Saving Abigail Grace:
A Mother's Story of Transforming
Pain into Purpose
On an ordinary October day, Layla Slater’s world changed in an instant. A catastrophic accident left her fighting for her life, forcing her unborn daughter, Abigail Grace, into a premature and fragile existence. Born in the midst of chaos, baby Abigail faced odds—devastating injuries, countless surgeries, and an uncertain future.
From her own hospital bed, battling pain from life-altering wounds, Layla began a journey of unimaginable strength. With faith in God as her anchor and love as her guide, she fought to heal herself while remaining by Abigail’s side in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), determined to give her daughter every chance to survive.
Saving Abigail Grace is a deeply moving memoir about resilience in the face of tremendous personal trauma. Layla’s story unveils the power of hope and faith, the limitless depths of a mother’s love, and the miracles that arise when you refuse to give up. Layla valiantly takes readers through each moment of her compelling story of healing and restoration—a path etched with hardship and resilience, but also marked by strength and triumph!
Available online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million or
Buy the book in the Peoria, Illinois area at these locally-owned bookstores.
About Layla
Born and raised in Monmouth, Illinois, this small-town girl with big dreams shattered expectations by becoming the first in her family to attend college. Layla pursued her Bachelor of Science degree at Western Illinois University, where she met the man who would eventually become her husband and life partner. Layla then earned her graduate credentials from University of Illinois at Springfield, graduating with her Master of Arts degree in environmental studies just weeks before becoming a mother to her son, Noah.
Layla and her husband Brian, a veteran of the United States Air Force, own and operate their wealth management business in Peoria, Illinois, where Layla is heavily involved in community work, volunteering for a variety of local and national nonprofit organizations. As the mother of a child who has benefitted from early intervention and special education services (Abigail), Layla is an advocate for those who live with developmental delays and learning disabilities.
She spends half of her time in Peoria, Illinois, and the other half in Nashville, Tennessee, taking full advantage of the offerings of both lovely cities. Wherever she is, Layla enjoys spending time with her friends over a meal at her favorite local restaurants or over a craft coffee or cocktail, patronizing small businesses. With a focus on her health and wellness, she can also be found on her Peloton, hiking in nature, or working out in some of Nashville’s most popular studios like Pvolve, Pure Barre, and Rumble boxing studio.
Her husband (Brian), two adult children (Noah and Abigail), and two Chinese Crested pups (Loki and Bentley) are her entire world.
Organizations with which Layla is affiliated:
Member of National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) of Central Illinois
Member of Junior League of Peoria
Member of Women in Leadership of Central Illinois
Member of Impact Central Illinois
Member of Heart of Illinois Blue Star Mothers
Executive Board Member of Family House of Peoria
Volunteer for Hydrocephalus Association
Epilepsy Awareness Ambassador for Epilepsy Foundation
Layla was the proud recipient of the Women in Leadership Career Leader of the Year award in 2024.
Gallery
On display at Picket Fence Foundation
Signing at my launch party
Delivering SAG to the Peoria Riverfront Museum
On display at Book Nook Peoria
Talking about SAG on the iconic Greg and Dan Show in downtown Peoria
On display at Lit on Fire
Getting the chance to meet the incredible Jenna Bush Hager at the W, Nashville, TN
Women in Leadership of Central Illinois local author event
Speaking on air at WEEK News 25 about SAG
Thanking my friends and family who attended my launch party
My family at my launch party
Meeting and chatting with best-selling author, Emma Straub. What a treat!
More signings
Speaking on air with Roger and Friends in Peoria, IL
My first nationally-syndicated podcast appearance with The Jay Maymi, Dallas, TX
Just hanging out with the lovely best-selling author, Amity Gaige
Proud moment - accepting my Career Leader of the Year award from Women in Leadership of Central Illinois
On set with host and local celebrity, Christine Zak Edmonds, filming for my segment on her show, Consider This
Book signing at local author event - Tails of a Bookworm
A dream come true! Meeting one of my favorite authors, Elin Hiderbrand
On the air with Tonya at WCIC talking about SAG with Abigail Grace
After the show with WCIC's Tonya Davis
Celebrating the release of my book designer's book - Becky Bayne
Handed my book to Elena Nicolaou to read at the Read with Jenna Book Festival in Nashville, TN
Nashville's very own Ann Patchett, author and owner of Parnassus Bookstore, signing my copy of her book, These Precious Days
The amazing Tiffany Haddish signing my copy of Layla, the Last Black Unicorn
Taking SAG with me to the Read with Jenna Book Festival
Testimonials
Divine S
As a mother of a child with autism, I saw so much of my own story reflected in Layla’s words—the fear, the fight, and the fierce love that keeps us moving forward. Her ability to weave heartbreak and hope so seamlessly left me both in tears and deeply encouraged.
JCM
What an encouragement!! This book will touch each and every reader, no matter your walk of life!! Being a mom of a special needs daughter, I can relate to parts of Layla's story and how important it is to be "present and advocate", all while clinging to a God that will hold you up. Such a beautiful story of courage, faith and love. I HIGHLY recommend!!
Darcy M
One of the aspects I appreciated most was the inclusion of QR codes throughout the book, linking to additional resources that offer real support and guidance for those facing similar struggles. It's a thoughtful touch that adds even more depth to the story.
This book isn’t just about the challenges Layla faced—it’s about finding hope, resilience, and the strength to move forward. If you're looking for a heartfelt and honest account of overcoming trauma, Saving Abigail Grace is a must-read.
Tammy S
If you love inspirational stories, this is the authors personal account that starts with heartbreak and ends full circle. It's a story of how a family beat the odds and lived to tell it, share it and hope to help other families that may be going through something similar. It's a remarkable journey that shows how their unconditional love and faith gave them the strength to keep going even during the darkest of days. It's a true testament of how Abi's horrific beginning in this life did not define the miracle of GOD's plan for her today.
For more reviews of Saving Abigail Grace: A Mother's Story of Transforming Pain into Purpose, visit Amazon.
Hire Layla to Speak at
Your Next Event
Use this form to inquire about hiring Layla to speak at your next event.
There are no speaking fees; she only asks to be allowed to sell her books to members of the audience.
