It’s 104 degrees on a Texas summer day, and a Save the Storks Mobile Medical Clinic is making its way through hours of Dallas traffic to reach women in need. Throughout the day, woman after woman will step aboard this life-saving vehicle, where she’ll see her baby on an ultrasound for the very first time.
But, who’s behind the wheel?
Meet Thad: The Retired Cop Who Became a Mobile Medical Clinic Driver
After 32 years in law enforcement, Thad retired and began looking for a new way to serve his community. When a local pregnancy clinic needed a mobile clinic driver, he stepped in to help. What began as a temporary job has, nearly four years later, become a role that combines his experience in law enforcement with his passion for fatherhood.
During his years in law enforcement, Thad saw firsthand the impact a father’s presence or absence can have on a child’s life.
“I quickly saw that the main issue of kids being in trouble was not having a father figure,” says Thad.
Today, God has placed Thad behind the wheel of a Mobile Medical Clinic, where his role extends far beyond driving. Each day, he has opportunities to connect with men, encouraging them to embrace fatherhood.
A Day with “Zoe”, The Mobile Medical Clinic
On days when the Mobile Medical Clinic is heading out, Thad is up early. He starts with routine checks on the vehicle, making sure everything is prepared before hitting the road. Sometimes, that even means scouting his route ahead of time to make sure the clinic can safely reach its destination.
Thad takes his responsibility seriously. As the clinic travels throughout Dallas, including areas that can sometimes be higher-risk locations, he draws on his law enforcement background to help keep both the team and the women they serve safe.
“With my background, security is a big thing for me. So, I’ve got code words that I use. I’ve put in some other security measures. I put in panic buttons,” says Thad.
“Zoe” which means “life” in Greek is an upgrade from the clinic’s previous vehicle. Acquired through a partnership with Save the Storks, the new Mobile Medical Clinic has improved the team’s experience and expanded their ability to serve more women in the community.
“This new unit has 360 cameras, so I use those. So, I can see my blind spots. This vehicle is a lot easier to drive,” says Thad.
Thanks to generous donors, the improvements have made it possible for the team to serve in conditions that were more difficult with their previous unit.
“I can go out when it’s cold now because I don’t have to winterize. The older unit I couldn’t do that…” says Thad.
Father to Father: Thad Speaks to Men at the Stork Bus
While women are on the Mobile Medical Clinic meeting with the client advocate and completing paperwork for their visit, Thad often has an opportunity to speak with the men who accompany them. In those conversations, he hears many of the concerns that can lead men to consider abortion.
“Finances are number one for guys. The next one would be, it’s not the right time,” says Thad.
Thad understands those concerns because he has faced them himself. As a father, he uses his own experience to encourage men that they may be more capable and prepared for fatherhood than they realize.
“My kid is 25 now. He was a planned pregnancy, but I kept on saying, we’re not financially ready, we’re not financially ready. And finally, my wife just said, ‘When are we going to be financially ready?’ And she was correct. And that’s a story I use a lot.”
Thad may only have a short window to speak with each man, but he believes those conversations can make a difference.
One conversation in particular stands out. Thad had been speaking with a father who was worried about the financial responsibility of raising a child. When the couple returned to the Mobile Medical Clinic later for an ultrasound, the man told Thad just how much their conversation had impacted him.
“He told me that when he walked up, he was 90% abortion, 10% parenting. And when he left talking to me, he was 90% parenting, 10% abortion,” says Thad.
For Thad, moments like this are a reminder that sometimes, making a difference starts with just one conversation.
Read more stories from Thad soon…
Before And After the Stork Bus
Because Thad stays outside while women receive care inside the Mobile Medical Clinic, he has a unique perspective.
“I’m the one that checks them in. So, I meet them before they come in, kind of talk with them. Usually, they’re very stoic when they come in. But it’s amazing to watch them walk off, because the personality that I saw when they came onto the bus is totally different from the personality that I see leaving the bus,” shares Thad.
One young woman was just 16 years old and filled with fear when she first approached the Mobile Medical Clinic. The team waited with her and encouraged her until she felt comfortable enough to walk through the doors. Then, Thad waited outside.
“About 10 minutes into it, I could hear a lot of laughing,” says Thad.
The young woman and her family eventually became regular visitors to the clinic. She chose life for her baby and has even returned several times to introduce Thad and the team to her baby.
For Thad, that is one of the most meaningful parts of his role. He may not be inside the clinic for the conversations, but he gets to witness the transformation that just one appointment can bring to women facing unplanned pregnancies.
Serving Women Post-Roe
While the landscape has shifted since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Thad knows the need to serve women facing unexpected pregnancies has not gone away.
“It’s more important to do our job now than ever before. Just because it became illegal in the state of Texas doesn’t mean that it stopped,” says Thad.
He has also seen how the availability of abortion pills has changed the way some women encounter abortion.
“Abortion pills are super easy to get. You can get them mailed into Texas, which is illegal. We’ve had several ladies come on board with the abortion pills in their pocket,” says Thad.
The Mobile Medical Clinic gives Thad and his team the opportunity to meet women where they are with compassionate care and support when they are facing the most difficult decision of their lives.
Why the Mobile Medical Clinic Matters
One of the ways Thad and his team keep track of the impact of their work is through a board in their office. Each name on the board represents a baby whose mother chose life. Above the names, crosses represent people who gave their lives to Christ.
“At the end of the year, you walk into the office and you have this big, huge board. It’s just filled with names and crosses. It’s amazing to see the babies that are saved and how many people are being saved for eternity,” says Thad.
Thad’s impact looks different to the nurses and advocates serving inside the Mobile Medical Clinic, but it’s no less important. Each week, Thad is driving “Zoe” safely to where she is needed, standing outside to welcome women as they arrive, and taking the time to have meaningful conversations with fathers. His story is a reminder that each of us has a role to play in fueling the mission to meet women with the support, compassion, and hope they need.
Fuel Mobile Medical Clinics, Fuel Hope
Your support helps Mobile Medical Clinics like “Zoe” stay on the road to reach women facing unexpected pregnancies with compassionate care, practical support, and the hope they need to choose life.
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