Annie’s Story
I left after ten days. But something in me came back.
I left Destiny Haven after ten days.
Back then, I didn’t think I deserved a second chance. I had spent more than half my life on and off drugs. My world was a cycle of chaos and survival. Nothing felt stable. Nothing felt safe.
In 2019, I fell pregnant with my daughter. That changed everything. I wanted to keep her. I wanted to prove I could be a mum. I entered program after program, trying to get well. I was granted full care of her on her first birthday. It felt like a miracle.
But two years later, I lost her again.
That broke me.
I wanted to care for her from a distance, but the truth is, I couldn’t even care for myself. I didn’t want to live anymore. Destiny became my only option if I wanted any future with my daughter. I arrived scared, angry, and numb. Ten days later, I walked away.
I didn’t trust anyone. I didn’t even trust myself. I relapsed. Spiralled. It felt like everything I’d fought for was gone. But somewhere inside, I still believed it wasn’t over. I couldn’t explain it. I just knew I had to try again.
Three months later, I came back.
This time, it wasn’t for a court order. It wasn’t to tick a box or meet a case plan. I came back for me. I had been through other rehabs before, but Destiny was different. Right from the start, it felt safe.
There was structure, but no pressure. There was accountability, but no comparison. For the first time in my life, I felt safe enough to be honest.
It didn’t just focus on keeping me clean. It went deeper. Into the roots of how I saw myself, how I coped, and how I believed I wasn’t worth loving. There was structure, but no pressure. There was accountability, but no comparison. For the first time in my life, I felt safe enough to be honest.
The routine was hard at first. I didn’t understand why we did things the way we did. But over time, I realised it wasn’t about control. It was about rhythm. It was about learning to live again, with purpose and grace.
I graduated in December 2024.
Now I’m an intern. I get to support the women who are just starting out, the way I was once supported. Every day looks different, but I love being able to help across the property and pitch in wherever I’m needed.
You’ll find me supervising work, doing laundry, ironing, sewing, or in the kitchen taste-testing and chopping ingredients for the next meal.
I’m growing in my faith. I attend discipleship at my local church. I’ve completed my barista training. I was gifted a car, not because I asked, but because someone believed in the story God is writing through my life.
And the most incredible part? I now have visitations with my daughter.
Destiny taught me how to live again. How to show up. How to tell the truth. How to stop hiding. I’m not who I was. I’m still becoming.
But I’m here. I’m alive. And I’m loved.