Stronger than her scars

For Kadee*, life hadn't been easy.

She had endured pain no young person should ever experience, and the memories of those years still echoed quietly beneath her laughter. 

At 19, she was full of spark and quick wit, the kind of person whose laugh could lift a whole room. She loved the outdoors, the freedom of open roads, and the roar of speedway cars on a Saturday night.

When she needed peace, she would head to the lake with her nearly three-year-old daughter, Evie*. The tattoos along her arms told her story, reminders of loss, courage, and the determination to keep moving forward.

"People used to look at me like I was trouble," Kadee said quietly. "But they didn't know what I'd been through, or how hard I was trying just to stay afloat."

Kadee first connected with our youth team while receiving the youth benefit. That's when she met Sophie*, a youth coach.

At first, it seemed she just needed help with paperwork, but Sophie soon saw the weight of her past and the barriers holding her back.

"When I first met Kadee", Sophie recalled. "I could tell there was so much strength in her. She just needed someone to see it."

Living alone was taking a toll.

When Sophie arrived one day to take her to an appointment, she saw the signs - curtains drawn, uneaten food, and Kadee barely coping. Fear from an ongoing court process forced her to relive painful memories, making it even harder to move forward. Yet her love for Evie kept her going.

At first, I didn't trust anyone," Kadee said. "But Sophie kept showing up. Some days she'd bring a coffee and just sit with me, talk about everyday things. She made me feel seen again." Sophie knew Kadee needed more than practical help. She needed safety, time, and hope. 

With Sophie's encouragement, Kadee began attending counselling appointments, accessing essential support, and setting small goals for her future. Moving in with a friend gave her a fresh start, and counselling helped her finally begin to heal. 

"It was the first time I felt like I could breathe," Kadee said. "Like I wasn't just surviving anymore."

Now she's stepping into a new chapter, moving to another city with support around her and hope in her heart. One day, she hopes to study social work, so she can be the person who helps others find their way when life feels too hard.

Despite everything, Kadee has fought to create a life filled with love, possibility, and hope for herself and Evie. Her story shows that with the right support, change is possible.