She sat in her doctor’s office awaiting test results. At forty years old, she was sure pregnancy wasn’t the cause of her unusual symptoms. It couldn’t be. With two children, one in elementary school and one in middle school, she and her husband were not looking to start over. Besides, they were told they couldn't have any more children. 

The test results revealed the shocking, but joyful news: pregnant. A miracle. However, her joy would be tested. Her doctor began pressing her to abort her baby. He suggested the baby might have a chromosomal disorder and that life would be full of difficulties and challenges. He never suggested moving forward with the pregnancy as a choice, seeming to leave her with no option. He only framed the future of her baby’s life as a would-be burden on their family. He offered no hope. Resisting the doctor’s pressure, this mother chose life for her unborn child. She walked out of the clinic that day never to return. She sought out and found a new doctor who supported her decision to have the baby.

I was born on April Fool’s Day, 1999. I’m so thankful my mother had the courage to choose life instead of listening to her first doctor. I accepted Jesus as my Savior at the age of six. I also love to dance. I’ve had the privilege to perform in numerous dance competitions and even represented Clemson University as a Rally Cat. I've felt the thrill of roller coasters, the peace of the ocean, and the joy of playing with my nieces and nephews. I've traveled, made lifelong friends, and married the love of my life, Grayson, in 2022. My beautiful niece, Emily, has further deepened my understanding of the value of life. Despite her rare disease, Emily’s joy and resilience remind me daily of the blessings that come from choosing life, even when faced with uncertainties.

Over the past several years, the Lord has shown me how He orchestrates even the tiniest details in our lives for His glory. What the world considers a coincidence, I’ve learned to recognize as the Lord’s hand guiding and protecting us. These significant moments that cause us to wonder, “How in the world did that happen?” I call those "God-winks." Here’s an example:

I teach dance at Flourish Creative Arts Studio. I met Audrey Shaw about two years ago at a planning meeting for the upcoming dance season. I taught at the Belton studio and Audrey taught at another location so we hadn’t met before. I learned that Audrey ran Anderson Pregnancy Care (APC).

Over the next year, we got to know each other better, and I discovered the incredible work Audrey and her team at APC are doing for women, children, and their families in our community. Several months later, we still hadn’t shared our testimonies with one another when Audrey asked me to represent Anderson Pregnancy Care in the 2022 Dancing for Our Heroes event. That’s when I learned of Audrey’s story—a story of forgiveness, compassion, and redemption. A story that many in the abortion industry do not want you to hear. A story of how Jesus wants us to see others. 

Representing Anderson Pregnancy Care at their event was a great honor and an incredible experience. That night, while at the event, I made an Instagram post about representing APC, sharing briefly what it meant to me. Audrey came up to me crying, "Scottlyn, I had no idea this was your story." I smiled, because hardly anyone knew.

It’s only by the grace of God and the courage of my mother that I’m here today. I’m eternally grateful for every moment, challenge, and blessing of my life which is a testament to God’s creation. With every conception, He sees the full picture. I’m here today because of my mother’s faith and conviction that every life is worth living. I’m committed to advocating for the unborn, women, and every family facing difficult decisions.

God is using my story to encourage others to see life from His perspective. Every life is created by God on purpose to impact the world for His glory. It was not a coincidence that my mother walked out of a clinic so many years ago and never looked back. It’s also not a coincidence that you’re reading this article.

Together, we can make a difference, stand up for life, and be a voice for the voiceless.