Wannida’s Chance for a New Life

A couple of weeks ago I shared with you Wannida’s story, a mother who was trapped in a desperate situation…Wannida flashed back to her childhood, to what she knew was happening behind closed doors in her family.

Just like her mom, she married a man who had begun to violently take his anger out on her. And she didn’t know how far her husband would go.

But there was only one thought running across Wannida’s mind right now:

I can’t breathe.

Her husband’s hands around her neck were squeezing tighter. In a moment, Wannida thought she might black out. The empty bottle of booze should have clued her in. Her husband was not taking the news of his father’s terminal cancer diagnosis well.

Just when the darkness threatened to overtake her, Wannida became aware of someone pounding on the front door. It was her mother. Wannida could hear her crying and demanding to be let in. Her husband released his stranglehold on her neck, but refused to open the door.

Soon enough, Wannida saw red and blue lights reflected in the window. Her mom had called the police, and they were now taking Wannida’s husband into custody, giving her a short time to make a decision before he came back.

Would she stay or would she leave?

In telling her story, Wannida shares her realization: “The only way to break the cycle is if I do it. This is not how God wants me to live.”

So, Wannida called Orange County Rescue Mission.

“By coming here, I wanted something totally different than what the past 10 years have been like,” she says about putting closure on the abuse and drinking to cope. “We get an opportunity to change what we were living like.”

Today, Wannida is searching for a job and well on her way to self-sufficiency — because you cared enough to give her a new start. Will you help more people find the hope they need to start their own journey to new life this Easter season?

Giving online is easy, safe, and quick. Your donation will make an immediate impact to provide meals, shelter and services for a homeless family in desperate need of a hand up to self-sufficiency.