“From Ashes We Rose”

There are moments in life when everything we’ve known burns down—when pain, trauma, and silence leave us standing in the ashes of who we were. But this page is not about staying there. From Ashes We Rose is where we share our story of survival, healing, and strength. It’s where we speak our truth so others know they’re not alone.

For us at Save Our Selves (S.O.S.), these testimonies are more than words—they’re the roots of change. Most of us rose from abuse, from silence, from broken homes and broken systems. We rose for our children, our communities, and ourselves. This is the beginning of something sacred. And if you’re here, maybe it’s the beginning for you too.

Read our story. Share yours. 

 
Teddy Cobb

 Co-Founder & President

 Save Our Selves (S.O.S.)

This was the part that burned us. Not just what we saw—but what we felt. My little sister and I were on the other side of the door, crying, screaming, banging, and begging. We weren’t just locked out—we were trapped in a reality we couldn’t escape. Our older sister was being held down against her own will , beaten, and insulted with nasty names, I dare not mention, and we could only listen. Every hit she took affected us too. The silence afterward was the worst. My parents just came out of the room like they hadn’t just damaged someone who was barely a preteen. We were just kids. But the fire didn’t care about our age. It just wanted to burn us! And that it did. It burned through everything—our safety, our trust, our sense of love. And we carried that heat inside us for many years to come.

 Teddy Cobb

 Co-Founder & President 

 Save Our Selves (S.O.S.)

First, let me pray that whoever reads this will receive it with an open heart, mind, and spirit—without judgment, confusion, or misunderstanding.

I pray God helps you overcome any addiction, abuse, trauma, or pain that still lingers. “Amen”

What I’m about to share is part of my truth, my past, and the foundation of why I helped start this movement. It’s not easy, but it’s real. And I believe healing starts with truth.

When I was ten years old, my family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. My father was involved in the church, trying to become a preacher. My mother—at the time—seemed like she was doing her best to be a good mom. But after we settled there, things started to change.

My big sister was around thirteen. Like any teenage girl, she was growing into herself, curious, and starting to become independent. But my father didn’t know how to handle that. He tried to control her—locking her inside the house, accusing her of being “fast.” My mother joined in, and they began abusing her.

They beat her behind closed doors while locking me and my baby sister—who was around 7 or 8—outside the room. We would cry and scream, begging them to stop, but all we could do was listen to the sounds on the other side of that door.

One night, my sister didn’t come home. She was scared and stayed with a friend. When she came back late, my father lost it. He beat her so badly the neighbors heard and called the police. That moment shattered everything. We were taken from our home and placed in the foster care system.

That’s when a different kind of pain began. I was moved around for over a year. I continued to be mistreated, carrying trauma I didn’t understand and couldn’t escape. Those experiences broke parts of me. That pain later turned into anger, confusion, and deep depression—leading to incarceration, deeper trauma, and mental battles that nearly stole my life.

But they didn’t.

Everything I went through could’ve destroyed me. But somehow, I’m still here. I didn’t just survive—I rose.

That’s why I helped start Save Our Selves (S.O.S.). Because I know what it feels like to be unheard, unseen, and unprotected—even by those who were supposed to love you.

This movement was born from that pain, but also from the power that came after. The power to heal. The power to change. The power to give hope. I must go now but before I go I want to leave a verse on everyone’s hearts.

”No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 54:17

This is my testimony. This is why I rose.

May God bless you—

whoever you are, wherever you are,

and whatever you may be going through.

With love and purpose,

Teddy Cobb

Co-Founder & President

Save Our Selves (S.O.S.)

After all the storms and the fire, I could’ve stayed down. Life had me wrapped up—pain, anger, incarceration, mistakes I carried like chains. But something in me wouldn’t die. I wasn’t just surviving—I was searching. And in the middle of that search, God gave me vision. That vision became Save Ourselves.

This ain’t just an organization. It’s a lifeline. It saved me first. And now, it’s saving others—youth, families, communities who feel lost in their own fire.

My sisters found their peace and moved on, and I’m proud of them. But this part of the story? This is about my rise. From everything that tried to bury me, I bloomed. Not because I was perfect, but because I refused to give up.