Baby Legacy – A Name That Says It All

James 5:16 tells us that “the prayer of the righteous man is both powerful and effective.” We believe this and this story might convince you as well!

A few months ago, during a Wednesday morning prayer vigil we were having at the Cherry Hill Women’s Clinic, a young couple came up to us with a seven week old baby. They came with a heart of thanks, telling us that we must continue to be a presence at the clinic and to keep praying because our prayers are working. Their names are Elton and Tania and this is their story.

It was a rainy day last October during our 40 Days for Life campaign. The young couple, Elton and Tania, recalls about four volunteers standing outside the clinic praying and counseling women as they went inside. It was one of these volunteers that made an impression on this family that would change the course of their lives forever. Tania said the woman she spoke with told her there was another option for this child, that God loved this baby and we were there to help. Elton did not speak to anyone that day but he said he was “touched deeply” by our presence. This couple knew abortion was wrong, but felt overwhelmed and without any other options. They said the presence and prayers of our Helpers made all the difference.

But let’s go back a little further into their story.

When Tania was 21 years old she was attending church four times a week and was working at a law office. She had a young child but was doing well for herself. One evening her brother offered her $50 to drive him to Camden to purchase some marijuana and she accepted the easy money. She did this a few times before she realized it was more than just marijuana being dealt. Her brother’s friend introduced her to cocaine during this time and the downward spiral began. She began to use other drugs and eventually her new habit caused her to lose her job and get her kicked out of her parent’s home. She went to live with Elton but he was not happy with her increased drug use, so she left and went to a hotel. Her habit increased to where she was using a “bundle” of heroin each day, costing $100. The need for money to keep up with the drug use lead to prostitution, something we see far more than we would like. While “working” Tania was the victim of theft and abuse, but the worst pain came from losing her best friend who had been living and using with her in the hotel. During this time Elton tried to help Tania get off the drugs, but was unsuccessful. The addiction of heroin, as we all know, is such a hard bondage to break.

But God was at work. He is always behind the scenes working for our good.

This was around the time when Elton and Tania found out she was pregnant –they both thought, “not this, not now.”

This was a “problem” and they were going to fix it quickly. Elton was against abortion but didn’t know what to do because of Tania’s lifestyle and drug use –so they made their first appointment.

This “problem” though, would not be solved as quickly as they thought. The first appointment, Tania had drank some liquid prior to the procedure and was not allowed to get it done. The second time she was told her lungs didn’t sound right and she should see a doctor before she could have the abortion and the third time we were standing there….with a barrier of prayer and words from a loving God bigger than anything that had stopped them before!

The couple left and went home that day. But the story doesn’t end there. Tania went back to her parent’s house and told them about her friend passing away. Worried about her, they allowed her to come back home. She kept using though. Her brother at the time had cleaned himself up, but now with Tania back home he was tempted back into the damaging lifestyle. He begged her one night to give him heroin, she did reluctantly and he overdosed in the house that night as Tania frantically dialed 911.

The police showed up and arrested Tania for an outstanding warrant after an ambulance took her brother to the hospital. Her brother ended up living and shortly after moved back to South America where he is clean –and says he is staying that way!

As for Tania, she went to jail that night and was incarcerated for four months. During that time she suffered horrendous withdrawals. She did not tell the jail that she was addicted to heroin, and so did not receive the help of Methadone to detox –something that is both dangerous to the mother and child –but again God was at work. One last time while Tania was in jail, she scheduled an abortion. This time it would have been a two-day procedure because she was so far along –but she recalled the words of our Helpers that day outside the clinic and canceled the appointment. She was set to be released April 17th but was let out early in February—thankfully because her beautiful baby boy was born April 11th! A DNA test proved the baby was Elton’s and his life was forever changed. Both Tania and Elton realized this child was not another burden but a blessing and source of hope amidst the trials they were going through.

Four times Tania tried to end the life of this beautiful child and four times God intervened. Tania named her baby Legacy.

Truly a fitting name for a boy who has overcome so much before he even took his first breath of air.

When the couple came back to the clinic to show off Legacy to The Helpers– Elton mentioned that he was looking for a job. Two days later one of our founding members, Mary Anne, connected him to her husband who was hiring. Elton got the job and since has become a team leader. As for Tania she is clean and in rehab. We have continued to support this young family –because on that rainy day in October we told them we would help in any way we could if they chose life for their child –and we meant it.

God is so good. He is so faithful even when we are faithless and hopeless. He truly cares for his children and we know He has a great plan for baby Legacy –because not once, or twice or four times could he be stopped from entering this world. We are excited to see what Legacy this child will leave.

Thank you again partners, friends and supporters. Your prayers, donations and presence means more than you can ever know.