Laura has been clean and sober for fifteen months. And she's had plenty of excuses to stray from the straight and narrow, but she remains determined to stay strong in her recovery.
Laura started drinking when she was 12. Then smoking pot. And later, meth. However, when she got pregnant at nineteen, Laura quit drugs and alcohol. Yet, after her kids were born, Laura began taking pain medication following an injury. When the prescribed amount stopped working, she began abusing the pills and then using meth—whatever it took to ease the pain. So, after ten years of sobriety, she relapsed. And her marriage fell apart. Laura eventually lost her kids to DCS. Then she entered a six-year downward spiral, struggling in rehab to fight for her kids, only to lose them again when she relapsed.
In March of 2021, after living on the streets for nine months, Laura was able to break that cycle of guilt and shame when she discovered that she was pregnant. She knew that she had to get clean for the baby—for herself—so she came to Gospel Rescue Mission. Yet, while going through the Recovery Program, the worst happened. Her baby was stillborn. During her 20th-week ultrasound, they couldn't find a heartbeat. Laura was devastated! The ladies at the Women's Recovery Center mourned with her. Raged with her. And, as if that wasn't enough, Laura began getting reports from DCS about her children: her youngest was drinking, and her oldest got charged with murder. It was enough to send her back to the streets, but she knew what was down that road. "My only choice was to have faith. I had to pick a path. And I had to let God have it all."
There was only one choice to make. And Laura chose the narrow path. The narrow gate.
Alyssa, our Child Services Manager, often says, "recovery is hard; recovery as a parent is impossible; yet, all things are possible for one who believes."
Laura is about to complete the Recovery Program and has already accepted a job offer. Still, she would eventually like to return to school and specialize in behavioral health. And help others.
Let's pray for Laura this
#testimonytuesday and encourage her to remain strong.
