After being sexually assaulted, facing abandonment, and contemplating abortion, Febe found strength through faith and turned her pain into a testimony of perseverance.

At 19 years old, Febe faced an unplanned pregnancy following a traumatic night. Her daughter, now almost 9 years old, became a source of purpose and strength. Today, Febe is a mom to three children.

Reflecting on her journey, Febe says, “I’m very blessed. Although I may not have much, having God in my life means I have everything I need.”

Febe’s childhood and teenage years

Febe was born in Mexico and came to the U.S. before she was 2 years old. She said her parents wanted a better life for their family, given the poverty they faced back home.

Her childhood was shaped by family struggles, including the eventual divorce of her parents. As the youngest of three sisters — both of whom had their own busy social lives — Febe often felt like the “black sheep.”

Febe says her father remained deeply rooted in his Christian faith, faithfully attending church and reading his Bible. But her mother gradually drifted away from the Lord. 

“I knew of God, but I never really got into reading the Bible or coming to know the Lord or making any relationship with Him whatsoever,” she says. 

Growing up, Febe’s social life was limited. Her father was overprotective, and although she had some friends, those friendships faded over time. 

By her teen years, Febe says she was fully immersed in a lifestyle of smoking cigarettes, experimenting with drugs, and drinking heavily.

“I was very gone into the world,” she says.

The night that changed everything

In 2016, when Febe was 19 years old, she went to a club to celebrate her friend’s birthday. She invited a man she had been dating for just a few months – the man who would later become the father of her daughter.

After drinking alcohol and taking drugs, Febe says she became disoriented and was unable to walk. 

“I didn’t really know what was going on,” she recalls. “At some point, me and his friends went to a car and we were all just hanging out [and] I got really tired and sleepy because of so much drinking.”

In that moment of vulnerability, Febe says he took advantage of her. 

“I knew what was happening, but I couldn’t do anything because for some reason I felt like I couldn’t move my body,” she says.

Despite what happened, the night continued, and the next day, everything seemed normal on the surface. Febe says she and the man carried on with their daily lives as if nothing had changed.

But then, after a month or two, Febe realized she had missed her period. At first, she says she tried to explain it away — stress, the drinking, or other factors. But deep down, she feared she was pregnant.

A positive test and a storm of emotions

Febe had just graduated from high school, with dreams of college, getting her driver’s license, and buying her first car. Pregnancy was the last thing on her mind.

When the pregnancy test came back positive, Febe says she was overwhelmed with confusion and self-blame. She recalls struggling with feelings of irresponsibility and naivety, asking herself, “How could I have trusted someone, and they do this to me?” 

When Febe told the father of her daughter, he asked her, “Is it too late for Plan B?” — even though a month or two had already passed (Women are advised to take Plan B promptly after unprotected sex, as effectiveness declines after 72 hours). Shortly after, he disappeared from her life.

Left to face the situation alone, Febe’s parents stepped in to cover most of the medical and living expenses when his family refused to help. Encouraged by a friend’s mother, Febe decided to file for child support to hold him accountable.

Eventually, Febe, her parents, her daughter’s father, and his mother met to discuss support. But instead of cooperation, she says he and his mother threw her “under the bus” and blamed her completely.

Febe says he also boasted about getting an apartment for them to live together — something she never agreed to or wanted, given their past. Despite these talks, neither he nor his family followed through with financial or emotional support for her and their daughter.

In a turn of events, the man was arrested and imprisoned for sexually assaulting another woman. Febe says he remains behind bars and will not be released until Febe’s daughter is likely in her late 20s.

From contemplating abortion to embracing life

In the early stages of her pregnancy, Febe wrestled with the idea of ending it.

“There were thoughts of going to an abortion clinic or just finding other ways of ending the pregnancy in my own hands,” she says. 

Yet every time she came close, something held her back.

“I always felt this hesitation … just something [told] me not to,” Febe says. 

For much of the pregnancy, Febe says she felt emotionally detached from her baby. She went to her doctor appointments and watched her belly grow, but the reality had not fully sunk in. One day, during a visit to her mother’s house, their conversation sparked a turning point. 

When her mother asked how she felt about the pregnancy, Febe says she told her she “didn’t really feel anything” toward her baby. However, her mother gently encouraged her, saying, “Maybe someday you will — maybe after you have her, or if you see a sonogram.”

Her family struggled to accept the news at first, but over time, Febe says they came to terms with it, offered support, and ultimately advised against her ending the pregnancy. In the end, Febe decided to choose life for her daughter. She now sees the pregnancy as a lifeline. 

Febe says, “I feel like this pregnancy is what saved my life in terms of God allowing me to go through that … God knew I could handle it, and He knew that I had to go through it and that it would be quite literally the only thing that could have saved my life. I sometimes think that if I had not gone through that, I really could have gone into a deep rabbit hole of depression, anxiety, and would have taken my life. Because [of] the lifestyle that I was living, it was very empty, very depressing, filled with drugs, alcohol, and partying. I’ve also gone through a lot of car crashes. I’m honestly surprised, and I thank God that none of them had killed me. He sustained me through everything that wanted to take me down. I feel like God was calling me, but I just didn’t know. God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit was stopping me from ending the pregnancy, or even hurting myself.”

A new beginning and a growing family

About one month after giving birth to her daughter in 2016, Febe reconnected with an old boyfriend from middle school and high school.

“Regardless of what I went through and my oldest not being his daughter, he decided to be a father to her anyway,” Febe says.

They stayed together over the years, building a strong and supportive family, and had two more children along the way. They got married in January 2024.

“Regardless of everything that’s happened, I don’t regret my decision,” Febe says. “I’m very happy I kept my daughter because I feel that God allowed things to happen … and worked them out for my good.”

Renewed faith through loss

As Febe recalls her faith journey, she points to 2023 as a pivotal year — when she lost both of her grandparents within four months. Their passing, after nearly two decades of separation, deeply impacted her.

Her grandfather’s final wish was for the family to give their lives to the Lord. 

“When he said that, I felt the want to do it,” she recalls. “It’s hard to explain the feeling, but taking it upon myself to do it was the best decision of my life.”

That moment marked a pivotal moment for Febe as she decided to give her life to Christ. Nearly three years later, Febe says, “I quite literally can’t imagine my life without God in it.”

Febe’s encouragement to those facing an unplanned pregnancy: 

“God gives people children to whom He knows can take care of them and provide for them. Having an abortion will only give a foothold to the enemy to condemn you and kill you every day with guilt mentally. Just remain faithful to the Lord and go to Him for whatever. God is your father, your best friend, [and] He will always look after you, watch over you, [and] pray over you.”

Written by Melina Nicole.