1,000 ultrasound machines encourage moms to keep their babies
NEW HAVEN – The Knights of Columbus (K of C) demonstrated its commitment to the defense of life with a major milestone in its signature ultrasound donation program.
Marking the donation of its 1,000th ultrasound machine in Manassas, Va., this week, the Knights estimate that the machines have contributed to saving hundreds of thousands of lives by helping mothers see their unborn child.
Knights-donated machines are at work in all 50 U.S. states as well as in Puerto Rico, Brazil, Canada, Jamaica, Peru, and Africa. The Knights calculate that if the images produced by each machine prompts four women per week to decide against the termination of their pregnancies, the program will help spare one million lives.
“The ultrasound initiative is the Knights’ greatest humanitarian effort,” said Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson. “No other program we have has saved as many lives.
“On this day we observe an historic milestone, and I am grateful for the collective efforts of our Knights to help achieve this monumental goal. We look forward to reaching many more milestones as we continue to strive to save the lives of vulnerable unborn children.”
The 1,000th machine was presented to the Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic, which is operated by Catholic Charities under the Diocese of Arlington.
Since 2009, Knights at the state and local levels have partnered with the K of C’s headquarters or, Supreme Council, in New Haven, Conn., to fund ultrasound machines for use by pregnancy care centers.
Anderson called for the Knights to reach the goal of 1,000 units by this year, the tenth anniversary of the program’s founding.
In urging members to do so, Anderson often recounts a conversation he had in 2017 during the dedication of one of the pro-life pregnancy centers. A nurse practitioner told him that the first woman to use the new machine said her mind was already made up in favor of abortion.
“But then, as she watched the ultrasound,” recalled Anderson, “her baby turned and seemed to wave to her. She looked up at the nurse and said, ‘I’m going to keep my baby.’”
About the Ultrasound Initiative: The ultrasound initiative began in 2009 with the goal of placing ultrasound machines in pregnancy resource centers/clinics and mobile medical units. Knights in local councils raise half the expense of an ultrasound machine through a variety of efforts. Then the K of C Supreme Council’s Culture of Life Fund matches those funds to contribute to the purchase of machines for qualified pro-life centers. There is at least one Knights-sponsored machine in every U.S. state, as well as Puerto Rico, Brazil, Canada, Jamaica, Peru, and Africa.