In February 2020, at the last Light of Hope Gala, supporters prayed that the Holy Spirit would inspire a pro-life physician to join the team. God heard and answered immediately. Not with one pro-life physician but two. The team now consists of two family medicine physicians: Dr. Mariana Giron, Dr. Jonathan Keenan, and our women’s health nurse practitioner Angela Bumpus.

“In 2018, long before we could afford a doctor on staff, I met Dr. Mariana at the Catholic Medical Association conference in Texas. She was in her final year of residency. She shared that her husband Brooks and she had been married right here in Clearwater at St. Cecilia’s and it was their dream to someday move to Tampa Bay. We touched base occasionally over the years, but I suspected we would cross paths again. It was exactly a month after our last gala, Dr. Mariana called me and asked if there was a possibility of her joining our team. It was such an exciting conversation!! I have always tried to listen to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit, no matter how terrifying. Even though the pandemic had just started, and I didn’t see how we could afford her, the Holy Spirit said, “Take a leap of faith!” All of our board members agreed. She was perfect - more than what we prayed for. She was a family medicine physician who completed an ob fellowship. While she was still in residency, she trained in natural fertility care. And she even spoke Spanish!! God always hears our prayers and will give us more than what we prayed for. He always answers!” Stooks added.

Dr. Mariana Giron and Sr. Dede Byrne, MD were keynotes at the gala sharing with the attendees: “The last two-and-half years of Covid, and all the devastation in its wake is undoubtedly one of the most trying periods any of us will have to endure. And yet God brings blessings out of suffering. Who thought we’d have to go through a pandemic in our lifetime? And who thought we would ever see the end of Roe-v-Wade? It’s the same story at LifeChoices. We’ve had our challenges these last two years, but our clinic has grown beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. God continues to expand our medical services so we can serve patients with the life-affirming, dignified care they deserve.

Since the beginning, we have fought a culture fixated on destroying life, families, and pro-life medical providers. This culture is working harder than ever to force medical practitioners to provide destructive services, including abortions and gender-altering procedures. It is now standard procedure for family medicine docs, ob/gyns, and even pediatricians, to provide birth control that alters God’s perfect plan for a woman’s body. Companies nationwide are coerced to cut paid-parental-leave benefits to prioritize and subsidize abortion over family. Satan is doing his best to destroy us by attacking the family.”

But despite this great battle, LifeChoices Family Medical refuses to provide these services. They have saved and accompany countless babies and families in the battle of life.

These last two years, despite the pandemic, has been a marvelous adventure creating:

• A clinic that does follow Catholic teaching on women and family life,
• A clinic that provides women with the opportunity of saving their babies through the abortion pill reversal medical protocol,
• A clinic that provides women a natural way to manage their fertility and the complications of gynecological conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome.
• A clinic that helps couples to conceive naturally without IVF or other unnatural means.
• A clinic that welcomes children regardless of their immunization status. We respect parents’ decision to follow an alternative schedule or not to give certain vaccines. Many of you have already encountered where your pediatrician is no longer allowing you to stay with them if you don’t vaccinate or want an alternative schedule.

LifeChoices Family Medical created a model of care that upholds the dignity of the human person through all stages of life. A way that empowers women, welcomes children, and enriches families. They are fast approaching 10,000 patients whom they have served. Right now, they care for the most vulnerable of our community with abortion pill reversals, unplanned pregnancy care, fertility support, and other life-affirming care. But they cannot accept all patients seeking care due to our lack of space and the need for more medical providers and team members.

LifeChoices has become THE flagship clinic in the United States for Catholic Primary Care and Women’s Health. Be assured, in a post-Roe world, LifeChoices serves as the infrastructure desperately needed for families wanting life-affirming care for all ages and stages of their lives. We hope you will walk with us in these next steps toward building a model that will inspire others. We need your prayers and your financial support.

For more information and to become a patient yourself, go to website: www.LifeChoicesMedical.com. LifeChoices Family Medical is located at 18560 North Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz in the Chateau Professional Park near Cheval and across the street from Idlewild Baptist Church.