She was overwhelmed by fear when she found out she was unexpectedly pregnant, but she learned to lean into her faith and saw God faithfully provide and care for her and her daughter.

25-year-old Madi felt like her worst fear came true. She was pregnant outside of marriage and was worried that her Catholic family would disown her if they found out about her unplanned pregnancy.

“I kept it to myself for a really long time … I didn’t know how to process it all. I was in denial for a really long time,” Madi recalls.

Once Madi came to terms about her pregnancy, she told a friend about her situation and then shared the news with her family. She struggled to choose between keeping her baby or placing her child for adoption.

“My family never told me what to do, and they allowed me to come to my decision on my own … They never told me I should do one thing or another, and I appreciated that it gave me some space to make my own decision,” Madi says.

Without faith, you have nothing

As Madi and her family processed the news, they sought counseling from their pastor and found guidance on how to move forward with the pregnancy. Madi knew that she needed to work on her relationship with God first. 

“Without faith, you have nothing. Without God, you have nothing … If there ever was a time to turn to God, this is it,” Madi’s mom told her.

Madi’s pastor referred her to Aid for Women, a local pregnancy care center in Chicago, where she found encouragement and support to navigate her pregnancy. One of the center’s counselors connected her to Alexa Leitgeb, who chose life during an unplanned pregnancy in her early 20s and has an online platform mentoring women who are facing unexpected pregnancies.

“I was out in my little garden area one day praying to God. I was like, ‘Please just give me your sign and tell me what to do.’ And then I had this conversation with Alexa, and everything that I needed was in those conversations and on her website. Her website is such a great resource,” Madi says.

Madi and Charlotte with their family.

Madi didn’t want to spiral down a dark hole, so she surrendered everything in her life to the Lord. With God’s help and her family’s support, she chose to keep her baby and learn to be the best mom she can be for her child.

Madi also found overwhelming love and support from extended family members, including her cousin Joey and his wife, Cathy. 

“Cathy and I are good people. We have our two daughters that we’re raising to be good people. This world needs good people. You’re a good person, and you’re going to bring a good person to this world,” Joey told Madi. 

God chose me to be her mom

At 25 years old, Madi had the financial stability to raise a child. She had already graduated from college and had a job she enjoyed. She also had an apartment in Chicago. What Madi wrestled with the most was convenience. Choosing life for her baby would mean certain sacrifices and changes to her life, but keeping her baby became the best choice she ever made.

Madi’s daughter, Charlotte.

“This little girl is my whole life … God chose me to be her mom, and that is the biggest blessing that I could have ever received. It has been such a privilege that it was me,” Madi says.

Shortly before birth, Madi left Chicago to live with her parents and receive support as she balances her job and motherhood. She gave birth to her daughter, Charlotte, in December 2022. 

“At the end of the day, no matter how much I wanted things for my own independence, it came down to what’s going to be the best for my daughter and continuing to live in the city on my own with her would not be fair,” Madi says.

As a single mom, Madi wasn’t sure how motherhood would affect her career in medical sales. But thankfully, God surrounded her with a supportive boss and coworkers. She not only got to keep her job, but she also got promoted.

“You’re starting a whole new life, and you’re not going to remember life before that and it’s going to bring you such happiness and joy. It’s going to bring you really hard times, but it’s going to make you realize how strong of a person you are. You’re going to come out loving yourself even more. Seeing that you can keep a little person alive and take care of it with love and seeing that little baby happy, it’s going to give you happiness, regardless of the things that you have to give up or trade in. It’s going to be the best choice you’ll ever make,” Madi says.

Madi and her daughter, Charlotte.

Madi’s encouragement to expectant moms facing an unplanned pregnancy:

“My encouragement is to have the baby and find a way. They were put in this position for a reason, and whether they believe that it’s God, they were chosen to do this. Charlotte picked me to be her mom. That little baby picked you to be her mom, and you’re going to have an amazing life no matter the sacrifices that you’re going to have to make. It’s going to be so worth it. You’re going to find a love that you did not even know existed.”