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In the fall of 2022, Sabrina and her boyfriend Lucas waited anxiously for the results of Sabrina’s free pregnancy test at a pregnancy resource center in Hillsdale, Michigan. Sabrina and Lucas were still seniors studying at Hillsdale College when they discovered Sabrina might be pregnant. After the results of the pregnancy test came in, the nurse confirmed that Sabrina was four weeks pregnant and congratulated them both on becoming parents. Sabrina and Lucas worried as they were still unwed students in college without the time and financial resources to raise a child. While Sabrina and Lucas admitted that they were unprepared for the pregnancy and faced considerable pressure from certain family members to get an abortion, the thought of aborting their baby never crossed either of their minds.

Sabrina grew up in a liberal household on her mom’s side of the family, originally holding strong pro-abortion sentiments. But when she later moved to California to live with her father and stepmother, they challenged her to re-examine her beliefs, especially on the issue of abortion. She set out to research and debunk the pro-life movement’s arguments and positions, only to conclude that the evidence and the science were on the side of life. She eventually became staunchly pro-life and worked to fight against abortion. “Out of all the political issues in the world, the pro-life issue became the most important one to me after recognizing millions of innocent babies were dying around the world,” said Sabrina.

Sabrina immediately got involved with pro-life activism, joining the pro-life club at Hillsdale College as the social media director, and eventually being elected its president at the end of her junior year. She recounted powerful pro-life stories of organizing trips to the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., and sidewalk counseling initiatives where members of the pro-life club were trained to stand outside of local abortion facilities to offer support and life-affirming alternatives for women seeking abortions. She recounted one story specifically: “There was a woman who I was able to talk to who was about to walk into the building to get an abortion, and I was able to connect her with a local pregnancy resource center that offered prenatal and financial assistance to help her raise the child – and she decided to keep the baby, saving its life.”

So, when Sabrina was faced with the reality of an unplanned pregnancy herself, she stood steadfast in her pro-life values and put them into action. While still worried about how they would be able to raise the baby, Sabrina and Lucas were both excited to bring a new life into the world and sought out as much help and assistance as they could in Hillsdale.

Sabrina and Lucas shared that the faculty and staff at the college accommodated all their requests for academic extensions, provided personal counseling and assistance, and connected them with local pregnancy resource centers and other nonprofit organizations.

Sabrina and Lucas credited Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center in Hillsdale as being a vital help through their pregnancy journey. Helping Hands was able to partner with Greek Intervarsity, a local student ministry group, to host a surprise baby shower for Sabrina and Lucas. Helping Hands and Greek Intervarsity provided them with food and music to celebrate the new life they were bringing into the world. Both groups raised money to purchase and donate essential supplies for the baby. Lizzie Penola, a senior at Hillsdale College who helped with the event, said:

We heard that the Shermans were having a baby and that it was unexpected and therefore a challenging time for them, so we decided to throw them a baby shower. We collected gifts from each of the Greek houses like wipes, diapers, toys, clothes, and a stroller, as well as a crib donated by the local pregnancy resource center. We then all gathered and decorated and threw a surprise baby shower for them at a local coffee shop.

In speaking to the courage and integrity of Sabrina and Lucas, Jake Studebaker, the Hillsdale Greek Intervarsity staff member who coordinated the event with Helping Hands, said:

I never really knew either of the parents that well before Luke reached out to me, and when he did, I didn’t have high expectations. When we met, I was shocked at the maturity and confidence he displayed. He had taken full responsibility in the face of his decisions and was strong enough to stand by his morals over his friends and some family members advising him to get an abortion. Sabrina shocked me in the same way. It was amazing to see how sticking to their morals had caused them to mature in love and confidence.

Sabrina and Lucas expressed how they were immensely grateful for the support and assistance from friends, student groups, faculty, and most importantly Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center, which provided them with their first pregnancy test, ultrasounds, prenatal care, and even parenting and counseling classes to prepare them for raising a family.

Even after the birth of their beautiful baby boy Wyatt Sherman, the support from their community never stopped. Friends volunteered in droves to babysit Wyatt while Sabrina was still in school, and Lucas was at work.

Sabrina and Lucas became civilly married two months before Wyatt’s due date, and shortly after Wyatt was born, they decided to settle down in the same community of Hillsdale that supported them through their pregnancy journey. Baby Wyatt is a healthy 20-month-old who is an absolute joy and light to their friends, family, and community. Sabrina and Lucas are happily together and planning on getting married in a religious ceremony soon while expecting their second child in the next year. The couple recounted that, while the whole journey was filled with its ups and downs and a definite struggle, it would be worth it to do it all over again to experience the joy and happiness that baby Wyatt brought to them and their friends. For Sabrina, the most important lesson she learned from the journey through an unplanned pregnancy was:

“It really does take a whole village to raise a child, we aren’t meant to do life and family alone. We are social creatures, and having others be a part of our journey is integral.”