“Even in the darkest moments, light and hope can break through. Keep holding on.”

There was a time in my life when I felt like I was drowning in pain. The weight of my childhood trauma and the unimaginable loss of my firstborn son, who passed away due to Trisomy 13 after I carried him full term, was too much to bear. In those dark moments, I was overwhelmed by the cards I had been dealt, and suicide felt like the only way to escape the agony I was living with every day.

I know what it’s like to stand at the edge, feeling like there’s no way forward. The pain, the loss, the brokenness—it all felt too heavy. I didn’t see a future for myself, and I didn’t think I had the strength to keep going. In that moment, I believed I had reached the end of my road. I was ready to give up, to surrender to the darkness that had consumed me.

But something held me back.

It was my faith. Even in my brokenness, a glimmer of hope remained. I believed there had to be more for me, even though I couldn’t see it at the time. And that hope—tiny as it was—kept me holding on, one day at a time. If it weren’t for my faith and hope, I wouldn’t be here to tell you this story. I wouldn’t be here to witness all the promises that were waiting for me on the other side of the storm.

Looking back now, I see how the things that were meant to break me, the moments that nearly did, have become the very reasons I’ve found beauty in brokenness. They’ve allowed me to see that there is purpose in the pain. If I had let go when it felt easier to give up, I would have missed out on the life I’m living today—a life filled with healing, joy, and a deeper understanding of why I’m here.

To anyone reading this who is feeling like the weight of life is unbearable, I want you to know that I understand. I’ve been where you are. I’ve felt the hopelessness and the darkness. But I also want you to know this: the pain you’re feeling right now does not define the rest of your life. It may feel impossible to believe, but there is hope for better days ahead.

Please, don’t give up. Don’t let the darkness win. There are people who love you, who need you, and who would miss you deeply. There are promises and possibilities in your future that you can’t yet imagine. I know it feels impossible now, but the very things that feel like they’re breaking you may end up being the things that shape you into the person you’re meant to be.

Hold on to hope, no matter how small. Reach out to someone. Talk to a friend, a family member, a counselor—anyone who can remind you that you don’t have to carry this burden alone. There is no shame in seeking help. It’s one of the bravest things you can do.

You are here for a reason. Your life has meaning and purpose beyond this moment of pain. I know because I’ve walked through it, and I’ve come out the other side. And if I had given up, I would have missed all the beauty that was waiting for me. You are stronger than you know, and you are worth fighting for.

Please don’t let go. Keep stepping forward, one small step at a time. There is more for you. There is hope. There is healing. And there are brighter days ahead.

—Coach Shae Pratcher

#SuicidePrevention

#Heal4Real