Miranda Mann: From child victim to women’s advocate

BY SHERI TUSTY

Miranda Mann was once a child victim. Today she is a women's rights activist whose story proves that healing is possible. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Miranda Mann, she says, has been an “adventurous, runaway, bag-packing” person her entire life. Unfortunately, she had a lot to run away from. She was first sexually abused in first grade, she lost her virginity to her abusive first stepfather, and after sinking into addiction as an adult, she was held hostage and abused for weeks at a time.

Mann is still running, but now she is running into the safety of recovery and the love of God.

Mann is a certified peer supporter and the director of Light House Sober Living in Port Clinton. Her journey from child victim to women's advocate has been long and traumatic, but her story provides a foundation on which other women can find a glimmer of hope.

“I've learned that the difficult parts of my story have an impact when I sit next to someone and they say, 'Me too,'” Mann said.

Mann's thirst for adventure led her to the state of Oregon, where she turned partying into experiments that eventually led to a meth addiction. In her weakened state, she was unable to protect herself when she was kidnapped.

“I was drugged by several people and held hostage for weeks. I don't know what they did to my body, but I felt it,” she said. “When I was free, a rape kit was created and they discovered horse tranquilizers, acid and ketamine.”

When Mann returned to Ohio in 2016, she was devastated and afraid of everything and everyone. She couldn't shower, vacuum or use a hairdryer because they block sound. During her captivity, she couldn't speak because of the drugs, so she learned to listen to survive.

“When I came home, I was still using drugs,” she said. “I was traumatized and stuck in a drug-induced psychosis. Getting out of that was the hardest thing.”

Miranda Mann is now free from the darkness of addiction thanks to God and a recovery program. One of the gifts of her new life was her dog, Gram. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

But she still crawled along, carrying with her a little hope and a little faith. She tried many things to stay sober, but what worked was going through a recovery program and turning to God. On March 15, 2022, Mann entered Becky's Road to Hope Sober Living home.

“I was so disgusted with myself. I hated myself so much, but God used Becky's house. A real recovery program was the one thing I had never tried. I never could have done it without the help of sponsors and meetings,” she said. “I heard people tell stories of hope and joy and wanted to speak like that.”

Today, Mann speaks openly about the hope and joy she has found. She speaks first about the darkness she has endured, and then about the people and programs that have broken through that darkness.

“I learned that the darkest parts of my story are OK,” she said.

It makes other people realize that their darkness doesn't have to be a chain. There are people who can teach them how to take the first, difficult steps toward recovery.

“If you bring your body, the spirit will follow. Pretend you do and rewire your brain,” she said. “The program has given me things I couldn't even pray for. It has freed me from shame and guilt and from being haunted by my past.”

Today, the woman who kept her packed bag remains in Port Clinton as she runs each day to a new life.

“I know I'm where God wants me to be,” she said. “Now I'm running toward things: opportunities, people who teach me about life, and Jesus.”

Editor's note: This story about Miranda Mann is the last in a series leading up to Overdose Awareness Day, which will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, August 31 at the District in downtown Port Clinton. Everyone is invited: those in recovery, those who want to support those in recovery, and those who, like Mann once did, need compassionate help to take the first step toward an addiction-free life.