Miracle's Story: Loved, Accepted, and Renewed

Before coming to House of Refuge Sunnyslope, I felt like my entire life was unraveling.

A few years ago, I lost my grandmother just one week after giving birth to my son. She was my backbone, my biggest supporter, and the person I always relied on. As a single mom, I never gave myself the opportunity to grieve. My son needed me, and I felt like I had to stay strong for him. Instead of processing my loss, I pushed my emotions aside and focused on surviving.

Over time, that grief caught up with me.

At the beginning of this year, I found myself overwhelmed with sadness, anger, and stress. At the same time, I was facing challenge after challenge. The company I worked for had allowed me to work from home since my son was born, but after a change in leadership, employees were required to return to the office.

Finding childcare became a major obstacle. My son had previously experienced mistreatment at a daycare, and after that experience, I was afraid to leave him anywhere. While trying to navigate those challenges, my mother began experiencing serious health issues and frequent hospitalizations. I was constantly trying to balance work, childcare, and family responsibilities.

Then my car began breaking down.

I spent money on repair after repair, but the problems never seemed to get fixed. As expenses piled up, I started overdrawing my bank account and falling behind financially. Before long, I received an eviction notice.

I remember reaching a point where I simply didn't know what to do anymore.

While speaking with someone from Community Information and Referral, I broke down in tears. She provided information about several resources and eventually gave me the number for House of Refuge Sunnyslope.

At first, I was skeptical.

When I came for my interview, I almost turned around and left. But one of the staff members stopped and asked if I was okay. It was a simple act of kindness, but in that moment, I felt seen. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I might have found a safe place.

One thing that surprised me was how accepted I felt. I'm Muslim, and when I first heard that House of Refuge Sunnyslope was a faith-based program, I was nervous. I didn't know what to expect. But everyone was so loving and welcoming. Nobody treated me differently. It was beautiful to experience that kind of acceptance and support during a time when I needed it most.

Soon afterward, my son and I were accepted into the program.

The transition wasn't easy. Leaving my son in childcare was especially difficult because of our past experience. But as I watched him thrive, make friends, and genuinely enjoy being there, I began to trust that he was safe and cared for.

As I settled into the program, I started doing something I had avoided for years—I began facing the things I had been running from.

Through classes, group discussions, Celebrate Recovery, and conversations with other women, I finally confronted the grief of losing my grandmother. I also began to recognize unhealthy patterns in my life and learn how to establish healthy boundaries.

For the first time in a long time, I wasn't just trying to survive. I was healing.

One of the greatest gifts of House of Refuge Sunnyslope was the opportunity to focus. The structured and supportive environment allowed me to stop worrying about where I would sleep or how I would keep a roof over my son's head. Instead, I could focus on becoming the person I wanted to be and creating a better future for my family.

Even after entering the program, challenges continued. My car broke down again, finances remained tight, and life still required hard work. But I no longer felt alone. The staff walked alongside me, offering support, encouragement, and accountability every step of the way.

As I worked on my personal growth, things began to change.

I became more intentional about my goals. My relationship with my son's father improved as I learned healthier communication and stronger boundaries. I became more present with my son because I was no longer carrying the weight of constant crisis.

Professionally, new opportunities also opened up. Despite significant layoffs at my company, I was promoted into a management position. At the same time, I began pursuing a long-standing interest in real estate. Through networking opportunities and relationships I developed, I connected with people who believed in me and encouraged me to pursue my real estate license.

When I first arrived at House of Refuge Sunnyslope, I thought it would take years to get back on my feet.

Instead, I discovered that when you have the right support, healing can happen faster than you imagine.

Today, I am preparing to move into my own home. I am advancing in my career, studying for my real estate exam, and building a future for myself and my son.

Most importantly, I am no longer simply surviving.

I am moving forward with hope, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose. House of Refuge Sunnyslope gave me more than a place to stay. It gave me the space to heal, grow, and believe in myself again.

Because of that, my son and I are stepping into a future filled with hope.