Afraid at only 17 years old, “Sara Lee,” a Louisiana native, felt she was in no place to parent a child and become a mom. Afraid to tell her parents, afraid to tell her friends, and afraid to carry this secret alone; fear consumed her.
The father of the baby was not in the picture and she felt embarrassed.
Sara Lee believed she already knew what her parents would say.
They would tell her to have an abortion. She was too young to become a mother. After all, she was still a child herself.
So instead of turning to her parents right away, she turned to her school nurse. When the school nurse encouraged her to take a pregnancy test and share the results with her parents if it was positive, Sara Lee reluctantly agreed.
The test was positive.
A few days later, she found the courage to tell her parents. Her mother was shocked and insisted on scheduling her daughter a doctor’s appointment.
Surprisingly, the test at the doctor’s office came back negative.
Her mother assumed Sara Lee had made the entire story up, leaving Sara Lee feeling even more confused and alone. But despite the conflicting test results, she couldn’t ignore what she knew in her heart.
Desperate for answers and wanting to put an end to the uncertainty, Sara Lee searched online for abortion options near her. That’s when she found Human Coalition.
She called, hoping someone could point her in the right direction. Instead, she found a compassionate nurse who listened without judgment as Sara Lee shared her fears and concerns. Believing she was still pregnant, Sara Lee wanted confirmation above all else. The nurse arranged an appointment for her at a nearby pregnancy center.
During their conversation, Sara Lee explained that she didn’t think she could parent a child herself, especially while still in high school, but was open to considering adoption. The nurse gently encouraged her to first confirm the pregnancy before making any decisions.
Because Sara Lee had called during school hours, she eventually had to end the conversation. As she hung up, she felt something she hadn’t experienced in weeks: relief.
Finally, someone was willing to help.
Soon afterward, Sara Lee visited the pregnancy center and took another pregnancy test.
This time, there was no uncertainty.
It was positive.
Over the next several weeks, Sara Lee took time to process what this unexpected pregnancy meant for her future. Living at home and still attending high school, she wrestled with difficult questions.
Would she miss her baby if she chose adoption?
Could she provide the love and support a child deserved?
Could she really become a mom?
For the first time, she allowed both her head and her heart to weigh in. A couple of months later and still uncertain about what to do, Sara Lee reconnected with Human Coalition and was scheduled a free ultrasound.
It was then around 20 weeks into her pregnancy when Sara Lee saw her baby for the very first time.
Watching her son move on the screen changed everything. For the first time, she allowed herself to imagine life as his mom. Not just carrying him but loving and raising him.
And in that moment, she knew.
She loved her baby.
Sara Lee decided she would not pursue adoption. She would become his mother.
She shared her decision with Human Coalition, and from that point forward, she stayed in regular contact with her care team. Throughout the remainder of her pregnancy, they continued to encourage her and provide practical support through material assistance and ongoing care.
The compassion she received made a lasting impact.
In fact, when Sara Lee’s sister became pregnant and began considering abortion, Sara Lee encouraged her to reach out to Human Coalition, confident they would offer the same care and support she had experienced.
Months later, the day finally arrived when Sara Lee welcomed her healthy baby boy into the world.
The frightened 17-year-old who once believed she had no future as a mother now held her son in her arms, grateful for the people who walked beside her when she needed hope the most.