Long before I came to Mercy, I had a happy childhood until I was sexually and physically attacked at age 6 and then again at age 7. After that, I was a very anxious kid and self-harmed on and off to cope. The assaults resulted in feelings of hatred for my body, which developed into anorexia when I was 11. When I was 12, I was hospitalized and then went through an intensive eating disorder program, after which I stopped eating disorder behaviors. 
 


Still, my mind was scarred and unhealed, and I got progressively more mentally sick, spending middle school and high school in and out of treatment facilities due to panic attacks, self-harm, PTSD, depression, and suicidal behavior. I reached the lowest point in my life after one semester of college. I could no longer go to school or keep a job. I lived at home and required constant supervision to make sure I didn’t hurt myself or attempt suicide. I had panic attacks and flashbacks every few hours. During a desperate search online, my mom found Mercy, and I agreed to go. I decided if going to Mercy didn’t work, that was it and I would kill myself. 
 


Coming to Mercy was absolutely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. A few days after I entered Mercy’s doors, I accepted Christ and began to fall more and more in love with Him every day. I received the joy of the Lord and began to hope again, especially when God miraculously healed me from my panic attacks. After having one every few hours for so long, I was absolutely amazed when they just stopped! With my amazing counselor at Mercy, I worked through healing my trauma and learning the truth about who God says I am. I stopped being such an anxious person. Now I’m confident, joyful, peaceful, bold, and free! All of this happened because of my newfound relationship with Jesus! To Him be all the glory! 
 


After Mercy, I plan to go back to college to get my bachelor’s degree in psychology and my master’s degree in social work. Then, I want to be some type of social worker. When the time comes, I’m excited to see what God leads me to do! God also revealed to me at Mercy that I will have a husband and kids. That’s something I never realized I could be healed enough to do until God changed my life here at Mercy. It’s a huge testament to His goodness that I’m now able to say I’m excited for my future! I can’t wait to have a family, testify to Jesus, and live life abundantly! 
 
To all the donors, thank you so much! Without Mercy, I wouldn’t even be alive. Now I’m saved and walking in freedom, living the abundant life Christ died for me to have! That wouldn’t be possible without your generosity, so thank you, and may God bless you richly!