Antoinette’s Story

Northjersey.com: My Ability to Bring New Life into the World Has Been A Gift to My Life | Opinion

Article appeared in Northjersey.com | By: Antoinette Garcia | Photo Credit: Northjersey.com

I decided in that moment that I would keep my baby. My parents were deeply disappointed in my decision and told me that “the ball was in my court” and I would need to raise my baby on my own. In spite of this, I believed that my daughter and I would have enough strength to succeed, even if it was just the two of us against the world.

But without my family’s help, I knew I needed to find support elsewhere. My friend’s grandmother had told me about Choices of the Heart, a local women’s organization aimed at helping those who experience unplanned pregnancies. From my very first phone call with them, I was embraced with love and support. I was assured that I was capable of raising a child. I was told that I was strong.

Their belief in me, combined with their abundance of love and support, helped me to give birth to my beautiful daughter. Holding her in my arms for the first time, I saw that she was far more than “just buds” — she was a magnificent child to whom I had given life.