Jessica, a single mother in Alabama, found out she was pregnant soon after the birth of her first daughter. Nervous of what the future would hold because of her financial situation, health, and relational status, she thought her only way out was through having an abortion.
Jessica had recently been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Lupus. This caused her to become fearful since her diagnosis made it difficult for her to obtain and retain employment, and even caused difficulty walking.
However, Alabama is one of several states where abortion is almost entirely illegal following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned Roe v. Wade and returned the question of abortion to lawmakers.
Jessica told Fox News, “When I found out I was pregnant, there were mixed emotions because I do have a daughter, and she’s the light of my life, but I had so many health issues with this pregnancy,” she said. “In October 2022, I found out, I was diagnosed with lupus. I was happy about the pregnancy, and then I was ashamed and embarrassed about my pregnancy because of my health issues and my mom [didn’t like] my child’s father, which [were some of the]main reasons why I was considering having an abortion.”
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“Because what would people say? I already have health issues and then, on top of my lupus, I wasn’t able to work, so I didn’t have any income coming in, so that… [was]what really made me go towards [an]abortion because I’m like, ‘Well, I don’t have the support or the finances to take care of this child, I’m really struggling with my daughter.’”
While battling with the decision to go through with the abortion or not, she began to research where she would go.
“I researched, and I found the place, but I never did call because I didn’t have the money for the abortion,” she added. “Me and my child’s father, we [were]going through a lot of problems.”
Alabama currently bans abortion, protecting mothers and their unborn children.Therefore, the place she found would have caused her to travel to Georgia, which is about four hours from the small town in Alabama where she lived.
Jessica decided to go to her grandfather, asking him for financial help to pay for her travel expenses and the abortion. However, what he provided her was the help that she truly needed (and wanted), she just did not know it yet.
“I told him that I was disappointed because I was even considering having an abortion,” she said. “My granddaddy sat me on the side of the bed, and he told me to not be ashamed, to hold my head up high, I had nothing to be embarrassed about [but]before he would let me consider having an abortion, he [said he]would take this child because abortion wasn’t an option [for him].”
“After talking to my granddaddy, who was one of the most influential people in my life, because he’s been there through it all … He has truly supported me and when he told me that he would take [the baby in], that was one of the reasons why I was like, ‘I can’t, I will not have this abortion if somebody is willing to take this child in, how could I deny that.'”
Jessica admitted that if she hadn’t talked to her grandfather, she “probably would have” gone to the abortion clinic in Georgia if she had the money.
All Jessica needed was to feel that there was support for her and her child. Soon after receiving advice from her grandfather, Jessica found a pregnancy center that would provide free services and resources for her little family.
“Even here at the Lighthouse [women’s pregnancy center in Alabama]… they really talked to me and gave me the support I needed when I felt like I didn’t have [anyone]else” Jessica said.
Tanya, the Executive Director at The Lighthouse, which counseled Jessica, told Fox News Digital that the center’s biggest goal is educating women on all of their options before they make any decision, equipping them with the tools they need to empower them “to not only choose life for their baby, but be thriving and successful parents.”
“We just want her to know that she’s not alone and somebody’s got her back,” she added.
Jessica shared, “I had my son on November 10th … and to see my son and look at his little face, it was one of the best decisions that I ever could have made. Because I do feel bad about even considering abortion, I tell him every day that I’m sorry that I even thought about it, I love him and because of the support that I had, he’s here.”
We are thankful for pregnancy centers across the country, like The Lighthouse, who truly value the lives of mothers and their unborn children. Testimonies like these stand as an encouragement for mothers, that there are people waiting with open arms to support them through this journey.
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