I lost 10 years of my life...but I found joy again!

After ten years caught in the cycle of sex trafficking and exploitation, Lasitza* arrived at Her Safe Haven Pittsburgh with a quiet hope: to rediscover joy. What she found was not only a safe place to heal, but a space to create, grow, and begin again. Here is her story, in her own words...

“I lost ten years of my life. I felt like I was frozen in time. I remember looking out the window and seeing time pass — the seasons, the holidays — and I was frozen. It was like I was in a hole, and no one saw me.”

“When I arrived at Her Safe Haven Pittsburgh, I wanted to find joy again. I know I experienced joy a long time ago, but I couldn’t remember what it felt like.”

“Chasing joy is hard. But I found it in moments — sharing and cooking with volunteers like Sue and Ross, and especially in creating art. I did 80 days of intense art therapy. I always loved art, but I never had the stillness or the supplies. I found all of that in the activity room, which became my studio.”

“If I wasn’t in group, class, or at a medical appointment, I was in that studio. I even used my cigarette money to buy wooden crosses for my art. Every piece I made, I walked with God. I thought of people I loved. My father passed away, and I couldn’t go to the funeral. So I picked colors he liked, shapes that reminded me of him. As I created, I remembered how he used to say, ‘Nothing is impossible.’”

“This place is more than housing — it’s like a school. Yes, they give you a space and the medical care to heal, but they also give you tools. I learned so much in group and through DBT. I now understand what provokes me and what might cause others to act the way they do.”

“The staff is amazing. Anna helped me make a list of all the things I had to do to rebuild my life. She broke it down into small steps — one thing at a time — and showed me it was all doable. She was like a bullet on butter!”

“Now I’m moving into long-term supportive housing. My goal is to continue therapy, take classes, find a job — and someday start a business to sell my Christian artwork.”

— Lasitza (*Name changed for privacy)

Lasitza’s journey is a testament to what healing can look like when compassion, structure, and faith come together. At Her Safe Haven Pittsburgh, we’re honored to walk alongside courageous women like her — and to witness the beauty that unfolds as they rediscover joy and purpose.

If you or someone you know needs help, visit hersafehaven.org and click “Get Help.”

Want to support women like Lasitza? Consider donating, referring someone, or sharing this story.