From the Director 

I was 16 and unsure of my future when I found myself at Pregnancy Resources. That’s where I met Jenny, a kind nurse who became more than just a friendly face. With the support I received, I chose to keep my baby girl despite my age and circumstances.

Seventeen years later, I never imagined I’d be back. A newly single mom of 3, my story had grown long and complicated. We’d survived dangerous, harmful relationships that often left me physically and emotionally broken. We were homeless, I was unemployed and things were hard. Eventually we found a small apartment where I slept on the couch. I worked hard, praying for stability and peace.

Recently, I chose to leave another toxic, violent relationship. My health and financial struggles worsened, and I felt like I was drowning. Then I took a pregnancy test—and it was positive. I cried, overwhelmed by this new reality. In the middle of my fear, I ordered the abortion pill. It arrived at my door, and I stared at it for a week. Then I called Pregnancy Resources. I needed someone to listen and let me decide.

I had an ultrasound with Nurse Becca. She listened without judgment, and for the first time I felt a small sense of relief. I was behind on rent, very sick, and struggling with depression—but something kept pulling me back. At my next ultrasound visit, Becca prayed with me and spoke words that calmed my spirit.

I still didn’t know how I could have a baby while struggling financially. But the team at Pregnancy Resources helped me apply for a scholarship that allowed me to catch up on rent. When I found out, I cried and held my kids—it was one of those moments where God provided in a way that felt almost unreal. Soon after, I was also blessed with a full-time job with benefits.

After talking again with Pam and Becca, I threw away the abortion pill — not because anyone told me to, but because I felt supported, heard, and no longer alone. They gave me the resources and strength to move forward. In June my baby is due and because of Pregnancy Resources, being a single mom of four no longer feels impossible.

This year Sandy French was named the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year recognizing her decades of faithful service in many aspects of ministry, including co-leading our women’s abortion recovery program. Here is a summary of Sandy’s story in her own words:

I give Pregnancy Resources a lot of credit for my abortion healing journey. The people here have been great encouragers along the way. This is a mission field I wouldn’t have joined had I not finally listened and obeyed God. I was brought up in the church, but still found myself pregnant at 18. Abortion had been made legal, and I didn’t want to embarrass my parents, so my boyfriend took me to a clinic, and just like that I wasn’t pregnant anymore. There was no counseling, no ultrasound, no stopping to think or pray, no talking to my parents…just take care of it and move on. I didn’t want anyone to know, and so began a long period of denial, anger, guilt, and shame.

I married that boy and we had two children, but he left us and I became a single mom. I returned to church, cried a lot, and hid my abortion from everyone except God. Eventually, God brought a wonderful single dad into my life; we married and had another child. Later, God led me to Pregnancy Resources as a volunteer. Even though the Holy Spirit prompted me to join a post-abortion healing Bible study, I resisted, saying, “I’m good. I’m never going to talk about it.”

Eventually, I did participate, began sharing my story, and realized I needed to tell my family and close friends. That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it opened conversations and helped others find healing. I no longer live with shame or secrecy. I still have regret, but God has forgiven me and is using me. In His hands, brokenness has purpose and brings blessings to us and to others.

While this was never my plan, God has made a way for me to use my story to help others and bring glory to Him. If you carry the pain and shame of an abortion decision too, healing could start with a phone call today. You’re not alone—we’re here to help.

At Pregnancy Resources, many women and men come to us not only facing present-day crises, but also bearing the lingering pain of a past abortion. It can be a grief that is held in silence, and a shame hidden deep within the heart. When the weight feels unbearable and healing seems out of reach, God is already preparing a path forward.

Through our after-abortion care and healing ministry, we witness Isaiah 43:19 lived out in quiet, transformative ways. In spaces intentionally designed for safety and trust, participants gather in gender-specific small groups, surrounded by others who understand their journey. These groups offer a compassionate environment where stories can be shared without judgment and where hearts begin to soften under the assurance of God’s mercy.

Over the course of a 10-week Bible study, women and men are guided through Scripture that speaks directly to brokenness and restoration. Step by step, they are invited to confront pain, release burdens, and receive the forgiveness that Christ freely offers. What once felt like a barren wilderness becomes a place where renewal takes root—where shame loosens its grip and freedom begins to grow.

This ministry reflects the heart of the Waymaker: God meeting His people exactly where they are and leading them toward healing they may have thought was impossible. Participants discover they are not defined by their past, nor abandoned in their sorrow. Instead, they are seen, loved, and invited into wholeness.

After abortion care groups for women and men will be starting up soon. For more information please call 309-797-3636 or email pam@qcpregnancy.org for women or prcmen@qcpregnancy.org for men. If you or someone you love has experienced the personal pain and trauma that can be associated with an abortion decision, please reach out today.