‘We Took the Life of Our First Daughter’: Regret, Redemption After Abortion

For years, Jeff and Tricia Bradford kept their abortion a secret from their friends and church community. 

“We hid our story, because of the deep shame and regret that we had,” Jeff Bradford says. 

The couple was engaged when Tricia, then 20, learned she was pregnant. “Fear didn’t waste a second coming into that conversation and shame,” she said. “And so, we just immediately thought, ‘What are we going to do?’”

The couple reached out to a family member and received some “terrible advice,” the husband says, adding that a few days later, he and his wife “ended up at Planned Parenthood, and we took the life of our first daughter, and we didn’t talk about it for 17 years.” 

Even being active members in their church, the couple says, they “sat in the pew silent” because no one in their community talked about the issue of life or abortion. But counseling and a connection with two pro-life leaders led the couple down a road that changed their lives.

Today, Jeff Bradford serves as president of Human Coalition, a pro-life organization that aims to help women choose life, and the couple have four children.

Now, 32 years after aborting their first baby, the Bradfords are sharing their story in their new book “Beauty from Ashes: A Christian Couple’s Journey From Abortion to Redemption.” 

The couple joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to share their story and encourage churches across the country to be intentional about providing care for women who have had abortions. 

Listen to the podcast below: