Against All Odds

When Rachel, an abuse victim, was eleven years old, her aunt gave her pills to help her sleep and deal with anxiety and pain.  This led to an addiction to opiates.  At sixteen, Rachel’s father was put in prison.  With an alcoholic mother, Rachel didn’t have anyone looking after her.  She dropped out of school and started running around.  She was using heroin, dealing drugs and hustling.  For the next twenty years, Rachel had six children and overdosed four times.  The last time she tried to commit suicide, it didn’t work and instead she checked herself into rehab.  Rachel was able to come to Off the Streets^SM through rehab. 

Today, Rachel has been sober for six months and is pursuing her GED.  She also now has her own apartment and five of her children visit every weekend.  In a month, Rachel will gain custody of four of them.  Through Off the Streets^SM she has been connected to mental health services to get help with a diagnosed mental health illness.  After she gets her GED, Rachel plans to study social work. 

Probably the biggest change is Rachel’s outlook.  She says, “I am proud of myself.  I struggle, but I don’t take from people.  I just do without.  That is a big difference from what I was like before.  Now, I am learning to love myself.” 

When she was just a child, Rachel had one struggle after another and she spent years hurting herself.  Thanks to supporters like you, she now has the strength to look forward and focus on her family.  Thank you all so much for helping Rachel fight the odds!