Telling Stories That Save Lives

Shay Huffman

Founder West Virginia Healing Home

In 1972, Shay Huffman moved to rural Greenbrier County to live in what she lovingly calls “our beautiful mountains.” Soon after her eldest daughter was born, she realized the need in her community for midwifery services, and she attended a seminar in Texas where she met many other midwives from West Virginia. The women joined forces to establish the Midwives Alliance of West Virginia.

Many years later, Huffman returned to school to become a registered nurse so she could help women and children on an even deeper level. “It was a wonderful experience for me,” she says. Working in the hospital, Huffman began to see more and more mothers and babies separated due to addiction struggles. “Research is showing how important it is to keep moms and babies together.”

Huffman decided to address the problem head-on. “You have to invest in something to get a return—and really, what could be better than investing in your own community?” she says.

In 2019, the West Virginia Healing Home was born thanks to the hard work of Huffman and community members who were committed to helping her get this project off the ground. The Healing Home is a haven for struggling parents. It offers parents a safe place to land when they are having trouble keeping their feet on the ground. Parents can go to The Healing Home for everything from assistance getting into rehabilitation to resources like resume building, parenting classes, financial guidance, and support groups.

“We are a place of hope, healing, non-judgement, and community,” Huffman says. “I choose to see the good in every person. Every person, no matter how broken, has strengths. We just have to choose to see them.”

Written by Megan Huff

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