​From Loss to New Life: Janae’s Story of Healing, Hope, and Community

When JaNae moved back to Michigan, she didn’t expect to find a place like The Luke Clinic—a place that would walk with her through some of the most vulnerable, painful, and beautiful chapters of her life.

JaNae is the proud mother of five children, two of whom were born with the support of The Luke Clinic. But her journey here began in heartbreak. Eight years ago, her first baby, Miracle, passed away at just two months old. The trauma of her daughter’s death led her to seek a fresh start in Atlanta, where she met her husband, Blane, and started a new chapter, welcoming two sons into the world.

Eventually, the pull of home brought JaNae and her growing family back to Detroit. Pregnant again and caught in the confusing gap between Medicaid coverage in different states—a common challenge many of our patients face—JaNae turned to Another Way Pregnancy Center. They listened to her story, met her in her moment of need, and directed her to The Luke Clinic for prenatal care.

JaNae arrived unsure and a bit skeptical of what a free clinic might be like. What she found, though, was care that far exceeded her expectations. “I was seen, I was heard, and I was taken seriously,” she says. She found warmth and dignity in every appointment and trusted her care team so deeply that she chose to deliver her son, Sevynn, with the University of Michigan Family Medicine doctors who had supported her throughout her pregnancy. “Every part of the experience was filled with kindness,” she remembers, even down to the valet who brought her a wheelchair and made sure she didn’t get lost on her way to labor and delivery. “Sevynn’s birth was peaceful. I felt empowered.”

Last year, when she became pregnant again, JaNae faced a different kind of emotional storm. Life with three young boys under the age of 3 was already overwhelming, and the thought of adding a fourth child, especially a girl, was almost too much. The grief of losing Miracle returned with intensity, and for the first time, JaNae considered abortion.

But she wasn’t alone.

At The Luke Clinic, she had built relationships. Real ones. She knew she could walk through our doors, say what she was feeling, and be met with love, compassion, and support. And that’s exactly what happened. The team encouraged her, prayed with her, and gave her space to grieve, hope, and heal. With their help, JaNae continued her pregnancy and welcomed baby Brooklyn earlier this year.

Now, as Brooklyn reaches two months old—the very age that Miracle was when she passed—JaNae reflects on God’s goodness in the midst of her grief. “Brooklyn reminds me of Miracle. I didn’t get to raise her, but now I get to treasure every moment with Brooklyn. It’s healing in a way I didn’t expect.”

JaNae’s story is a testament to what The Luke Clinic stands for: relationship-based care that surrounds women with support, dignity, and love, regardless of their insurance status or past.

“I had insurance for my last pregnancy,” JaNae says, “but I still chose to come to The Luke Clinic. No one else offers the kind of care I get here. If you feel alone, I want you to know—at The Luke Clinic, someone is there for you 24/7. And you will never regret getting your care in this free clinic.”!