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When Stefani stepped onto the softball field at Sacramento State on scholarship, no one could have predicted the dark journey ahead. Her story shatters the myth that sex trafficking only happens to certain types of people from certain backgrounds.

Raised in a loving home with a law enforcement family, Stefani's path to addiction began subtly through a high school relationship. What started as experimental pill use spiraled after a sexual assault left her traumatized and withdrawn from college. Without support, she found herself gravitating toward increasingly dangerous situations and substances.

The most devastating turn came when she lost custody of her infant son. Homeless and desperate, Stefani became vulnerable to traffickers who recognized her isolation. Over three harrowing years, she endured different forms of exploitation before a miraculous escape that she credits to divine intervention. Even then, her battle wasn't over – she was shocked to discover she was pregnant again only when she went into labor.

Now six months sober, Stefani speaks with remarkable clarity about how easily anyone can become trapped in trafficking. "They don't go after girls raised in the streets who would call their bullshit," she explains. "They target women like me, women like your daughters." Her insights into traffickers' tactics – from the false savior to the violent controller to the manipulative boyfriend – provide crucial education for parents, educators, and young people.

Stefani's journey toward recovery reveals both the depths of human cruelty and the heights of resilience. Her willingness to share her darkest moments serves as both warning and inspiration – a reminder that no matter how far we fall, redemption remains possible. Her focus now? Building a healthy life with her daughter and using her experience to help others recognize the warning signs she missed.

This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, and trafficking that may be difficult for some listeners. It also contains profound insights about healing, forgiveness, and finding purpose in pain.

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