November 2015, I was rushed to the hospital from Columbiana County Jail. I was withdrawing so bad from heroin that I went into premature labor. That was at the end of a 14-year addiction.
When I was young, I had feelings of rejection and felt unloved. There was even a time when I talked family members into using with me, just so I could feel accepted.
My life at this point was chaos. Times of laying dope sick on my couch wanting to die. Realizing addiction had taken my kids,
my license, my car, my freedom. The only thing I was living for was another shot of dope, just to be able to function. I crossed every boundary I thought I had set as an addict. I was broken, homeless and hopeless.
An East Liverpool police officer shared with me that I could turn my mess into a miracle! Hope sparked for the first time. My grandma’s Pastor talked to me about a place called Teen Challenge, and I went a few months later. I said I could detox myself before I went, but I just couldn’t do it on my own.
On May 3, 2016, I went to Teen Challenge of The Firelands dope sick and withdrawing. After two days, they took me to the hospital for fluids. They laid hands on me and prayed for me and the very next morning I was up! I remember feeling a weight gone! I knew something was different. That was the beginning of the work God started.
The more I read the word, the more I became transformed, and my eyes began to open. I started falling in love with Jesus! I felt free for the first time in my life, and I knew I never wanted to go back. I felt accepted, loved and hopeful that the huge hole I had dug myself wasn’t too big for Jesus to pull me out of.
Since graduating Teen Challenge, God has given me a family and I get to oversee the Family Care Ministries Freedom Home helping others in the same way I was helped! My husband and I have the privilege to lead this ministry as we allow God to lead us. There is always hope, Jesus is always the answer and you’re life being transformed is a guarantee if you allow us to introduce you to our Jesus!
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