When Freedom Feels Impossible: Mariah’s Story of Courage, Motherhood, and the Long Road to Healing
When the call first came through our hotline, Mariah* sounded exhausted, frightened, and unsure if help was even possible. She was calling from a Kroger store, having just been choked and thrown out of a car by the man who had trafficked and controlled her for years. He had taken everything from her—her phone, her ID, her freedom, and even her ability to believe she belonged anywhere safe.
What she did have were two-year-old twin daughters she desperately longed to reach. And underneath the terror, a tiny spark of hope.
A Life Marked by Abuse and Fear
Mariah had been trafficked since she was a teenager. As she shared her story with our team, waves of trauma surfaced—abuse so severe she struggled to speak the words out loud. She described being tied up, beaten, urinated on, forced into sexual exploitation, and even subjected to bestiality over the past six months.
Her trafficker controlled every part of her life. She couldn’t eat without asking. She couldn’t shower without permission. She couldn’t see her family. And she couldn’t protect her daughters.
On the day she called us, she whispered a heartbreaking question no one should ever have to ask:
“Will I have to do anything to stay in this hotel?”
For the first time in a long time, she needed to be told she was safe.
She Wasn’t Alone—She Just Needed a Way Out
While she was terrified for herself, her greatest fear was being separated from her daughters. The twins had just been transported from Georgia to Alabama by a family member who recognized something was terribly wrong. When Mariah learned they were safe, she cried—grief mixed with relief.
Our team reassured her repeatedly: We will not send you anywhere without your girls.
Still, trauma made it difficult for her to believe freedom was possible. She had lived under control for so long that the idea of choice felt foreign.
When she asked if she could bring her daughters to a long-term program with her, and we answered yes, she could hardly take it in.
“Are you serious? They would let me bring my girls?” she asked, stunned.
For the first time, she allowed herself to imagine a life beyond survival.
Step by Step, Door by Door
The next days were filled with movement—hotels, food deliveries, attempts to secure a phone after several failed activation attempts, and constant emotional support as Mariah processed years of trauma.
She expressed deep fear about medical care, terrified that doctors might see evidence of her abuse or that she might “break down” in front of them. She worried about reporting to police. She worried about everything—as survivors often do when the body is still in survival mode.
But she kept taking small steps forward.
A Path Toward Stability
As Mariah waited in Georgia, we contacted her brother in Alabama to confirm that he and his wife could safely support her and the twins while we searched for a long-term placement. He was emotional when he learned what she had survived—heartbroken that he hadn’t known, ready to help however he could.
Her journey was not simple. There were missed calls, changing plans, silent moments where trauma froze her ability to respond. But with every prayer, every conversation, and every act of care, her sense of dignity began to slowly return.
By the end of the process, Mariah was moving toward reunification with her daughters, safe housing, and access to long-term trauma-informed support—something she never imagined was possible.
Why Her Story Matters
Mariah’s story represents the reality of countless survivors today:
navigating deep trauma
caring for children while escaping exploitation
having no ID, phone, or safe shelter
needing medical attention, legal support, and emotional care
Recovery isn’t linear. It requires time, compassion, and a community willing to stand in the gap.
This is the heart of Rescue America’s mission: to meet survivors in their most vulnerable moments and walk with them toward safety, stability, and healing—no matter how complex their needs might be.
Your Partnership Makes Stories Like Mariah’s Possible
When you give, volunteer, or pray, you’re ensuring survivors like Mariah don’t have to navigate freedom alone. You’re helping reunite families. You’re supporting trauma-informed care. You’re restoring dignity where it’s been stripped away.
And you’re reminding survivors that they matter—and that healing is possible.
If you or someone you know have been sexually exploited and want out of the life, please call Rescue America’s 24/7 Rescue hotline number at 833.599.FREE.
To report a trafficking tip, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888.373.7888.
Save these numbers on your phone for later reference!
