A Beautiful Prenatal Journey

A Mother’s Perspective

Earlier this month, we shared the story of Samantha’s prenatal journey. When Erica, Samantha’s mother, learned her daughter was pregnant, she knew her journey would require more than medical care; it would require compassion. We want to share how a family-centered approach to care led Erica to tell her daughter about NeighborHealth Center. Here is Erica’s perspective on their experience and the care Samantha received through NeighborHealth.

Samantha’s mother, Erica, knew NeighborHealth Center well even before her daughter became pregnant. Working professionally in the child welfare advocacy space, Erica had previously visited the clinic and had experience making referrals to the prenatal program. When she learned her daughter was pregnant, Erica knew NeighborHealth Center could offer the care and compassion they would all need to navigate an unplanned pregnancy.

“There were really three driving factors that led me to encourage Samantha to choose NeighborHealth Center for her prenatal care. First, I knew they provided exceptional medical care, and I wanted nothing but the best for her and my future grandchild. I also knew that care would be delivered with the sensitivity and understanding that we’d be unlikely to find anywhere else. Finally, I was comforted in knowing that, if needed, NeighborHealth had teams who could care for both Zoey and Samantha after delivery.” —Erica, Samantha’s mother

When Samantha first walked through our doors, she was anxious and unsure. But under the gentle guidance of our prenatal team, Erica watched her daughter blossom—gaining confidence, finding her voice, and embracing motherhood with courage.

“Watching Samantha grow through this experience was such a beautiful thing to see,” Erica shares. “It’s clear that NeighborHealth gave her a safe space to be vulnerable and let her guard down—and through that experience, she gained the maturity she needed to transition into motherhood with new skills and confidence. They helped her prepare physically, mentally and emotionally for the delivery—and made sure that both mom and baby stayed healthy through every step of the pregnancy.”

Erica became a grandmother to Zoey in April, and she is incredibly grateful to NeighborHealth for supporting her daughter, Samantha, through a safe and supportive pregnancy.

“Because we had private insurance, Samantha could have gone anywhere for prenatal care, but I’m so glad we chose NeighborHealth Center. I don’t think there’s another team that could have supported Samantha any better through this journey.”

Erica and Samantha’s journey exemplify NeighborHealth’s commitment to caring for every prenatal patient with compassion—regardless of their income, background, or circumstances. Yet, as our community grows, so too do the number of women who need high-quality prenatal care. This year, we expect to serve hundreds of prenatal patients—many of whom lack insurance and are facing challenges most of us can’t imagine.

NeighborHealth is here for them—but we can’t do it alone. Your support makes it possible to deliver compassionate care to women who need it most. Please consider making a gift today at neighborhealthcenter.org/donate. Together, we can help more mothers experience the joy, dignity, and love that every new life deserves. 

If you have already made your contribution for the year, we want to sincerely thank you for ensuring that people in need of compassionate care—such as that received by Samantha—are able to access excellent medical care from NeighborHealth. Your support makes it possible for us to provide accessible, compassionate, and excellent health care for all. Thank you.

With gratitude,

Daniel Lipparelli, MBA
Chief Executive Officer

P.S. Make Twice the Impact Today—Thanks to a generous sponsor, your new or increased gift will be matched dollar for dollar (up to $30,000) to support the health of your neighbors. Make your gift by December 31 to help us fulfill this match—and transform the health and lives of the patients we serve.