From Survival to Safety: Anna’s Story

For most of her life, Anna lived in survival mode.

She carried deep trauma from childhood into adulthood, shaped by abuse, instability, and years of feeling like something was wrong with her. Without knowing she was autistic, everyday life felt overwhelming. School was difficult. Relationships were dangerous. Eventually, a marriage became unsafe, and Anna fled with her two children, moving between shelters, temporary housing, and nights spent waiting outside full facilities in the cold.

“I honestly thought we were going to die homeless,” she remembers.

When Anna was referred to City of Refuge, she expected another rejection. Instead, she and her children were welcomed. Safety came first. Then stability. Then care.

At City of Refuge, Anna received access to therapy and medical support that had long been out of reach. She was diagnosed with anxiety, PTSD, major depression, and autism, answers that helped her finally understand her life. Her son was also diagnosed, opening the door for support for both of them. As survival loosened its grip, healing began.

With her mental health supported, Anna began rebuilding her future. She worked toward her GED and enrolled in the Tech Academy’s cybersecurity program, an opportunity she had been waiting for. Despite never finishing high school, Anna has become one of the top students in her class, thriving in the Tech Academy and transforming a lifelong passion for computers into a viable career path.

Her children returned to school after a year without consistent education. They now receive medical care, counseling, and stability tailored to their needs. “When I wasn’t in survival mode anymore,” Anna says, “I could finally start figuring things out.”

Today, Anna is still healing, but she is no longer hopeless. She and her children are safe, supported, and moving forward together, with a future that finally feels within reach.

Anna’s story reflects what can happen when survival gives way to stability and care. With consistent support and space to heal, she is rebuilding confidence, reclaiming her voice, and moving toward a future she once could not imagine.

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