Tarielle is an Atlanta native in every sense of the word. Born at Grady Hospital and raised on the city’s Eastside, she knows Atlanta not as a headline or a hotspot, but as home. Today, she is also a mother of two — a proud mom to an 8-year-old and a toddler — grounded by family and fueled by resilience.

On Sept. 16, 2018, Tarielle’s life changed in an instant. While driving home from the store, her car was struck at high speed. What followed was a battle for survival: a fractured skull, bleeding in her brain, broken ribs and sternum, spinal injuries, and weeks on life support. Doctors gave her family a 3% chance of survival and a 72-hour window to hope for the impossible.

Tarielle survived.

Tarielle defies the odds

But survival was only the beginning. She spent months in Grady Hospital and rehabilitation, relearning how to speak, sit up, eat and care for herself. At 23, she had to learn how to live again. Doctors predicted it would take two years for her to walk. Tarielle did it in six months.

Her motivation was simple and powerful: her son.

With the support of her family, especially her brother, who later moved into Thrive Sweet Auburn, Tarielle pushed herself every day, walking laps on a tennis court with a walker, determined to reclaim her independence. “I wanted to be better,” she says. “I had to be.”

That determination carried her to Mercy Housing Southeast’s Thrive community, where she found not just housing, but stability during a season when her physical abilities were compromised. Thrive gave her a place to live independently again, something she deeply values as a mother.

At Thrive, Tarielle found community. She speaks warmly of resident services and her case manager, Chantelle, whom she describes as “family.” “They care about people,” Tarielle says. “They really care about the people who live here.”

Thriving at Thrive Sweet Auburn

Her family has joined her at Thrive Sweet Auburn, and they have also thrived. Her 8-year-old son participates in after-school and summer programs, where he completes homework, plays, learns and feels supported. These programs, Tarielle says, have made a real difference for her family.

Despite everything she has endured, Tarielle refuses to be defined by what happened to her. “I’m a survivor,” she says, but she is also an encourager. She speaks candidly about life after trauma, especially for people who use wheelchairs or face physical limitations. Her message is honest and empowering: “Take things one day at a time, and don’t give up on yourself.”

Today, Tarielle continues to pursue her passion for beauty and self-expression. She still does makeup and uses her skills to help others feel confident and seen, a reflection of her belief that life, even after hardship, can still be beautiful.

When asked what advice she would give someone navigating a major life change, Tarielle doesn’t offer platitudes. Her wisdom is grounded and real: “Day by day.”

It’s how she survived.
It’s how she healed.
And it’s how she continues to live, one strong, intentional day at a time.