- Alcohol
- Drugs
I’m from a great family; my parents loved me. I went to great schools. I sang in church choirs, school musicals and rhythm and blues bands. I had so much talent, but none of that kept me from drinking alcohol, smoking crack, shooting heroin and almost losing my life.
On June 20, 1991, I was sleeping in an abandoned building, I had lost custody of my children, and my family wanted nothing to do with me. I had that moment of clarity. I prayed on my knees and asked for help. I was so lost and so hopeless. My soul had been ripped from within. Despite all that I had been through, I didn’t want to die, but I knew if something didn’t change, I would be doomed to this existence. I was with five others in the abandoned building. I stood up to leave and felt a heaviness in my chest, like someone was standing on it. I was having a heart attack. My friends left me in that building to die, but a woman who was walking her dog saw my feet and called 911.
I reached out for help and found a support group. I was homeless, so I stayed at the group house from sunup to sundown. When it closed for the day, I slept outside. People began to see my willingness to change, and they began to invite me into their homes. It has now been 24.5 years on the sunny side of the street. My life is good. My daughter and son are back in my life. My parents were able to witness the transformation of their daughter before they passed. I have a job that I love. I get to travel all over the country sharing my story of recovery. My life is awesome.
The biggest lesson I have learned is that under no circumstances do I ever have to drink or do drugs again. If you are recovering, stay in the center of your new life.