17-weeks into their pregnancy, Brittany and Brandon Buell were given the heartbreaking news that their son, whom they had already named Jaxon, had a rare condition called Microhydranencephaly (meaning that he was missing part of his skull and most of his brain), and that he would likely die in utero or shortly after birth. If he did somehow survive, they were told he would suffer from severe neurological problems, would likely be deaf, blind, and unable to sit up, crawl, or communicate. Terminating the pregnancy, abortion, was suggested on numerous occasions, but the Buells refused, opting instead to “choose life.”

Brandon and Brittany Buell are the authors of Don’t Blink: What the Little Boy Nobody Expected to Live Is Teaching the World about Life.

Tracy Winsor is the administrative coordinator and co-founder of Be Not Afraid, a non-profit that offers support for parents carrying to term following a prenatal diagnosis.

Tracy is a wife and mother of six surviving sons and has worked in the field of maternal child health for over twenty years. She has undergraduate degrees in English and Psychology, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration. As a young mother, she developed and implemented Elizabeth Ministry services in both the Diocese of St. Augustine and the Diocese of Charlotte. She has worked in direct service in the field of medical advocacy, and as a childbirth and parenting educator, doula and peer minister. She has completed RTS and Share bereavement training as well as the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte’s Bereavement Ministry Program and an Archdiocese of Atlanta bereavement seminar.

As a Be Not Afraid trainer, Tracy has provided programs in many states. As Administrative Coordinator, she is the primary mentor for Be Not Afraid-modeled developing ministries.

Having had two miscarriages, Tracy’s work with BNA is informed by her own experiences of loss, and her desire to provide comfort and support to parents carrying to term.