Survivor Story: Tabitha
My life story starts in 1983. My parents separated when I was very young. Despite being on her own, my mom gave my sister and me the best life possible, and I love her very much for that. When I was eleven years old, I was in a serious car wreck with my mom and sister, which changed the trajectory of my family’s life. I honestly thought my mom had just met our Father in Heaven.
Due to the injuries sustained in my back from the wreck, I was unable to continue participating in baseball or the swim team (which was my whole life) from that point on. Not being involved in those activities lead to all of my friendships eventually ending. I felt all alone, so I started seeking new friendships - which lead me into a life of 30 years of drug addiction, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation.
Before coming to The WellHouse, I was at my lowest point in life. Not knowing where I was or how I even got there. I was arrested in March of 2024, and this experience brought three very important people into my life: the officer who arrested me, my loving advocate, and my best friend. Realizing my rock bottom had 10 basements and facing 30 years in a Florida state prison was still not enough to seek help. I was bonded out of jail and went back to the same lifestyle. I didn’t have a care in the world for anything, anyone, and not even myself. The officer who arrested me back in 2024 found me again and arrested me for the second time. I’ll always be thankful for that experience because it truly changed my life. The officer and I both remember talking and her asking me if I was ready for a different life. My response was, “What difference does it make? I’m going to prison anyway. My life doesn’t matter.”
With these three special women loving me, believing in me, and helping me understand that my life does matter, I finally admitted that I needed help. While I stood there in court surrounded by my support system, I was given the option to go to The WellHouse instead of prison. A place of grace, love, compassion, support, healing, and restoration. Throughout my journey, I can say today that I truly love and believe in myself. I have understanding and healing in my life. I have an even bigger support system today, starting first with God at my center.
I’m so thankful for the all of the amazing, kind, and loving staff & volunteers that make The WellHouse what it is today. My family and I will be forever grateful for giving us back what the enemy stole.
I truly love every resident here at The WellHouse, and I am extremely proud of each one of them for having the courage to seek help and change their lives forever. I hope and pray every day that they keep looking up and always remember that they are loved, chosen, and worthy. And what the enemy meant for bad, God will use for His glory.
Today, I am a new WellHouse graduate. I’ve reunited with my daughter and sister for the first time in fourteen years. This is the first time my mom and dad have seen me sober in thirty years, and I am now going to live with them. I have been saved and baptized. My relationship with God is my top priority. I now have my driver’s license for the first time in eight years, and have been sober for 16 months. The majority of my legal matters are behind me - I am currently working on expungement, and once that is complete I will have 16 felonies and 11 misdemeanors completely erased from my record. All of these milestones are a true testament to God and the incredible work He has done in my life.