In a celebrity-soaked culture, it’s easy admiring people for their looks, money, and talents. We ordinary folk see them as superstars and often ignore our own heroism. That’s a mistake.
Many people deserve celebrity-like admiration, including those we believe undeserving.
Let me introduce you to two such women.
At first, you might think Autumn and Amanda unworthy, even contemptible. Both lost their children to court-ordered foster and kinship care because of serious drug addictions that jeopardized the health and safety of the little ones they were supposed to protect.
No heroism there.
But as William Shakespeare wrote in The Tempest, the past is prologue.
Autumn and Amanda can’t change their pasts, but their histories have set the stage for great things to come. A new future lies ahead for these young women, whom I met while volunteering at ReUnite Ministries, a Christian-based nonprofit dedicated to reuniting mothers with their kids.
Both remain clean, despite life’s ups-and-downs that can steer a recovering addict off course. Both are dedicated to being the parents God intended them to be.
Here are their stories.
Autumn’s Journey
Autumn hit bottom the night she accidentally overdosed on heroin.
Inside her van that night were two of her four kids—including her three-month-old—and a young niece. Emergency medical technicians had to administer several doses of NARCAN Nasal Spray just to revive her.
At ReUnite, she and her counselor dug deep to uncover the root causes of her addiction that started with casual drug use as a teenager to complete dependence on pain pills, crack cocaine, and heroin a few years later. It opened her eyes to why she married two abusive addicts.
It took work gaining those insights, but she triumphed.
After years of separation, Autumn recently gained full custody of her four kids. Now living on her own and working full-time for a nationally known company, she is living proof that breaking the chains of addiction is possible.
“I’m doing life. It has been challenging. It isn’t all rainbows and unicorns,” she says, referring to the recent death of her father, coupled with raising four children alone. “But I’m so thankful to ReUnite. I needed the time to figure things out.”
Hopeful for perhaps the first time in her life, Autumn wants to give back. “I want to carry the message that anyone can recover,” she says. “I know I have a calling.”
Amanda’s Story
When Amanda came to ReUnite early this year, she was an inmate at the county jail, charged with aggravated child neglect and abuse. If convicted, she would have served eight to twelve years in prison.
She hadn’t experienced childhood trauma, which often contributes to addiction. Her getting hooked on methamphetamine happened by mistake. She thought she’d snorted a line of cocaine.
Game over.
“There’s no such thing as doing meth one time. It literally took me by the throat,” she says, describing the high she experienced. Unstoppable energy and a sense of invincibility and euphoria kept her going back for more. Her habit exploded from less than a gram every week to the same amount in five minutes.
And no one knew, aside from her live-in boyfriend, her son’s father, and a few close friends. Skin abscesses or infections, poor dental health, and unexplained weight loss— typical signs—never plagued her. Furthermore, the couple held full-time jobs, owned nice cars, and lived in a beautiful home.
To outsiders, Amanda had “a perfect dream life,” she says.
Until one night.
Though she quit using while pregnant, she picked up the habit almost immediately after her son’s birth. Thinking her baby safe upstairs, she and her boyfriend would take turns going to the basement to snort or smoke the clear, shiny crystals that affect users’ central nervous systems.
Her World Collapses
Before Amanda’s world collapsed, she had argued with a woman then living with the couple. Out of revenge, the woman called the Department of Child Services, and within hours, Amanda’s child was gone, and her troubles were just beginning.
A hair follicle test indicated her son had been exposed to meth even though she never used in the baby’s presence. Unbeknownst to her, the powerful drug seeped from her pores and onto him.
“Going to jail is the only thing that saved me,” Amanda says. “That woman wanted to ruin my life. Actually, she did me a favor.”
Now clean for more than a year, Amanda has a full-time job and lives her life with a renewed sense of purpose. She’s on track to regain custody of her son and is working toward reunification and marriage to her boyfriend, who served three tours of duty in Afghanistan and is now in recovery.
“What I want other addicts to know is their lives aren’t over. A future is possible.”
Heroism happens everywhere, including among people we often write off. Who needs a celebrity when you can look up to women like Autumn and Amanda? Their single-minded focus on overcoming addiction and regaining custody of their children inspire me. Thank you, ladies, for your heroism and giving others hope.
Beautiful!!! Go girls!
Amen, Tionna. Our girls deserve respect and admiration. Love them both!
So Happy For them and will pray for them to keep the Good and Rewarding Path that only The Lord can give.
I told the gals I had gotten several wonderful comments from people they didn’t know. Complete strangers were pulling for them. Thanks for your prayers.
God bless the power and strength these ladies and others recognize as they overcome addiction! Reunite is the catalyst with a clear purpose to help folks be their best. Truly inspiring women who’s story is now available for others to be inspired!
As always, I appreciate your support. You’ve no idea how it keeps me grounded and determined to continue this enterprise. God love you!
I told Debbie this weekend how much I am enjoying your website. God Bless these two women as they continue with this struggle. Thank you Lori.
Thanks, Carole, for the encouragement. Those two women are amazing. Brave and committed.
Great stories! It takes so much strength to escape addiction. Way to go ladies, I’m praying for you both!
I know Amanda and Autumn appreciate your encouragement. They are beautiful inside and out. Thanks for writing.
I am sure Amanda and Autumn did not realize how strong they were but they both persevered and are better for it. What uplifting stories Lori.
Greta, I wish you could meet them. Knowing them has only uplifted me. Thanks for writing. (Hey, I think I’ll be going to that reunion, after all.)
God is faithful! Keep trusting Him, He will never let you down.
Thank you, Tina. The ladies hold fast to God’s faithfulness.
The Lord has such more for these beautiful ladies and their children! “Not Today Satan”, they are FREE, Thank you Jesus!
He certainly does. Thanks so much for reading and commenting about these two ladies.
Keep up the great work Lori!! Love reading your stories!
Thanks, Tracy. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
True inspiration! Love was bestowed on these women to rise up and recover. Thanks for sharing their story and keep up the good work, Lori.
Thanks, Debbie. Knowing these gals has certainly helped me, especially in regard to showing compassion and understanding. Take care.
Inspiring stories about real hero’s who allowed and trusted God to reveal their purpose. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for reading! When you see them, thank them for sharing. I’m sure they would appreciate your kind words.
SO encouraging and inspiring! Thank them for sharing their stories, they may never know how many people they touched!
I couldn’t agree more. I will make sure to tell Amanda and Autumn.
Great inspiring story. Thanks for sharing. Congratulations to Amanda and Autumn for beating addiction! 🙏
They certainly inspired me. I’ll give the girls your best.
Like I said in my story, “Hell is a bad place to pitch a tent”! Congratulations Amanda and Autumn for being able to, “pull up the stakes of your tents” and find a better camp site. Stay strong! Bobby
I don’t think the title of your enticle matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the enticle.