Page 4 - MosaicAnnualReport2023

MASTERPIECE : SAVING LIVES
ICRYSTAL’S STORY
always hoped I would feel a certain way when finding out I was pregnant. When I envisioned that time as a kid, I was younger than I am now, living in a beautiful home, and married to a loving, supportive, and compassionate man. Isn’t that the ideal?
But my reality was that I was 37 years old, divorced from a same sex marriage, living alone and without friends around me, in bad health, and depressed. I was living day to day; I had no plans or aspirations for myself or my future. So, when I found out I was pregnant, I was scared and lost.
The only person I could turn to was my sister, who knew I was struggling with what I should do with the baby. She found Mosaic and scheduled an appointment. If she hadn’t taken that step for me, I don’t know what would’ve happened.
During my appointment, I met with my advocate counselor and nurse and told them my story. I explained my trauma from my childhood, my regret of remaining in a marriage to a woman and my current state of fear and loneliness. I don’t know how long I was there, but there was no judgment, no rushing me. Just love, patience, and kindness.
Then it was time for the ultrasound. I was finally going to see if there was a heartbeat—and there was. There was life in there, even after all the despair I felt, the pain and the health struggles. There was still a heartbeat, pumping away.
At that moment, I realized that this life within me was a miracle. My miracle. God saved me through this little life and revealed Himself to me. He removed the scales from my eyes, and He gave me vision.
Crystal was a special guest at Mosaic’s 2023 Gala.
After the ultrasound, I went to speak to my advocate counselor. She prayed with me and I accepted Christ as my savior. At that moment, it felt like an unknown heavy weight was lifted from my shoulders. I am not alone, I am loved, and I have a purpose. God gave me my son, Sammy. God chose me to be his mom.
Before Sammy, I thought my best days were behind me. I accepted the idea that I wouldn’t have a family. But now my eyes and heart have been opened to life, faith, and community. Mosaic and my advocate counselors are now my extended family who have supported me, prayed with me, and helped me remember I am braver and stronger than I think.
Now, my beautiful son, Sammy, is almost a year old and is my life. We belong to a church, I’m still meeting with my Mosaic advocate counselor, and I have been getting amazing support and guidance through the Bridge Community support group Mosaic connected me with.
I still have hard days. My anger and guilt will creep back in, but I am human. My advocate counselor shared this verse with me at my baby shower and I read it whenever I find myself struggling:
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; Struck down, but not destroyed. Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 4:16)
The most amazing thing, other than Sammy, is that I can now see a brighter future. For 37 years, I had so much anger about my childhood and my upbringing, as well as anger with decisions I had made. I would always think about what I would go back and change if I could. But my life, my heart, are different now. I feel like I have a future, that I am now living, and I look forward to every new day.
And if I’m ever asked, “if you could go back and do it all over again, what would you change?” my answer will be nothing at all. Thank you Mosaic!
4
MOSAIC 2023 ANNUAL REPORT