Welcome to the second blog post inspired by the podcast Change Happened, Then What? I’m your host, Heather Holt, and today I want to share with you the deeply moving and powerful story of my friend Cynthea Hausman. Her episode, “Love Against the Odds,” is one I will never forget. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you hear it.
Cynthea and I became fast friends years ago—perhaps bonded by our mutual love of essential oils, or maybe it was our shared journey as women navigating entrepreneurship. But I had no idea that behind her radiant smile and calm presence was a story so raw, so life-altering, and yet so inspiring.
She told me, “I’ve never shared my story like this before.” And then she revealed: “I was kidnapped and assaulted the summer before my senior year of high school.”
What followed was a courageous recounting of trauma, survival, and healing. The details were harrowing. The vulnerability was breathtaking.
Cynthea shared how, in the aftermath, she had to endure a forensic exam in a hospital that had never performed one before. She wasn’t just a survivor—she was the first. And it left a lasting impact. She later opened her own spa and implemented a clothing donation initiative so women in similar situations would have something comforting to wear after their exams. A gesture born from pain turned into purpose.
I took some time to research this topic more deeply, and the statistics are staggering:
- Sexual assault is one of the leading causes of PTSD in women.
- Less than one-third of sexual assaults are reported.
- Survivors often face long waits for exams, without being allowed to shower or change.
These experiences highlight the desperate need for trauma-informed care in every aspect of the healing process.
But Cynthea’s story doesn’t end in that dark place. Through grit, resilience, and a refusal to be defined by her trauma, she found her way forward. She found purpose in the sport of luge, a path that would bring her strength, focus, and joy. It was an avenue of healing she never expected, and one she pursued with fierce determination.
And then there was Drew.
A boy she met in high school who would one day reappear in her life—again and again. Their story is one of divine timing, of lives orbiting in parallel until the universe aligned.
Now, decades later, they are finally together.
Their love is a reminder that even after great darkness, light and connection can still find us.
At the end of our conversation, I asked Cynthea what makes her smile every day. Her answer was beautiful. Quiet. Grounding.
And when I asked her what she hopes listeners take away from her story, her final message was simple but profound:
“You are more than what happened to you. You can still rise.”
Cynthea’s journey reminds us all that we are not alone in our pain. That healing is possible. That love, against all odds, is still within reach.
Until next time, keep smiling. And if someone you know needs a story of hope today, share this with them.
With love, Heather