“Peace in the Midst of Brokenness” — Danica’s Story of Control, Courage, and New Life

Danica, a young woman in her late twenties, walked into our center alongside her long-term boyfriend, carrying the heavy weight of a complicated history. Twice before, she had been pregnant. Twice before, she had chosen abortion.

The first time, she had wanted to keep her baby—but her boyfriend, a Division I football player chasing his dreams, told her it wasn’t the right time. Football came first. A child, he insisted, would ruin his career. Reluctantly, she went along.

The second time, the test showed the word pregnant and something inside her shifted—not to joy, but to spite. Her boyfriend said he was ready this time, but she didn’t care. She was tired of feeling powerless, tired of letting him call the shots. In her mind, this was her turn to take control, even if it meant ending the pregnancy. And so, she did.

This third pregnancy felt different. There was no denying the tension between them—There was strain between them — past hurts made it hard to trust one another. They both knew they didn’t want another abortion, but it was difficult to move forward without fear.

When they left that first appointment, our staff’s hearts ached for them. We prayed they would choose life, but we knew it would take courage to break the cycle.

About a week later, we called Danica to check in. Her voice held a new steadiness. “We decided to carry,” she said. Relief and joy washed over us.

When Danica returned for a follow-up visit, her face was radiant. “Ever since finding you all, I’ve had so much peace about parenting,” she told us, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. “I can’t explain how much of an impact that first appointment had on my outlook about this pregnancy.”

Months later, Danica gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby. At her Fourth Trimester visit, she couldn’t stop gushing: “Everything about motherhood is my favorite.” She spoke of the purpose and joy she’d discovered as the greatest gift of her life.

Her romantic relationship with the baby’s father didn’t survive, but instead of bitterness, there was mutual respect. They chose to co-parent well, united by their love for their child. And Danica—once hesitant, once guarded—now speaks with open hands and an open heart: “If my story can help even one woman in a situation like mine, I would consider it an honor to share.”

“The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.” – Psalm 29:11