The Super Bowl Ad That Saved This Girl’s Life

It was 2010 when Focus’s pro-life commercial featuring Pam and Tim Tebow aired on Super Bowl Sunday.

It’s an ad ABCNews.com recently called one of the most controversial of recent history, but for one woman, it’s a lot more than that.

For Susan Wood, it’s a big reason her 4-year-old girl, Avita Grace, is alive today.

When Susan told her boyfriend she was pregnant on Super Bowl Sunday 2010, he insisted she end her pregnancy. That night, Wood went to a Super Bowl party where she saw Focus’ ad featuring Pam Tebow sharing her heartfelt story of the survival of her “miracle baby,” Tim.

Unable to get the ad out of her head, Wood went online and saw the interview with Tim’s parents, Bob and Pam Tebow, on Focus’ website. Susan emailed the ministry, shared her situation, and received an encouraging response that gave her hope.

That’s when Susan decided to keep her baby.

Earlier this week, I blogged about the importance of commercials. I shared how those short TV spots both reflect and inform society’s ideals and opinions.

Most of the time, they use the power of persuasion to sell things, like cars, chips, soda or insurance.

There’s nothing wrong with that.

But I’m also thankful that the Tebows, the team here at Focus, and the donors who contributed to directly to this ad, had a bigger vision.

They realized the power of commercials could be used to sell an idea – that life can, and should, be celebrated.

They ran with the vision, and because of that, we’re all part of Susan and Avita’s story.

That’s why, today, five years later, we remember.

We rejoice.

We give thanks.

I’ll leave you with a video of Susan and Avita that gives viewers a glimpse into their lives today. I hope your heart will be warmed as you see that precious little girl run and play and love her mom.