When she was 14 years old, she ran away from home and stayed in foster homes, as well as in one bad shelter where she remembers begging God for help.
Tema isa oli vägivaldne mees ja alkohoolik. 14 - aastasena põgenes Vanessa kodunt ära. Ta elas kasuperedes, samuti ühes viletsas kodutute varjupaigas, kus ta palvetas abi saamiseks Jumala poole.