East Central Reporter

The Family Life Center in Effingham and HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital collaborated with St. Anthony High School for their annual "Window to the Womb" event. This program allows students to view the development of a baby in the womb with real-time ultrasounds.

During the event, held at the Family Life Center, ultrasound technologists from the center and HSHS St. Anthony’s guided students in the ultrasound process. Students accompanied a volunteer mother while viewing her unborn baby, learning about various body structures as highlighted on the ultrasound screen. This included the baby’s beating heart. Students were also shown fetal models to better understand fetal development.

After participating, students shared their thoughts. Noah Jansen reflected: "Getting the chance to experience this event is very special. It makes me understand the value of life more and more as I actually see the baby moving around in the womb... 'Within the womb, women carry not just life, but the future of humanity; every generation begins here.'"

Chloe Kincaid was impressed, saying, "After seeing the ultrasound of a 23-week-old baby, it just mesmerized me... They passed around a silicone baby that was the size of a 20-week-old baby and it really put things into perspective for me how big the child really is."

As part of the event, students toured the Family Life Center with RN Helen Knicley and attended a presentation by Executive Director Mary Hovis. The presentation detailed the center's services to those facing pregnancy and parenting challenges. Students noted the tour enhanced their experience.

Jackson Schultz commented on the resources: "They have classes to teach them how to become the best dad they can be, and the same for the moms. They have personal sessions and multiple-person classes... Everything that they do here is free."

Alec Hakman highlighted the support available: "The Family Life Center gives those parents the reassurance and resources they need to overcome that fear... what stood out to me the most was the way the Family Life Center grows a connection not just between parents and their unborn child, but also between faith and friendship that will lead to a successful parenthood."

Mary Hovis discussed with students their potential role as “first responders” for peers facing crisis pregnancies. She emphasized the importance of informing women about their options when considering an abortion.

St. Anthony High School students participating in this event are currently studying morality, specifically respect for human dignity, as part of their junior religion classes. Greg Fearday, Principal of St. Anthony High School, remarked on the meaningfulness of the event: "The biology of a human life in the womb is obvious through study, which can be done in a textbook, but it’s very impactful when we can connect that fact to a real experience."