Community Highlights: Meet Adriane Hights of Rip The Bandage

Hi Adriane, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was the last survivor of the bathtub murders. He was the guy that was breaking into people’s apartments and raping and beating or killing his victims. I had a premonition that I was next and I moved to the other side of town. That’s where he got me at. Oct 26, 1999, was the day he decided to show up to my apartment he stalked me, he asked me my name I told him a wrong name and he knew my name he said how about I call you Adriane. He talked to me the entire time. I knew I was in trouble when he said the devil keeps making him do it. He told me I was different from the others. I prayed and asked God to allow me to go to heaven if I died that night.

He stayed at my apt almost 3 hours. He knew no one ever came over my house. I was terrified. He left my house and my life would never be the same I lost my mind. I stopped talking for almost a year, I slept in the bed with my mother for six months. This was my shame and secret for almost 20 years until I broke my silence. He, the rapist, was executed on my birthday on February 10, 2009 @6pm I have since started a non-profit titled Rip The Bandage, where we give away food, clothes, toiletries, blankets, coats, tents diapers, and so much more. We also have adopted an apartment complex where we pass out food, clothes, diapers, milk and toys for Christmas. We do a backpack drive and a family first outreach every year, we also have a toy drive every year for Christmas.

I also am a certified trauma, behavioral health and mental health life coach. Rip The bandage also has an coaching center where we offer help with trauma, behavioral health and mental health. Helping people feel, deal and heal from the traumas that they have experienced in life. I am now a book author of Broken Keys. Broken keys is a book about the rape that I experienced and the divorce that I experienced. It is a how to on how to get past forgiveness, fear, trauma, disappointments, how to have relationships after trauma and so much more. I am also a licensed evangelist at Morning Star evangelist ministries in Fort Worth. I have a prayer call on Facebook and Instagram live every Monday morning @7:30am. I also host clinics to help people dealing with trauma teaching them how to bounce back after being plagued with fear and trauma. I am a mother of four and a wife. I absolutely love my family.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No absolutely not. I spent years not talking living in fear. Not sleeping. Looking under the bed, checking all the windows. I was angry. At the world. Incapable of loving completely. Afraid to look in the cars next to me. Couldn’t stand to be touched. It was rough. I was very suicidal. Continuously wanting to die. But God would not let me die. And oooh I am so very grateful. Starting ripthebandage coaching center helping others who deal with the same traumas have really made it all just come full circle. I can honestly say it brings light and joy to all of the questions that I had of why me? Now I know that all of my pain was not just for me but so that I can help others a long the way.

As you know, we’re big fans of Rip The Bandage. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Rip the Bandage is a non profit. 501 c3 organization. That gives back to the homeless and low income families. We also provide coaching at the coaching center in helping people deal with the trauma that they experienced in life. Male or female. Adult or children. We are known for supplying the community and homeless with daily needs and food that everyday people take for granted. We are known for restoration. I think what sets us apart is the fact that we have been there. I’ve been in a place in my life where I didn’t have anything. I know what it’s like to be hungry. I know what it’s like to feel all alone In a room full of people. So it makes it easy to give with no expectancy. I know what it’s like to be depressed or deal with trauma so it makes it easy to sit with someone at the coaching center while they cry and help walk with them to their healing.

So I think that’s what makes rip the bandage different. The humility. The ability to feel. And be able to say come on let me help you. I’ve been where you are. Everything dressed up is not healed. We can get through this together. I’m not so such and much that I can’t sit with you in this pain. I’m not so such and much that I can’t grab your hand and help you walk through it. I think I’m most proud of being able to help thousands of people. I’m most proud that when we go to the streets people are calling us best friends. Lol. That brings me joy. To be touchable when needed. After all of the pain. It makes it worth it. Rip the bandage heart work offers coaching. Wed-Sat. 9-7.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
They can reach out on Facebook ripthebandage or Instagram ripthe_bandage. They can call me on 2145317222. They can make donations to rip the bandage on PayPal or $ripthebandage or cash app. Or zelle ripthebandage@att.net. Or mail in donations to ripthebandage outreach center 3113 Louise st. Suite A Fort Worth Texas 76112. We are always welcoming volunteers to help us serve our community. We have up coming thanks giving drive we are working on now. Yes so reach out and come help us serve or join our team.

 Contact Info:

• Address: 3113 Louise St Suite A Fort Worth Texas 76112
• Email: ripthebandage@att.net
• Website: www.ripthebandage.com
• Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/ripthe_bandage
• Facebook: https://Www.facebook.com/ripthebandage
• Youtube: https://YouTube.com/ripthebandage