In the early 80s, as a young teen in public school, Stacie was introduced to Planned Parenthood during a session about birth control. Portrayed as a “trusted friend,” they offered advice and solutions that seemed wise at the time. Fast forward to the late 80s, under the guidance of that same “trusted friend,” Stacie faced an unplanned pregnancy. The solution presented to her was straightforward but devastating. Her first child was aborted, a decision framed as nothing more than removing “just tissue.”
“As I got older, I realized I was complicit in the sacrifice of my child’s life and guilty before God,” Stacie recalls.
She carried the weight of her decision every day, feeling its impact in ways she never expected. She realized that what she had been told was a lie. The child she lost was fully formed by twelve weeks. The guilt and pain of her decision were overwhelming. In her darkest moments, Stacie cried out almost daily, seeking forgiveness and a second chance from a merciful God.
God answered her cries for redemption in a way she never could have imagined. Stacie married the father of her aborted child and soon became pregnant again. This time, she embraced the life growing within her with a renewed sense of gratitude, recognizing it as a gift from God. Her son was born exactly nine months after her first child’s due date. “I later found out the name I had given my first baby before the abortion meant ‘God is merciful.’ The child I prayed for, my son born after her death, his birth name meant ‘Given by God.’ This marked a poignant reminder of her journey through grief to grace.
For years, Stacie wrestled with guilt and uncertainty, unsure of how to even put into words what had happened to her child. “I lived under lies and guilt for many years, not knowing how to explain what had happened.” Her healing journey took a turning point when she heard another woman’s testimony and connected with a friend who had walked a similar road. But more than anything, she met the truest Friend of all—Jesus. Unlike the ‘trusted friend’ who had led her into darkness, He welcomed her with grace, love, and redemption.
Together, they walked through a healing study called Forgiven and Set Free. “In repentance, I turned to Jesus. I was led into a beautiful freedom through that healing study and to a walk in the light with Jesus from that time on. Our Lord truly is a loving, merciful, and forgiving God.
Stacie now shares her testimony and equips others to share theirs at prayer walks in Greensboro, NC. Not only does she help women with past abortions receive healing, but she also ministers to moms and babies in other powerful ways. She helps bring light to those who may still be walking in the shadows of their past decisions.
Restored Life, the abortion recovery arm of Love Life, stands ready to assist men and women grappling with the aftereffects of abortion. If you or anyone you know has experienced abortion, leads an abortion recovery ministry, or wishes to share a story of healing, please connect with us at LoveLife.org/RestoredLife.