My first date was with a 63 year old man, and after dinner I very quickly realized this was not something you get paid for without any touching involved. And I didn’t leave untouched. As much as I hated it, I could not deny that I felt powerful with the money and the illusion of freedom. An illusion of freedom that would soon become my prison. I grew up in a healthy and stable family, but I was living a double life. I was using drugs and being reckless at age 14.
Read MoreWhat motivates you? What gets you up in the morning, dressed and out the door – affirmation from loved ones, tangible rewards, attaining your personal or team goals? Whatever it is, you can be sure your unique life seasons and dreams have shaped it. For a survivor of human trafficking, motivation can be tricky. When you’re fighting for your life, survival is often the only motivator.
Read MoreThanks to The WellHouse, all of those doubts I had about God are a thing of the past. Today I believe God has always loved me, even when I didn’t love myself. Today I fully understand the price Jesus paid for my sins and knowing that he has forgiven my sins has helped me to finally forgive myself. Best of all, today I can finally see what I couldn’t see for all those years. I survived my trauma because God has been protecting me, and will always protect me. I am never alone.
Read MoreMy life before coming to The WellHouse was a constant tornado spinning out of control. I was buried alive in brokenness and loneliness. I had lost all hope and was living in complete darkness. I was living on the hood of an abandoned car in the middle of my hometown. I was running from an abuser, a trafficker, and honestly, I was running from myself.
Read MoreFor so long my hands felt dirty, even angry, after years of being trafficked. They were forced to participate in unmentionable acts and carried the scars, visible and invisible, of those regrets. Even after being set free, everything I did was still tainted by the memories of the past. There was no pride in what I accomplished, somehow my history still overshadowed the present.
Read MoreBefore coming to The WellHouse I knew about God, but I didn’t have a relationship with Him, and that’s the biggest treasure I’ve gained while being here. I dove into the Word and the program, and through them God taught me that I am a daughter of the most high King and to wear my crown. He paid the price, I’m forgiven, and the shame and guilt are cast as far as East is from the West. I’m worth it. My past doesn’t define my future. I have a purpose for my life, and it is God-ordained.
Read MoreMy trafficking experience did not happen in seclusion or hidden away. I was right alongside my blissfully unaware peers and unknowing teachers. I would be sold at night and expected to continue with my scheduled routine the next day, putting on the childhood “normal” along with my school clothes. Perhaps if the adults in my life knew what to look for, I would have been free sooner.
Read MoreI don’t know how I ended up there. How things got as bad as they did. I never came from that kind of lifestyle. I may have come from a broken home, but no one in my family ever went as far and as dark as I did. I’ve been to jail more times than I can count, I’ve overdosed on drugs. I didn’t know how to handle any of the things I was feeling, and I did the only thing I knew to do. I numbed myself, until I lost myself.
Read MoreI grew up in a small town in Alabama, about 25 miles north of Birmingham. My brother and I had loving parents and we never went without. We were raised in church where our Dad served as a Deacon, and we were always surrounded by Godly friends. When I became a preteen, I remember having all of these emotions that I couldn’t seem to express without consequences. I became very rebellious against my parents, unable to focus at school, and was losing control of my life.
Read MoreIn the Fall of 2018, I met a sweet, funny, and attractive guy who I could relate to in so many ways. Occasionally we would go out and get drinks at a bar, and I always had fun and enjoyed my time with him. Then came the black out periods. I would wake up frightened after going out with him because I couldn’t remember anything I did from the night before.
Read More“Trauma and drug addiction have plagued my life for as long as I can remember. IV drug use took me captive. I was a slave to sin and had lost myself and all sense of hope for my future. When I first came to the WellHouse, I had no faith and no sense of direction for my life.”
Read More“I grew up as a small town girl from rural Alabama, protected and sheltered from the dangers of the big city, or so I thought. I was raised by Godly parents who did the best they could, both coming from broken homes and trying to give me a different kind of life than they knew. As trauma has it, the inevitable happened….”
Read More“As life went on things only got worse for me. Now I see God wasn't escalating my problems, he was just getting me to the feet of Jesus. I am glad I got tangled up. I am glad I got through alive! I thank God for my rebirth because I will never be the woman who is caught in those acts again.”
Read More“Growing up with my two brothers, we were raised by our grandparents, living in Kentucky and Florida. We had a very happy childhood and we were always well-provided for by our loving and kind grandparents. Some might think it’s strange that a happy, loved, little girl would grow up to be an addict and a prostitute, but that is exactly what happened to me.”
Read MoreAlmost a year ago, I left my home in North Carolina with a man that I met online and ended up getting sex trafficked. A week later, we travelled to Alabama where I found a chance to get away. I ended up walking 60 miles to regain my freedom.
Read MoreTwo years ago today I gave up… I gave up being hurt, I gave up fighting myself and those trying to help me. I gave up on everything, but it was the best thing to happen. But Today marks TWO years since I was rescued and brought to The WellHouse, and my life is better than I could ever imagine it being.
Read MoreThe [time in captivity] damaged my soul in ways I didn’t know were possible. I would escape these days of misery by leaving my body and imagining I am home with my family. I tried to make myself believe this was just a bad dream.
Read MoreMy name is Haylee Dortch, a recent graduate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I’m now a full-time case manager at the WellHouse! I went into social work wondering which population would call to me. It wasn’t long at all before God called me into this amazing community of hard-working clinicians and inspiring survivors.
Read MoreOctober and November were busy months at the WellHouse! We coordinated 26 intakes and placements from across the country, of both women and children. Of those, 5 came to the WellHouse to start our long-term recovery program. Residents came to our facility from as far south as Florida and as far north as Illinois.
Read MoreHannah came from a seemingly "normal" family. Her grandfather was a preacher, and her name was inspired by a Biblical figure, but things were not what they seemed. Growing up, she dealt with ongoing sexual harassment and "culture grooming." Hannah became a mom at age 16. After high school, she had little options to support herself and turned to night club dancing. This is where her trafficking story begins.
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