A mother turns daughter’s tragic trafficking story into a mission for change
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Pat Weimer knows the effects of human trafficking all too well.
“Horrible. There were nights where I didn’t sleep,” says Weimer.
Her late daughter Tiffany went through many cycles of human trafficking, starting back in 2017.
When she moved to Wilmington to be with her mom, Tiffany ended up in a relationship with a man who Weimer says was a trafficking “kingpin.”
Through all of her struggles, drug abuse, and jail time, Pat says that Tiffany broke through, ultimately finding her way to recovery.
“She got out, and went with them, and into Christian Recovery, and she was there for almost 2 years I think it was,” says Weimer.
Tiffany then found her way to the Women’s Life Center and became an integral part of the Survivor Leadership Program.
During her recovery, she discovered she was pregnant by her groomer, and yet, still wanted to have her baby.
However, Tiffany’s health had deteriorated quickly, and due to Sepsis in the amniotic fluid, her baby was born early just at 23 weeks.
Sadly, Tiffany lost her battle, and at only 28 years old, passed away just four days after her baby was born.
Weimer says that her grandson is such a special way to honor Tiffany.
“He’s the light of my life and it’s wonderful,” says Weimer.
Weimer is a client of the Women’s Life Center, who is part of the two-day prevention and demand reduction conference.
STAT USA and Women’s Life Center Executive Director and Founder, Allysa McKenzie, says human trafficking is a robust business.
“It’s a $236 billion industry. That’s Google, Amazon, VISA, and Walmart put together,” said McKenzie.
She says having these conventions and hard conversations are a way to initiate change.
“We are giving the resources that we’re getting out there and talking, and that’s the reason why we are doing this,” said McKenzie.
In honor of Tiffany’s journey, the Women’s Life Center renamed the program Tiffany’s Hope Survivor Leadership Program.
Weimer says this means more than she can describe.
“Means the world, it does, because it’s her legacy that keeps going and her impact on it all.”
