Natacha’s Powerful Journey From Trauma to Hope in Jesus

Matthew 16:25: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

Natacha grew up moving in and out of foster homes. She suffered trauma and abuse. As an adult, the pain of Natacha’s childhood motivated her to become a counselor and social worker, helping others with family and behavioral issues.

In 2005, Natacha joined the Army as a second lieutenant social worker. “I loved my job,” Natacha says. “I loved being able to serve those who were serving us.” When Natacha’s oldest daughter, Taylor, was born, she trusted God to help her raise a daughter who would thrive and make a difference in the world for Christ. “She was a bright spot in a dark period of my life,” says Natacha.

As a soldier, Natacha knew she could be deployed any time. Yet she was still rocked when she received orders to deploy to Afghanistan. “I sat in my office and cried,” says Natacha. “I didn’t know how to handle being a mom and being deployed. I was afraid my daughter would think I had abandoned her.”

Despite her fears, Natacha left for Afghanistan. She remembers it all too well.

“We were going to rescue some Afghani women. The convoy before me was about two clicks ahead of us. My driver heard the distinctive ‘click’ sound and said, ‘Stop. We have hit something…’”

With their vehicle hit by an IED, Natacha and her fellow soldier, Kyle, knew they had to get out. “Kyle had a newborn baby,” Natacha recalls. “I told Kyle there was no way I could leave him. He told me to go. But I tried to pull him out with me. His foot slipped, releasing the pressure from the IED. It detonated and I was ejected from the vehicle.”

The next thing she knew, Natacha awoke in the hospital in Kuwait. The nurses told her Kyle hadn’t made it. “And then,” says Natacha, “I had a whole new battle to face.” Doctors also told Natacha she had an infection in her hand, racing up her arm toward her heart.” The arm had to be amputated.

Natacha didn’t come home the same.

When our servicemen and servicewomen come home from active duty, their lives don’t just “get back to normal.” For Natacha, coming home with PTSD and an amputated arm triggered a spiral of suffering, questions, and doubt.

“Here I was a counselor,” she says. “I’m supposed to know how to fix everybody else, and I couldn’t fix myself. I didn’t know what to do or what I was even good for.”

Living with Natacha’s new layers of trauma, her daughter, Taylor, had to learn quickly. “I ended up growing up way too fast,” says Taylor, who is now fifteen years old. She and her brother, Jason, who is thirteen and lives with autism, had to navigate their mother’s trauma in their life together. “I spent time learning what happens when you trigger her,” says Taylor. “I had to learn how to save her from hurting herself when night terrors took over her mind.”

Healing in Jesus at Warrior Getaway

When Natacha discovered Joni and Friends Warrior Getaway, God began a work of healing in her life and family. “Warrior Getaway is a place where you are safe,” says Natacha. Feeling understood and secure among fellow warriors who have gone through similar experiences, Natacha found new ways to process her pain and cling to Jesus.

“I’ve learned to release the pain I have felt about Kyle,” says Natacha. “I’ve learned to forgive the trauma in my childhood. I’ve learned to forgive those insurgents. And I learned how to find God again.”

For Taylor and Jason, being around Veteran families who understand trauma and disability has provided peace, encouragement, and joy. “I’ve watched my mom go from somebody who was angry with the world to someone who lights the world on fire with love,” Taylor says. “And it took a lot of growth for her to do that.”

As Natacha has discovered, when you give your life to God, He provides the kind of life transformation that will last for eternity…

“I didn’t know who I was growing up,” Natacha recalls. “I didn’t feel like I fit anywhere. I clung to the idea that I needed a mom and dad to guide me along the way. But then God spoke to me and said, ‘You are My child.’”

Now, knowing her life is secure in God’s hands, resting in her identity as His child, Natacha pours into her children and community. And beyond healing, God provided Natacha with a gift when she met Chauncey, another Veteran living with disability. After eleven months of getting to know each other, Natacha and Chauncey got married—and celebrated their one-month wedding anniversary at Warrior Getaway!