By Pat Centner , AFA Journal staff writer
May 2002 – When Sarah* first visited the LivingWell Medical Clinic in Orange County, California, she was desperately seeking a way to avoid an abortion. Through anguish and tears, she told clinic physician Dr. Geeta Swamidass (“Dr. Geeta”) about her unplanned pregnancy and the fact that her husband John* was extremely upset.
She explained that they were experiencing severe financial struggles and John was adamant that they could not afford another child. The couple already had an eight-month-old baby girl and Sarah was a full-time student working toward a master’s degree. Those financial challenges, in addition to many other debts, had convinced John that their only solution was for Sarah to abort the baby she was carrying.
“Sarah really wanted to please her husband, and to obey him,” says Dr. Geeta. “But she did not want to go through an abortion.”
Fortunately, Sarah’s search for help had resulted in her friend Wendy* telling her about the LivingWell clinic. Wendy was also a friend of Dr. Swamidass and knew about the clinic’s mission to offer alternatives to women facing unplanned pregnancies and possible abortion. It was Wendy’s encouragement that had prompted Sarah’s initial visit to the clinic.
“Since Sarah said one of her deepest concerns was pleasing John,” comments Dr. Geeta, “I suggested she bring him into our clinic. That would give him the opportunity to talk with us and to see the compassion and quality of care we offer.”
Sarah did bring John in, and while they were there, the couple listened to their baby’s heartbeat. Moved to tears at hearing the unmistakable signs of life, Sarah was even more convinced that she did not want to have an abortion. But John, while expressing his understanding of Sarah’s feelings, stood firm on his conviction that abortion was their only alternative.
“They left, and I thought that was the end of it,” confesses Dr. Geeta. “But two weeks later Sarah called and said, ‘I’m coming back in.’ I was surprised, and asked her what had happened. She explained that she’d decided to honor John’s wishes, and the two of them had gone to an abortion clinic. However, once they got there and experienced the coldness – both in atmosphere and attitudes – he told her, ‘I can’t let you go through this.’”
Sarah was deeply relieved, and although John was still not happy about the pregnancy, she was grateful that he was at least willing for her to become a patient at LivingWell. The subsequent months proved to be a roller coaster of struggle and triumph, more struggle and tremendous blessing for this young woman.
The staff at LivingWell worked closely with Sarah, providing prenatal checkups, counseling and, most importantly, emotional support. They also supplied Sarah with maternity clothes, baby clothes, diapers and numerous other items needed for raising a child.
Because of their ongoing financial needs, the couple also received counseling and budgeting education. Dr. Geeta says it has been “tough going” for the marriage because of all the obstacles Sarah and John have encountered. They were very young (17 and 18 respectively) when they married, and LivingWell is trying to help them work through some of their differences.
“In spite of the struggles, there have also been some wonderful positives,” reflects Dr. Geeta. “Sarah continued to go to school all through the pregnancy, even with the financial turmoil and other problems at home. She is determined to get her master’s, which I greatly admire in her.”
Also, exults Dr. Geeta, two beautiful miracles have taken place in Sarah’s life since she first came in contact with LivingWell. The love and support she has received from the clinic staff, her friends and the church have all had a very positive impact on her life.
“While she was pregnant, Sarah would come to our home with Wendy to pal around with our kids,” continues Dr. Geeta. “Naturally, we invited her to church, and she began to attend. Her little boy was born in late September, and this sweet miracle affirmed her decision for life. Despite her heavy class load and two little ones to raise, she continued going to church, taking her babies along, even though her husband didn’t go.”
A second miracle was soon to take place in Sarah’s life. During the pregnancy, several people had talked to her about the Lord. “When a person is in such great emotional and physical need, it’s easy to also talk to them about their spiritual need and the fact that God can meet that need if they will only submit their life to Him,” reflects Dr. Geeta.
Through the love and counsel of people who care for her, Sarah came to recognize how God had helped her through her pregnancy as well as providing for her material needs. More significantly, she came to realize her need for Him.
“Sarah was more than ready to turn her life over to Christ,” says Dr. Geeta. And God mercifully allowed that to happen. As a result, today in Orange County, California, a sweet baby boy who was given the precious gift of life is cherished and adored by his mother, who was given the incomparable gift of new life in Christ. 
*Names changed to protect privacy.
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God's perfect plan for life
The life of Geeta Swamidass, M.D., is a beautiful illustration of the providence of God.
In 1976, she left India with her husband, Jaipaul, to attend school in America. The couple had met and married in India the previous year. When they set foot on Amerian soil, they had no idea of how the Lord would use them to help wounded souls in the future.
Geeta’s life had been unusual from the beginning. Her childhood and adolescence in India had been encompassed by her parents’ love. Considering the millions of Indian orphans, and the fact that more than 80% of India’s population is Hindu, Geeta realizes how fortunate she was to have a stable home and, especially, to be raised by Christian parents. The Lord called her to salvation when she was a high school student.
After attending university in India and earning her medical degree, Geeta worked in the hospital of an orphanage in the small village of Kedgaon. “I delivered many babies and witnessed many little ones being given up by poverty-stricken mothers,” she says, “but I still did not believe in abortion.”
Upon coming to the States, Jaipaul attended Biola University in La Mirada, California, while Geeta stayed home and had the couple’s three children. Later, while preparing “to do her boards” in California, Geeta was approached by a group of doctors and businessmen.
“They said they were interested in starting a medical clinic where women could be offered alternatives to abortion – and they wanted my help.” At that time, there were more than 50 abortion facilities in the area and none that offered abortion alternatives.
“At first, I really didn’t want to do it,” admits Geeta. “I wanted to practice my profession. But my husband was really encouraging me to obey the Lord. He said, ‘If you really believe abortion is wrong, what are you willing to do about it?’ He inspired me to go forward, and has been a big part of the ministry, serving until recently as President of the Board. Without his encouragement and love, I could not have done it.
“So that’s how I got involved in starting the clinic. ‘I can do this for a year,’ I told myself.”
In May of 1985, the first LivingWell Medical Clinic opened its doors. Numerous services, including free medical exams, prenatal care, counseling and adoption referrals are offered. Over 65,000 women have been helped, thousands of babies saved and many women given the chance to take Jesus into their hearts.
“We are very open about the fact that we are for life,” says Dr. Geeta. But the clinic also provides post-abortion counseling and Bible studies for women who have experienced the trauma of abortion.
Seventeen years after she said “I can do this for a year,” Dr. Geeta is still blessing women with her compassion, love, and support. There are now five LivingWell clinics in the Orange County area. “God has blessed our work tremendously,” she says. “He has made it possible for us to help deeply hurting women and to save many precious lives.”
