Discover how unexpected pregnancies reveal women's strength and resilience. This inspiring narrative challenges stereotypes and showcases the transformative power of compassion, support, and empowerment in reshaping futures.
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Success means living with integrity, impacting others, and making a meaningful difference. Not about status or titles, but about the lives I've touched.
Michelle Cratcha Witt · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Michelle
Michelle Cratcha Witt is a nonprofit healthcare leader and licensed practical nurse whose career has been dedicated to supporting women, children, and families through compassionate, life-affirming care. With more than 14 years of experience in pregnancy resource centers and a diverse clinical background spanning pediatrics, labor and delivery, postpartum care, medical-surgical nursing, orthopedics, pulmonary medicine, long-term care, and home healthcare, she has built a career that bridges frontline nursing with organizational leadership.
Her transition from clinical practice into nonprofit management reflects her commitment to expanding access to holistic services for women experiencing under-supported or unexpected pregnancies.
Currently serving as Director of Operations at Life Choices Fremont in Nebraska, Michelle oversees daily operations while helping the organization broaden its reach across rural communities. She is responsible for operational execution, program coordination, and the delivery of pregnancy confirmation services that include pregnancy testing and 1st trimester limited obstetric ultrasound. Life Choices also provides parenting education, material assistance, and referrals for housing, healthcare, and educational resources.
Prior to this role, she spent nearly eight years with Essential Pregnancy Services in Omaha, where she advanced from Licensed Practical Nurse to Director of Health and Wellness, leading clinical operations and integrating medical services with compassionate client support. She also serves as Director of Operations for Heart of a Child Ministries, promoting fetal development education and community outreach.
Michelle is recognized for her client-centered philosophy of care, emphasizing active listening, trauma-informed support, mentorship, and continuity of care. Certified in Limited Obstetric Ultrasound, she combines clinical expertise with operational leadership to strengthen nonprofit healthcare programs and improve outcomes for women and families.
Passionate about serving vulnerable populations, she advocates for expanded prenatal services, stronger support systems, bilingual outreach, and collaborative community partnerships. Guided by a servant-leadership mindset, Michelle continues to champion initiatives that empower women, support healthy families, and foster lasting positive change within the communities she serves.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Michelle
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having a serving attitude, being a great listener so women feel heard, and pursuing ongoing training in trauma-informed care and crisis communication even without traditional advanced degrees. Passion and drive have allowed me to excel and help thousands of women over 14 years.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
“Lead with compassion and be willing to step into hard situations—this work requires both strength and heart. Learn to truly listen, stay committed to growing, and don’t let a lack of experience or credentials hold you back. Your consistency and care will make a lasting impact.”
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
“We need more young women in this field—peer support builds trust in a way nothing else can. When young women lead and mentor others, the impact is powerful and lasting.”
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is serving undocumented women who fear government agencies and face language barriers, requiring us to hire bilingual staff and build trust. Opportunities include expanding medical services like beginning prenatal care and case management to better meet needs while remaining donor-funded and free for clients.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide both my work and personal life are my faith in God, a firm belief in the value of every human life, and a commitment to treating all people with dignity, compassion, and respect.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Michelle
From Fear to Empowerment: Rewriting the Narrative of Unexpected Pregnancy
How one woman's unexpected pregnancy became a story of resilience, support, and transformation.
Redefining the Narrative of Unexpected Pregnancy
For generations, the phrase "unexpected pregnancy" has carried an unspoken assumption: failure. Failure to prepare. Failure to succeed. Failure to move forward as planned.
But what if that narrative has never told the full story?
What if, instead of defining a woman's limitations, an unexpected pregnancy could reveal her strength-and become the very moment that reshapes her future?
It's time we rewrite the narrative.
Unexpected Does Not Mean Unworthy
Unexpected pregnancies are often framed through a lens of crisis-financial strain, emotional stress, disrupted goals. And while those challenges are real, what often gets overlooked is the incredible resilience of the woman at the center of the story.
Because women are not defined by the unexpected. They are defined by how they rise within it.
A Story of Strength
I met a woman who embodied that truth in a powerful way. A single parent of three, already working tirelessly just to keep her family afloat, discovered she was pregnant-and soon after, learned she was expecting twins.
Her situation was complicated. Her resources were limited. But her love for her children was unquestionable. That love created tension as she feared she wasn't doing enough. She considered abortion-not because she wanted it, but because she believed it might protect her family.
She made the appointment-but something paused.
Instead, she reached out for support.
Compassion, Information, and Partnership
At the PHO where I served as a nurse, she found what she truly needed: compassion, information, and partnership. We listened, provided accurate medical information, and completed an ultrasound-helping her see both the reality of her situation and the truth that she was not alone.
Empowerment came through support. When she chose to continue her pregnancy, we walked alongside her, helping secure rent, housing, transportation, employment readiness, education pathways, and essential resources.
This was not temporary relief-it was a foundation.
She returned to school, earned certification, secured better employment, and created a stronger environment for her family. Today, her family and twins are thriving-and so is she.
Motherhood as a Catalyst
Motherhood is not a setback-it is often a catalyst for strength, purpose, and growth.
Unexpected does not mean unworthy. It does not mean incapable.
When women are supported and equipped, fear gives way to empowerment-and that empowerment impacts generations.
Because when a mother rises, her children rise with her.
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