From Pain to Purpose
In 2004, I had back surgery which helped me become able to walk again, but it hindered my ability to continue working so I became disabled. Of course, dealing with chronic back pain enables a steady supply of opioid pain medications, which I became addicted to. My addiction ended up with me doing "all the things" I said I would NEVER do, and I became an IV heroin user who was begging GOD to let me die. I was sick and tired of being in withdrawal and hunting new ways to achieve more of anything I could get my hands on to not be sick.
My daughter offered to pay for treatment if I would go and I said YES! ON March 17, 2010, I was able to (for the first time in 20 years) wake up and participate in life without using a substance. I spent 6 months in a supportive living program, got a sponsor, worked the 12 steps of AA & went to 2 meetings a day. After I graduated, I was sentenced to prison for distribution of controlled substances. That was really a blessing because I spent the next 18 months working on my relationship with God (who is my higher power).
When I was released, I returned to the supportive living program and managed there for 3 years. After I left, I decided to open my own recovery house in a neighboring county that didn't have any recovery homes. That was definitely a huge learning experience as the county wasn't as excited as I was to open my home and help women recover from addiction. God opened the doors again, and in His time, I was able to find a home to live on site with the women I was helping.
In 2020, God closed the doors of my supportive living home for women recovering from alcohol and substance abuse. This enabled me to reach more women virtually and share my story. I decided to create resources on Etsy to help other women learn how to love themselves, work the 12 steps of AA (with a sponsor of course!) and become the bada$$ role models they were meant to be!
If you would like to reach out to me, you can reach out me here, on Facebook and Instagram. I wish you well on your journey!!
