The Family Room (The Quest)

Tracy Winsor, wife, mother, grandmother, and ministry co-founder

The joy of a pregnancy can dissolve when parents are told prenatal testing may have uncovered a genetic defect. While these tests are meant to screen rather than diagnose, they become a defining moment for parents. Tracy Winsor was one of those mothers and it changed her life forever. Not because of despair, but because it became the catalyst for a unique ministry called “Be Not Afraid,” which she co-founded with Sandy Buck in 2008.

Increasingly, the medical community recommended terminating these pregnancies, giving parents little time to think. If they wanted to allow God to decide the length and quality of their child’s life, resources were literally nonexistent. “Be Not Afraid” was their response. Tracy explains, “These parents think they have a medical crisis that requires a medical solution. We respond with trauma-informed care.” This care teaches parents how to advocate for their child.

In 2023 “Be Not Afraid” realized the need was greater than their reach and developed curriculum to teach other organizations how to provide their service of care to parents. To date, a dozen organizations have taken their training.

Raised by her mother and grandmother, Tracy always had a Catholic identity. The mother of six boys and two babies in heaven, Tracy is expecting her sixth grandchild shortly. Using her undergrad degree in Public Administration, Tracy was able to secure a seat at the table to advocate for these babies and their parents.

Resources

• Visit Be Not Afraid’s website for extensive information about prenatal diagnoses and trauma-informed-care.
• Be Not Afraid on Instagram
• Article: “Be Not Afraid’s training program expands support for families facing prenatal diagnoses”, posted on Live Action’s website
• If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of The Boat by John Ortberg. This book was mentioned by Tracy as instrumental in her journey.