Page 21 - Inspire Health July/August 2015
P. 21
women who inspire•
A Mother’s Story of
TERROR, RECOVERY,
and FIGHTING BACK
Article and photos by JannaWeiss
Vicki Zito was a busy mom shuffling her four children to swim meets
Iand softball games while working full time as a nurse. On March 18, 2008,
that chaotic and stressful, yet normal, life was turned upside down.
t was spring break and her 17-year-old few days before.
daughter asked permission to go to the With her daughter home safe,Vicki
grocery store with a friend.The young felt compelled to do something to raise
girl left the house in slippers, without her awareness and prevent what happened
purse, and didn't return. to her daughter from happening to other
Fear gripped Vicki. children. Many children were missing, some
At the peak of every parent’s worst from her surrounding area.They were
nightmare, she found out the police being exploited and no one seemed to
wouldn’t help. As a teen, the girl was care. Law enforcement appeared to have
considered a runaway.Vicki knew her little knowledge of the issue. Hospitals
daughter had every intention of returning showed little compassion for the victims.
home. She rallied friends and the Something had to be done.
community to help. They hung posters From this unfathomable experience,
and called hospitals. While Vicki knew the Break Free Organization was born.
the police were wrong, she prayed they Together, with a few friends,Vicki organized
were right; let her daughter be at a friend’s a fundraising 5K and 10K run.That first race
house, let her be a runaway.The other raised $40,000. Five years later, Break Free
possibilities were so much worse. has raised $750,000, sending 90 percent
Eight days later,Vicki learned the of that to raise awareness and rescue
terrible truth. Her daughter had been trafficked victims. Break Free now conducts
kidnapped. four races a year and was named one
She had been grabbed from the of Comstock's Magazine's Top 10 Most heapltohVsiitacnikvupitermritoiatrhiditooeunyghibhenttyr omeinxheceenrortrcadipslaoeairslnay,tdfrinipotguhntyemissneisecd,.aiatl natdion,
grocery store parking lot, and within hours, Inspirational Nonprofit Organizations. she dropped 25 pounds. She is no longer
on anxiety medication, and will soon be off
advertised for sex on Craigslist. For eight Break Free was making a difference, cholesterol and hypertension medications.
horrific days,Vicki's child was sold and yet Vicki was suffering. With these changes,Vicki's health has
flourished. She is a healthier mom, nurse,
trafficked in the sex slave industry.Vicious A 35-pound weight gain, anxiety, and friend, better equipped to take on
life's challenges.Vicki has learned that
pimps held her at gunpoint, threatened, depression, hypertension — it was all investing in herself is the key to balancing
the ups and downs of life as a mom, an
drugged and repeatedly sold her for sex. taking a toll.Vicki felt as though she had inspiration and a hero.
She was raped, again and again. been holding back a dam, and it finally
A joint FBI and police task force broke. She needed help. In 2014 she
rescued her in Fremont, Calif. Vicki took turned 45 and realized she did not want to
the proper steps and had her daughter continue on an unhealthy path. She wanted
medically evaluated.The nurse didn't to be fit — mentally, physically, emotionally,
look her daughter in the eye or show her professionally, and personally.
any compassion. She was treated like a Vicki made her mental and physical
runaway. Vicki was again reminded how health a priority by incorporating
little was understood and known about meditation, positive thought exercises,
the sex trafficking industry. "Sex trafficking," fitness and nutrition into her daily routine.
was a phrase she herself hardly knew just a With a dramatic shift in her mind and body,
To learn more about Break Free and sex trafficking, visit www.breakfree.org.
July § August 2015 INSPIRE HEALTH 21
A Mother’s Story of
TERROR, RECOVERY,
and FIGHTING BACK
Article and photos by JannaWeiss
Vicki Zito was a busy mom shuffling her four children to swim meets
Iand softball games while working full time as a nurse. On March 18, 2008,
that chaotic and stressful, yet normal, life was turned upside down.
t was spring break and her 17-year-old few days before.
daughter asked permission to go to the With her daughter home safe,Vicki
grocery store with a friend.The young felt compelled to do something to raise
girl left the house in slippers, without her awareness and prevent what happened
purse, and didn't return. to her daughter from happening to other
Fear gripped Vicki. children. Many children were missing, some
At the peak of every parent’s worst from her surrounding area.They were
nightmare, she found out the police being exploited and no one seemed to
wouldn’t help. As a teen, the girl was care. Law enforcement appeared to have
considered a runaway.Vicki knew her little knowledge of the issue. Hospitals
daughter had every intention of returning showed little compassion for the victims.
home. She rallied friends and the Something had to be done.
community to help. They hung posters From this unfathomable experience,
and called hospitals. While Vicki knew the Break Free Organization was born.
the police were wrong, she prayed they Together, with a few friends,Vicki organized
were right; let her daughter be at a friend’s a fundraising 5K and 10K run.That first race
house, let her be a runaway.The other raised $40,000. Five years later, Break Free
possibilities were so much worse. has raised $750,000, sending 90 percent
Eight days later,Vicki learned the of that to raise awareness and rescue
terrible truth. Her daughter had been trafficked victims. Break Free now conducts
kidnapped. four races a year and was named one
She had been grabbed from the of Comstock's Magazine's Top 10 Most heapltohVsiitacnikvupitermritoiatrhiditooeunyghibhenttyr omeinxheceenrortrcadipslaoeairslnay,tdfrinipotguhntyemissneisecd,.aiatl natdion,
grocery store parking lot, and within hours, Inspirational Nonprofit Organizations. she dropped 25 pounds. She is no longer
on anxiety medication, and will soon be off
advertised for sex on Craigslist. For eight Break Free was making a difference, cholesterol and hypertension medications.
horrific days,Vicki's child was sold and yet Vicki was suffering. With these changes,Vicki's health has
flourished. She is a healthier mom, nurse,
trafficked in the sex slave industry.Vicious A 35-pound weight gain, anxiety, and friend, better equipped to take on
life's challenges.Vicki has learned that
pimps held her at gunpoint, threatened, depression, hypertension — it was all investing in herself is the key to balancing
the ups and downs of life as a mom, an
drugged and repeatedly sold her for sex. taking a toll.Vicki felt as though she had inspiration and a hero.
She was raped, again and again. been holding back a dam, and it finally
A joint FBI and police task force broke. She needed help. In 2014 she
rescued her in Fremont, Calif. Vicki took turned 45 and realized she did not want to
the proper steps and had her daughter continue on an unhealthy path. She wanted
medically evaluated.The nurse didn't to be fit — mentally, physically, emotionally,
look her daughter in the eye or show her professionally, and personally.
any compassion. She was treated like a Vicki made her mental and physical
runaway. Vicki was again reminded how health a priority by incorporating
little was understood and known about meditation, positive thought exercises,
the sex trafficking industry. "Sex trafficking," fitness and nutrition into her daily routine.
was a phrase she herself hardly knew just a With a dramatic shift in her mind and body,
To learn more about Break Free and sex trafficking, visit www.breakfree.org.
July § August 2015 INSPIRE HEALTH 21
