Two and a half years ago, I found myself alone and pregnant--without a driver's license, money for…read morea car, or even the means to take driving lessons. I had just moved to Texas, 39 years old, with no family nearby and no real friends. I had left New York City, believing I'd never meet someone who wanted to settle down if I stayed there. So, I took a leap of faith and moved to Austin, hoping for a fresh start.
I had always dreamed of meeting a good man and having a family. Sadly, I met someone who only pretended to want the same. I've always prided myself on being able to see people for who they are--but this time, I was wrong. I didn't see the truth until it was too late.
When I told him I was pregnant, he made it painfully clear he didn't want to be a father again--he already had two other children. He pressured me to have an abortion, and when I refused, he became enraged. He called me selfish for choosing to have a child he didn't want, told me how much he hated me, and insisted I leave his name off the birth certificate.
I was devastated. I had just started my career as a physical therapist, but I knew that even with a stable job, it would be hard to make ends meet alone. Rent, daycare, bills--without any support, the numbers didn't add up.
And beyond the financial fear, I was terrified of how my mother would react. I knew she would struggle to accept a mixed-race child born out of wedlock--especially from a man who had walked away.
Then, one day, I came across Radiance Women's Center. I walked in and broke down in tears. For the first time, someone truly listened. I poured out everything--my fears, my loneliness, my pain. And they didn't just listen. They showed up.
Brittany and Carrie came to my apartment with diapers, wipes, baby clothes, and open hearts. They made me feel like I wasn't alone anymore. Christine and Christie gave me rides to work or daycare to pick up/drop off the baby whenever they could. Claudia and her daughter Estella took me and baby, Ava to a job interview and watched her in the car while I had my interview (my boobs were still leaking milk). Carrie babysat Ava when daycare was closed and I had to work, even though she has 3 young children of her own! Radiance Women's Center even paid for my daughter's daycare for the first month. I was speechless.
Being on my own with a newborn--no family nearby, no one to lean on--were the loneliest of my life. But knowing that they cared, that they were in my corner, gave me the strength to keep going. I truly believe they are angels on earth. I will never forget what they did for me.
Today, my daughter is two years old--healthy, joyful, and full of life. She is my greatest blessing, and my mother loves her deeply. I now work full-time, covering rent, daycare, food, and gas on my own. Yes, I drive now--and I even have my own car.
Radiance Women's Center will always hold a special place in my heart. One day, I'll return with my daughter to visit the people who stood by me when I had nothing. Because without them, I might have made a very different decision. And I cannot imagine life without her.