Today we’d like to introduce you to Naomi Augustin.
Naomi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
“My spiritual journey began before I was formed in my mother’s womb—God already knew the warrior I would need to be. But my earthly purpose and my true mission began the moment I survived domestic violence and chose to live.”
For a long time I carried the emotional, physical, and psychological impact that comes with living through abuse. While trying to rebuild my life, I experienced a life-altering stroke that left me temporarily paralyzed and forced me to fight for my mobility, independence, and identity all over again. I also use my platform to bring awareness to sickle cell disease and the importance of advocacy within underserved communities.
What started as surviving became a mission to help others feel seen, informed, and empowered. Throughout my recovery, I realized how many people suffer in silence — whether from abuse, health disparities, trauma, or lack of support. I decided to use my voice and my story not for sympathy, but to create awareness, educate others, and inspire people not to give up on themselves even during their hardest moments.
Today, I continue to advocate for domestic violence survivors, stroke awareness, and healthcare accountability while sharing my journey openly through community work, interviews, and social media. One of the biggest victories for me has been reclaiming the parts of myself I thought I lost — including my confidence, my creativity, and even my love for makeup after paralysis affected my mobility. Every step of my journey has taught me resilience, faith, and the importance of turning pain into purpose.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. My journey has come with many emotional, physical, mental, and financial challenges that tested me in ways I never imagined. Surviving domestic violence alone changes every part of your life mentally and emotionally, and healing from that trauma is a process that does not happen overnight. On top of that, experiencing a stroke completely changed my world. Losing my mobility and having to relearn basic things while trying to stay mentally strong was one of the hardest battles I have ever faced.
One of the biggest struggles was being a mother while trying to survive and heal at the same time. Mentally and emotionally, there were moments when I felt overwhelmed, exhausted, and broken, but I still had children depending on me to show up every day. No matter what I was facing internally, I had to continue being strong for them. That was one of the hardest parts of my journey because as a mother, you often carry pain silently while still making sure your children feel safe, loved, and supported.
I also experienced disappointment within the healthcare system during one of the most vulnerable times in my life, which motivated me even more to speak up for patients, survivors, and families who feel unheard. Another struggle was rebuilding my confidence after everything I had been through. Something as simple as doing my makeup again became symbolic for me because it represented reclaiming a part of myself after paralysis affected my mobility.
Through every difficult moment, God never left my side. Even during my roughest seasons, He gave me the strength to keep going. Because of Him, I can still smile, remain positive, encourage others, give and receive love, and continue pushing forward with a sound mind even while facing physical limitations. My faith has carried me through moments that could have completely broken me.
Today, I use my experiences to advocate for domestic violence awareness, stroke awareness, and sickle cell awareness while continuing to pour into my community and inspire others not to give up on themselves. I am also currently completing my first book, which will officially launch in October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Writing this book has been another step in turning pain into purpose and using my voice to help others heal, feel seen, and find strength in their own journey.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work is deeply rooted in advocacy, community outreach, and using my personal experiences to create impact and awareness for others. I specialize in domestic violence advocacy, stroke awareness, sickle cell awareness, and supporting underserved communities through both education and direct community service. A lot of people know me for being transparent about my journey and for using my platform to turn painful experiences into purpose, healing, and hope for others.
In 2021, after working at an off-site shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic, I founded Saved By Faith, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving disadvantaged communities, children, and families both within the United States and internationally. During that time, I witnessed firsthand how many people were struggling with homelessness, poverty, food insecurity, and lack of support. Many of the individuals we served truly desired a better life but were often products of difficult environments and circumstances.
Our team worked directly with the community by serving hot meals using our own personal funds, gathering clothing, distributing hygiene products, and providing emotional support to families in need. Seeing those struggles every day changed my life and inspired me to build something greater that would continue serving people beyond that moment in time. Saved By Faith was created from compassion, faith, love and the belief that even small acts of kindness can restore hope in someone’s life.
I am also very involved in raising awareness for stroke survivors and the sickle cell community. Even while recovering from my own health challenges, on September 26, 2025, I hosted a street renaming ceremony in honor of my late brother, Gerbuns Augustin, who passed away from complications related to sickle cell while under professional medical care at Aventura Hospital. Today, Gerbuns Augustin Avenue stands strong as a symbol of resilience, warrior strength, hope, voice, and remembrance in the city of North Miami.
That designation became possible through the support and dedication of Senator Daphne Campbell, who traveled to Tallahassee to request legislation for the street designation, which was later approved by Governor Rick Scott. The ceremony itself was a powerful community partnership involving the City of North Miami, Vice Mayor Kassandra Timothy, SCDAA, Make-A-Wish Foundation, the North Miami Chamber of Commerce, DIOS, Fightingthepaintv, Saved By Faith, and many others who came together to celebrate his life and continue advocating for the sickle cell community.
What I am most proud of is my ability to keep going and continue helping others despite everything I have personally endured. Whether it was surviving domestic violence, recovering from a stroke that temporarily left me paralyzed, grieving losses, or facing emotional struggles as a mother, I never allowed my pain to stop me from showing up for my community. I am also proud to be completing my first book, which will launch in October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, as another way to inspire healing and empowerment through storytelling.
What sets me apart is my authenticity. I do not advocate from theory — I advocate from lived experience. The people I serve know that I genuinely understand pain, survival, resilience, and rebuilding because I have lived it myself. I lead with compassion, faith, transparency, and love. Through every challenge, God has continued to strengthen me, and because of Him I am still able to smile, encourage others, love people wholeheartedly, and move forward with purpose even while facing physical and emotional battles.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I would like readers to know that no matter how broken, defeated, or hopeless life may feel at times, your story does not end there. I know what it feels like to experience trauma, grief, health battles, disappointment, and moments where life changes overnight. But I also know what it means to survive, rebuild, and rediscover purpose even after some of the darkest seasons of life.
One thing I have learned throughout my journey is that healing is not always linear. Some days are harder than others, but giving yourself grace and continuing to move forward matters. I want people, especially survivors, those who anre grieving, and individuals facing silent battles, to know that they are not alone and that their voice, life, and existence matter.
I also want readers to understand the importance of advocacy, compassion, and community. Sometimes a simple act of kindness, support, or listening ear can truly change someone’s life. Through my nonprofit, Saved By Faith, my advocacy work, and my personal testimony, my goal is to continue creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and encouraged.
Most importantly, I want to give glory to God for sustaining me through every chapter of my life. There were moments I could have completely lost myself mentally, emotionally, and physically, but my faith carried me through. Because of God, I still have the strength to smile, love others, encourage people, and continue walking in purpose despite physical limitations and difficult seasons. My story is proof that pain does not have to define you — it can become the very thing that helps heal and inspire someone else.
I’m excited for what’s ahead, including the release of my first book and I hope my journey continues to remind others that resilience, faith, and purpose can still exist even after life’s hardest moments.
“I refuse to let a stroke or any traumatic experience in my life dictate my future.”
– Naomi Augustin
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naomiaugustin_?igsh=MW1qczVneGx1eG5naQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/saved_by_faith_inc?igsh=NzBrOTV3aXozdjN6&utm_source=qr
