaders of the group and the bible study "Forgiven and Set Free" really helped me learn how God feels about created life, forgiveness and lost children now in heaven. It also helped me learn about the psychological effects such a traumatic experience can have and not even know it. Effects that can snowball into many other areas of life and have negative effects through out if left unexamined and unhealed. I am grateful for God leading me to HEART and where he has led me since then." 

S

“Eve Center is a safe place to share deep in the heart feelings that many women can not release. Most of us come with such mistrust and confusion; we’re not really sure what it’s all about. Through our Lord’s help, Eve Center demonstrates how sharing and praying can heal a broken heart.”