LIFT Team

I began my journey into addiction at the young age of 12 years old. By the time I had turned 15, I was totally lost in the darkness of the lifestyle that comes along with addiction. I had begun using marijuana and drinking at 12, and by the time I turned 15, I was completely hooked on methamphetamine. At the age of 18, I became involved with the criminal justice system and was arrested numerous times over the next 15 years. Shortly after being introduced to meth I totally lost all hope. I had become an IV user and I used every single day.

My addiction isolated me from everyone in my life that was important to me. I lost my family, I lost my friends, and ultimately I lost my freedom. I was sentenced to the department of corrections twice, with a sentence that totaled 5 years. To be honest, I had come to accept the fact that an addict was all I would ever be.

When I got out of prison the second time, I had such a desire to be sober. I did well for a few months. I got married and had a beautiful baby girl and I just knew I was going to make it. Before my daughter even turned one, I was using again. My marriage fell apart, I signed temporary guardianship of my daughter over and I fell deeper into addiction than I had ever been in my entire life. I was broken, and never thought I would be whole again.

On February 17 2020, I made a decision to go to a long-term faith-based program here in Indiana. My husband had gone through the program and was living his best life and I thought maybe it would work for me too. My marriage was still destroyed and I still did not have my daughter back, but I knew I had to do something. For the first time in my life, I started to believe that I could be sober and stay that way. I put everything I had into my recovery, and into taking back the things my addiction had stolen from me.

Today, I have 2 and a half years completely sober from drugs and alcohol, and my addiction no longer defines who I am. My marriage has been restored throughout this journey, and my daughter is coming home! I have recently been hired here at Good Samaritan Hospital as a Peer Recovery Specialist, and I am so excited to be able to walk alongside those who are suffering and help them find freedom from addiction. The first step is always the scariest, but I'm here to let you know you don't have to do it alone.

I am a certified Peer Recovery Coach (CAPRC I) at the Samaritan Center. I have been in recovery since January 13, 2020. I was in addiction for 20 years of my life. Which led to a life of distrust, loneliness, and lots of trouble. I spent most of my twenties hiding the fact that I was an addict, which only made it worse. I burnt bridges with the ones I loved the most and the ones that tried to help me. While in my thirties, I spent most my time in jail or prison. Only to get out and continue to do the same things over and over again (insanity). Until the Judge gave me an opportunity that changed my life for the better. I was admitted to a long-term rehab at the Lighthouse Recovery Center. It was then that I started to learn what recovery truly was and who I had truly become as a person. Since then it has been one day at a time and through the power of my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, am I able to continue my sobriety and live a life of recovery.

I believe that there are multiple ways to recovery. And I will utilize the resources that I have, at hand, to help the next. I hope that in my position I will be able to assist the next addict to a pathway of recovery and let them see that it is possible because I did it and I have a team of Peers that have also done it. Our L.I.F.T. TEAM.

I am a Peer Recovery Specialist and recently started my journey in the field of recovery but have worked in the healthcare field for 20 years. I have been in recovery for about three and a half years. There are several different pathways to recovery, and within my job, I support all recovery pathways that a person may choose. My recovery path has been abstinence from all mind-altering substances including alcohol. To be upfront and honest, I thought that the only pathway was complete abstinence for the longest time, but after I was hired as a LIFT Team Member for the Samaritan Center, the education provided to me and the credentialing process for my job opened my eyes to many different pathways that can help one begin their recovery journey.

At 17, I planned to graduate high school in Loogootee, IN, and then move away to attend college. Yes, I had a plan, and using/drinking wasn’t something I needed every day. But those substances also helped me become a mother at the age of 18 and a senior in high school. However, I could still move to Vincennes with my daughter and start Vincennes University. I also had twins in 2008. Substance abuse continued in and out of my life for approximately 17 years. Due to my addiction, I nearly lost everything, including my children. They were placed in foster care in 2017.

At that point, I was lost and had expectations of starting recovery, so I began classes and outpatient treatment at the Samaritan Center. Unfortunately, my story didn’t get any better. I found myself unable to stop using for any reason. In March of 2018, I was finally ordered to a rehab facility. Things began looking good. I was in recovery, started going to some meetings, went through IOP, and I got my children home, and our CPS case was a few days away from closing, and I found out how powerful a substance could be. I said yes and lost everything I had worked so hard for because I couldn’t say no. My options were getting smaller, so I began going to 12 step meetings daily. Eventually, I found a good sponsor, followed all the guidance, and used the already-mentioned tools. After almost a year and a half, my children returned home, and this time it became permanent as of January 2019. My life isn’t perfect and never will be, but it is far better than it ever was. Today I am grateful that I can help someone else just as I needed help to begin my journey.

My addiction started in early 2015 after my divorce, the suicide of my father, and the suicide of my best friend. I began to self-medicate and shortly after became an IV meth user daily. My addiction over the next several years spiraled out of control. I had lost my children and my family with whom I was once so close. These years of addiction were nothing but chaos. These years of addiction were a very dark place for me. I was to a point I did not care if I lived or died. I spent the next several years in and out of jail. At this point, I had learned to survive on the streets to support my drug addiction and myself. In October 2019, I had landed myself back in jail on yet another drug charge. At this time, the judge showed me grace and agreed to release me to treatment. I had wanted to get clean and have an everyday life again for a long time. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do it on my own, no matter how hard I had tried. I knew this was the chance I had been waiting on to get the help I needed finally.

I grabbed a hold of the opportunity and began my recovery journey in a faith-based program. I knew a faith-based program was right for me as that is where I was rooted. I was brought up in church, so it was comforting to me when I came to recovery in a faith-based setting. This familiarity helped me in my recovery journey. My passion for helping others is so strong. I believe it to be my purpose that God created me for. I strive every day to help someone that is struggling. Addiction can be a very dark and lonely place. I believe in loving and helping one another no matter their struggle or story. I believe in freedom from addiction, and if I can help one person achieve that, I have done my job. I am not saying that recovery is easy, but I am saying it is worth it in the end.

I am a certified Peer Recovery Coach (CAPRC I) at Samaritan Center. I have been in recovery for three years now and feel that there are many different pathways to recovery. Within my job, I support whichever recovery pathway a person chooses. Knox County is my home, and when I applied for a Peer Recovery Coaching job for Knox County, I was excited to take the position to be a part of getting help to those suffering from addiction in our community. I have lived and managed the Life After Meth house for close to 3 years now. I enjoy working with and helping people. As a recovery coach, I will do my absolute best to help you find the best route to recovery for you.

I am a Certified Addiction Peer Recovery Coach (CAPRC I) and in long-term recovery from addiction and have been in recovery for 15 months. Prior to my recovery, I spent 11 years in active addiction. My drugs of choice were methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and valium.

I began my recovery at Gateway Treatment Services in Carbondale, Illinois, in October of 2020. Upon graduation from their program, I pursued a long-term recovery program at the Courage House in Vincennes, Indiana. I graduated from Courage House on September 4, 2021. Throughout my time at the house, I developed a desire to give back to others what I have learned in my recovery and decided to assume the assistant manager role there.

I chose to become a peer recovery coach because I have a strong desire to change the world of addiction, whether it be helping those who still suffer from the disease or helping to end the stigmas surrounding it. I believe there are multiple pathways to recovery, and as a peer recovery coach, I want to help by supporting those in need along whichever path they choose.