After a devastating accident, Tarielle defied the odds, rebuilding her life and finding stability for herself and her children at Thrive Sweet Auburn.

Tarielle is Atlanta through and through — born at Grady Hospital and raised on the Eastside. She knows Atlanta not as a headline or a hotspot, but as home.

In 2018, her life changed in a moment. Driving home one afternoon, her car was struck at high speed by another vehicle. The crash left her with a fractured skull, bleeding in her brain, multiple broken ribs, and severe spinal injuries. Doctors estimated she had a three-percent chance of survival.

Survival, however, is something Tarielle does instinctively. She spent weeks on life support, then months in the hospital and rehabilitation, relearning the most basic tasks: speaking, eating, and caring for herself. At just 23, she had to learn how to live again.

Doctors predicted it would take two years before she’d walk again, but powered by determination and her love for her son, she was back on her feet in six months.

Today, Tarielle is a proud mother of two, an eight-year-old and a toddler who keep her grounded and motivated. Her journey brought her to Thrive Sweet Auburn, where she found what she needed most: stability, independence, and a community that sees her potential. She calls the resident services team and her case manager, Chantelle, “family,” grateful for the support that helps her move forward. Her son participates in after-school and summer programs that keep him engaged, learning, and connected — opportunities that brighten his future, just as Mercy Housing has strengthened hers.

Tarielle refuses to be defined by trauma. “I’m a survivor,” she says with quiet confidence. She pursues her passion for makeup, helping others feel beautiful and seen — a gift she once fought to rediscover in herself.