Tracy's Choices

Young people are constantly bombarded with messages promoting “safe sex,” “say no to drugs,” “don’t drink and drive,” etc. Perhaps it is because there is a recklessness to youth. Many believe that nothing will happen to them—they are deluded into thinking they are invincible.

Tracy’s Choices tells the true life story of Tracy Eichman, a woman who started experimenting with alcohol by kindergarten, tried an “innocent” joint in her teen years, and by the time she was 17 had became so addicted to drugs that she turned to prostitution to support her expensive habit.

Though our culture today always wants to shift the blame to someone else (parental abuse, poverty, etc.) Tracy’s Choices drives home the truth that we are responsible for our own actions. The tagline for this documentary states: “It’s Time We Told Our Kids That Some Choices They Make Can Kill Them.”

Picked up by Lt. Jim Mays in a sting operation, incarceration became the saving grace for Tracy. Lt. Mays, a committed Christian and member of the Rockford, Illinois First Evangelical Free Church. Jim shared God’s love and mercy with Tracy. Overwhelmed, she became a Christian and committed her final days on Earth to promoting a godly lifestyle. Tracy became infamous for being the first person in the State of Illinois to be arrested, convicted, and sent to prison for knowingly trying to transmit the AIDS virus. Through sex or shared needles, she was killing people with a slow death.

This 33 minute documentary is intended for teens and young adults. It includes interviews with Tracy both in prison and at a Sunday-evening church service. Lt. Mays hosts the program which also interviews a doctor and dentist that frankly discuss the very real problems that reckless living can bring. Deadly effects may be just one decision away.