“There’s no way this is real,” Grace* thought as she stared at her positive pregnancy test (*Name changed for privacy).
She had just suffered a miscarriage, and now, just weeks later, she was pregnant again. Confused, angry, and overwhelmed, Grace felt she had no other option.
“I felt abortion was the easiest way out,” she recalls.
Grace scheduled the abortion in Colorado to coincide with a work trip. But the night before Grace left, she had a dream. In the dream, she held a baby girl, reaching for her and saying Mama. The next day, she woke up and drove to Colorado, still intending to get the abortion pills.
Asking God for a Sign
Grace was raised in a Catholic household, so she recalled the prayer Novena to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as The Little Flower. This prayer is asking for confirmation from God through seeing a rose. During her journey to the abortion clinic, Grace prayed this prayer.
Hours later, Grace arrived at the clinic.
Grace couldn’t afford the pills, but the abortion clinic covered the cost. She was instructed to take the first pill immediately. Then she had until noon the next day to take the remaining four, which would complete the abortion process.
But as she walked out of the clinic, life-affirming advocates stood outside. One of them handed her a rose.
“I just knew right there, okay, we’re not doing this,” says Grace.
Seeking Abortion Pill Reversal
Now the clock was ticking. Grace had 24 hours to decide what to do before it was too late.
Grace planned to attend a Christian event with a friend the next day. The event was meant for spiritual healing, and in a moment of vulnerability, she shared the truth with her friend Sophie* (*Name changed for privacy).
“I had this conviction in my heart to tell her I took the first abortion pill, I regretted it, and was there anything we could do?” says Grace.
Sophie happened to be our Save the Storks Community Mobilizer. She called our CEO, Diane Ferraro, for help. Diane was sitting at her computer on a Saturday afternoon when she got the call. On the other line, Sophie explained the situation: “I’m here with a beautiful young lady, and she took the abortion pill, and she changed her mind,” she said.
Diane immediately sprang into action to assist this worried mom. Because of Save the Storks’ connections, Diane contacted Jor-El Godsey, President of Heartbeat International, who found a doctor to prescribe Grace progesterone that night. Grace picked up the abortion pill reversal at Walgreens the next morning and took it.
Does Abortion Pill Reversal Work?
Now, all they could do was wait. It had been more than 24 hours since Grace had taken the first abortion pill. The clock had run out, but hope hadn’t.
According to studies, the success rate for Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) using progesterone is between 64% and 68%. Grace went in for her follow-up, not knowing the outcome. Everyone who had helped her was praying, hoping for a miracle.
Then Diane’s phone rang again. It was Sophie.
“I was so nervous when I picked up,” Diane recalled. “But then Sophie said Grace wanted to speak to me herself.” She handed Grace the phone.
“Diane… I’m a mom,” Grace said.
Tears and laughter filled the call as Diane, Sophie, and Grace celebrated the incredible news together.
“I ended up finding out it’s a little girl,” Grace added, laughing. “She’s healthy, moving, active, and already keeping me up all night.”
There’s Still More to Come for Grace
While Grace is relieved her little girl is okay, she knows there’s a long road ahead for her. Her work is unstable, her living situation is uncertain, and the baby’s father struggles with addiction and doesn’t know Christ, still, she bravely chose life.
“I don’t have a motherly bone in my body, I’ve never wanted kids,” Grace admits, “But I know I’m supposed to have her. Whatever God’s purpose is, I’m supposed to become a mom.”
Grace is being connected with resources to help her throughout her pregnancy and motherhood journey. She bravely shares her story, hoping it will inspire other women to make the hard decision and choose life despite circumstances. Grace herself has faced the pain of abortion in the past.
Grace’s Past Abortion
“I had an abortion when I was 16 years old. It was a surgical abortion. That’s something I’ve carried every single day. It’s not something that goes away at all. I wake up knowing daily that if I didn’t do that, I would have a little girl or boy in my life,” says Grace.
She shares her story in hopes that one woman will read it and choose not to go through with the abortion. To women who may have taken the abortion pill and regret it, she says:
“I want people to know that there are other options. There are resources and people you can call,” says Grace.
Put Her Future First
At Save the Storks, we believe every woman deserves compassionate, life-affirming medical care that honors her future, not harms it. Healthcare should always be about putting her well-being first, ensuring she receives the care she needs, and the truth about her options.
Because of our National Partner Program and Community Partnerships, Save the Storks had the connections and resources to support Grace when she needed it most. But we can’t do this alone.
Give today or become a monthly donor to support programs that give women real options and compassionate care when they need it most. Please continue praying for Grace and her baby, who is due in November.
