Tonia's Story
This is a letter from a young lady who was assisted by The Living Vine, a pregnancy care center in Savannah, GA which is affiliated with NAMB.
"I was sexually molested at a young age by my father and stepfathers. As a small child, my parents were both alcoholics and I was often beaten, punished, and scorned for no reason at all. By the age of 16, I had already started using alcohol, cigarettes, and other forms of narcotics. I dropped out of high school but continued to work in order to support my drug habits. My life was out of control.
I became engaged to a guy who was involved in criminal activity. When he was charged with 11 counts of armed robbery, I decided to take the rap for him. I figured by life was already ruined, why have his ruined too? I did it for love- or so I thought. So at 19 I was facing a 120 year prison sentence for crimes that ranged from major felonies to simple misdemeanors. I plea-bargained out for a 10 year split sentence and served eight and a half years
While incarcerated, I received Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. Unfortunately, I chose not to walk out my faith. When I was released from jail, I returned to my old destructive lifestyle. One night I was walking home from a party and was jumped by two strangers, a man and a woman. Both sexually assaulted me. I was left unconscious and pregnant.
After the attack my life became even more unstable. I stayed with various friends and family members, but eventually ended up homeless. I was living on the streets and in abandoned burned out houses - anywhere I could find some sort of rest. I had ant bites all over my body and caught the flu from walking aimlessly in the rain with no where to go. I finally ended up at a crisis pregnancy center and they brought me to The Living Vine.
I arrived on June 26th and every one at The Vine welcomed me with loving, open arms. ALL of the staff are a true blessing from God. I feel that I have been saved from Satan's grasp.
The first Sunday I was there, someone took me to church. I talked to the pastor and told him that I wanted to rededicate my life to the Lord and be baptized. I was baptized the following Sunday while I was still pregnant.
The next night I began hemorrhaging and the staff at The Vine rushed me to the hospital. The doctors performed an emergency C-section. Tonia came into the world on July 10th weighing 7 pounds. They told me she would not make it through the night. I never felt so helpless in my life.
On July 13, Tonia's doctor told me it would be best to take her off of life support because she had no chance of living. I held her close to me. I watched her turn blue and slowly die in my arms. Then I pulled her closer to me and I cried out to Jesus, "Please don't take her from me!"
I looked down at her with tears pouring down my face and told her that I wouldn't be anything without her. With two deep breaths she started to breath on her own. I knew from that second that God had given her back to me.
Tonia has surprised everyone. She is doing things they said she would never do. She is crying, she opens her eyes, and moves around. She is even able to digest a little formula. My faith has never been as strong as it is right now. I do not understand what God's plan is for Tonia yet. I do know that she has brought me closer to God.
I thank my Jesus for allowing me to be a part of such a ministry as The Living Vine. I can't imagine what would have happened to Tonia and me if God had not led me to them. I just want to say thank you to all the people who were there for us. People I did not know a month earlier stayed with me for an entire week. They didn't leave me alone while I was recovering in the hospital. I just kept telling the hospital staff that everyone from The Vine was my new Christian family.
I would like to thank you all for supporting The Living Vine. It has been a true blessing to me and we love and appreciate every one of you for what you do."
The Living Vine
535 East 54th Street
Savannah, GA 31405-3515
(912) 352-9998
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