Meet Stanton Baby Eden
I received some baby pictures recently that I could hardly wait to share with you as we enter the Christmas season. It is especially appropriate to share these photos as we celebrate Jesus coming to earth as a vulnerable, innocent baby who would grow up to triumph over death for our redemption!
A photo of a Stanton Baby sent from a thankful mom or grandma is always an incredible gift, but when I opened my phone last weekend to see multiple photos of this particular Stanton Baby, I began weeping with joy.
Meet Stanton Baby Eden
Her story is one of triumph through the power of prayer and the grace of God.
In early 2021, Eden’s mom Elisabeth was drowning in addiction when she found out she was pregnant. Elisabeth was determined to have an abortion because the pregnancy was unexpected and overwhelming.
Eden was just a tiny baby inside the womb of her frail, struggling mother when I met them both. I sat and watched as Stanton sonographer Jo showed baby Eden to her mom through the ultrasound screen, and I saw Elisabeth’s defenses begin to crumple.
I told Elisabeth the truth about abortion and its irreversible consequences, and I told her the truth that the child in her womb was a precious, one-of-a-kind gift which could never be replaced.
At that moment, I looked into Elisabeth’s eyes and saw the struggle of a mother who wasn’t sure she could be brave, even though she desperately wanted to be. I said goodbye to Elisabeth that day without knowing what the outcome would be.
I also didn’t know I would never meet Elisabeth on earth again.
Over the next 6 months, I communicated with Elisabeth’s mom and walked with her through tense days and weeks as we prayed for Elisabeth to choose life for herself and her baby against overwhelming odds. And then, Elisabeth made a series of miraculous choices - she stopped using drugs, she turned back to God, and she decided to give birth to her baby girl. I rejoiced with Elisabeth and her family!
Baby Eden was born in October of 2021, but I didn’t hear about her birth until Eden was a few weeks old. I was told that precious Eden had arrived safely, and a breath later heard the devastating news that Elisabeth had died in the hospital soon after Eden’s birthday.
What a bittersweet time for Elisabeth and Eden’s family, to lose Elisabeth at a moment of such triumph and hope. My heart broke for Elisabeth’s mom especially, who had battled valiantly for the lives of her daughter and granddaughter only to have the overwhelming joy countered by unspeakable sorrow.
But… here we are, a year later. The Lord promises to bring beauty from ashes, and He has done just that in the lives of Eden and her family.
Elisabeth’s mom recently sent me these adorable photos of one-year-old Eden along with a wonderful update: Eden and her dad have a strong bond, and Dad is doing a wonderful job as a single father. Grandma has a standing date with Eden every week, to their mutual enjoyment. Eden is taking a lot of steps and saying “Dada”, and the entire family rejoices in the miracle of this smiley little girl with her mother’s eyes.
Little Eden, spared from abortion by her mother’s incredible act of courage and sacrifice, embodies the joy that can be found on the other side of an overwhelming crisis through the grace of God. And even when the unthinkable happens, Eden’s family can tell you that the choice of LIFE is always the right one. They look forward to seeing Elisabeth in heaven and thank God every day for the gift of Eden.
If you support Stanton Healthcare in any way (prayerfully, financially, or with your time), I hope you see your part in Elisabeth and Eden’s story.
It took time and resources to connect me and Jo and the ultrasound machine with Elisabeth and Eden on that pivotal day, and everyone needed a whole lot of prayer in the months following. Every time you pray, donate or give in any way to Stanton, you participate in our life-saving efforts, and words cannot express how grateful I am for your faithfulness.
Please, continue to stand with Stanton, because we serve vulnerable moms and babies every week in the Stanton Mobile whose lives hang in the balance, and we can’t do this without your help. If you don’t already, please consider making a monthly commitment - our monthly donors help provide the stability needed to keep the Stanton Mobile open for clients like Elisabeth and Eden.
If you are able to make a special year-end gift to Stanton Healthcare, I can promise it will be stewarded well and stretched far in our efforts to save moms, babies and their families from the violence of abortion.
I look at Eden’s sweet face, and I am overcome. This little girl is one of many Stanton Babies, and they all have a special place in my heart, but not every Stanton Baby has Elisabeth for a mom. My heart is forever changed because of Elisabeth and Eden, and I hope yours is too.
May God richly bless you and your family this Christmas season, as you rejoice in the freedom and hope that is found in Jesus Christ. Thank you again for partnering with Stanton Healthcare!
Merry Christmas from all of us at Stanton,
Danielle Versluys
President, Stanton SoCal