LOVE WINS: Choosing Life at age 17

At age 17, Abby came to Guiding Star Siouxland to learn what her options were after discovering she was pregnant. Lisa Canning, President of Guiding Star Project, sat down with Abby to learn more about her incredible story to choose life for her son Levi, and what life looks like for both of them now.

What does your relationship with Levi look like?

When I placed him in adoption, we signed papers that allowed a certain amount of visits per year. The family I chose, they go above and beyond with those visitations. I am involved in Levi’s life in all areas. And I could not be more grateful for that. I get to watch him grow up.

There might be a young woman who is in a similar situation to you watching this right now where she is young or feels young, or doesn’t feel equipped to have a baby and is considering adoption. What encouragement would you give her?

I would tell her she is strong. Carrying your baby for that 9 months is not easy. Especially as a young gal. I don’t know what environment or community she finds herself in but the outside looks can definitely affect someone. When I was pregnant, I wore a ring on my left finger. I called it my Levi ring. And it was just to help with the stares. [T]hey would look and see that I had a ring and then it would be okay. But honestly, I didn’t let them affect me. But I think I view teenage pregnancy as a miracle. I don’t think that it happens to everyone but I think that when it does happen, it happens for a purpose. So I think I would just encourage the girl to keep her head up. It’s not the end of the world. It’s nine months, it’s a chapter in your book, it’s not a title.

Sometimes, Abby, when we go through trial, it changes us. What have you see is the biggest change in you?

I think I became more confident in myself and I became more independent. I was a very dependent person. It gives you a different type of strength for sure. At least it did for me. Whether you are 13 years old, 17 years old, or 45 years old, I think God places babies in wombs for a reason.

What is the reason you believe Levi came into your life?

I think Levi saved me from a pathway I was going down that I should not have been going down. I think I was going right, and Levi helped me turn left. He is definitely a gift of life. And I can’t imagine my life without him.

Abby, you have an incredible story. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Is there anything else you would like to add that you didn’t get to add?

I am very grateful for Guiding Star. This whole situation, my situation, would not have gone the way it did or as smoothly as it did. I am very grateful this world has something like Guiding Star. They educated me in ways I didn’t know I needed to be educated on.

You shared with us that Guiding Star benefited you in a time that you really needed guidance. Why do you think in the United States, it might be helpful to have more Guiding Star Centers?

Well if you think about it, [there are] hospitals in every town, in every city. And people go there for help. I think women's health is not valued unless there is somewhere for it to be valued and I think Guiding Star values women and their health.

A note from Lisa Canning, President of Guiding Star Project—Abby is such an incredible young woman, and I am so grateful she took the time to speak with me. To hear more of Abby’s story, I personally invite you to check out my interview with her in its entirety inside our newest membership portal, the Guiding Star Academy that is FREE for everyone to join.