In 2001 I got myself into some trouble .and ended up in jail for 8 months.It wasn't a drug related crime,by the way.I hadn't ever been in trouble before for anything,so jail was a very hard adjustment for me,as it is for everyone,I suppose.In my case though I had to leave my severely handicapped son in the care of others,so my time was pretty miserable.All I've ever known since the age of 18(I'm 41)was caring for my son.OK so to the point here.The particular pod I was in was where all of the heavy drug users ended up,and I met a HEAVY DUTY heroin addict.This girl would come in like clockwork almost every month.She'd do her lil bit of time for probation violation,get out,prostitute,boost,use,get busted again,and come back in.Well,...she became my "baby".I would take care of her for days on end while she was kicking,and let me tell ya she kicked hard everytime!I would literally be up for 2,3,4 days straight at her side continuously rubbing her back,and legs,cleaning up puke,and helping comfort her in any way possible.I'd never known a heroin addict in my entire life before going to jail,and unfortunately noe I've experienced the effects of that nasty demon first hand.Let me try to shorten this up,cause I could go on forever.I became extemely attached to this girl,and she became one of the best friends I've ever had.I was sick with worry everytime she got released,and estatic when she'd come back,cause at least I knew she was still alive.I told her many times that I wanted her to come stay with me once I got released,so I could help her get her life together.In the back of my mind I never in a million years thought she would ever take me up on my offer,but she did!Now,keep in mind that she was a 32 year old woman who had been in and out of prison and jail since the age of 18,because of the drugs.I got released on June 22 2002,and I got a phone call from her on approx. July 10 saying "come get me,I want your help".I was on a mission,and FAST!!!!I knew I had to get to her while she was in this state of mind.I picked her up,we went through our typical week of kicking only this time it was alot more comfortable.As soonas that week was up she wanted to go back home.I did everything in my power to make sure that didn't happen.Ok,...end result,....she stayed here for a short time,got a good job,got her own lil place,and has been clean since July of 2002!!!!Is all it took was someone who believed in her for her to believe in herself,and to turn her life around.She's still at the same job,and is one of their hardest working,well liked employees.I hope that someone else out there has a success story like this someday!Thanks for reading my story.:thumbsup:

This story is an inspiration........to all !!!! Thank you for posting!

That is an amazing story that you shared. It is people like you that help those people that have those demons in their lives (heroin users), help kick their habit. I have been around those people that have used heroin and let me tell you that is not a good experience, to see those people go through withdrawls. It isn't pretty...:eek: Good job!!

Wow:eek: Good for the both of you...You are a very special and talented person to do such a wonderful deed for someone out of pure love and support. You are a hero to this woman and I salute you!!!:thumbsup:

Hugs Shay:D

Thats awesome. Some people can never kick the addiction. I admire your effort to help her, and opening your home to her. Many people get hurt because of that. I'm sure she is very grateful.

Hey great story. Just a little of mine my man was a heavy drug user and mind you I do not or ever will use those nasty things but he got cleaned up had a great job and his old was soon changed but the things he did before me. Now my man will be in jail in for almost 5 years for his past doings and I am still be his side.

Not alot of people would of done what you did and I'm sure that it's such a satisfying feeling for you to know that you've made a positive difference in someones life. You truly seem to have a caring heart of gold.

Big Mama I commend you 1,000,000 times over. You are definetly an inspiration to everyone. Your acts of selfishness, love and caring persistance will always be remembered, you are a real person with a wonderful heart, the world needs more like you..By the way, how is your son? He is very lucky to have you for a Mother. Hats off to you.

You guys are all so sweet,and your compliments have more than made my day,thank you!!!And to maria3lynn to answer your question my son is 23 years old.Since you asked about him let me give ya a real quick rundown.Although he's 23 years old physically he functions at around a 2 year old level.He's been blind since birth,and also has autism.Like I said in my original post taking care of him is all I've ever known,and that's why I believe I had the patience and strength to help my friend out.God sure does work in mysterious ways ,huh?Thank you all again for reading my story ,and praising me with such kind words.

Big Mama (i love saying that) you truly are a great momma, your son is so lucky to have you as you are to have him :)

Big Mama (i love saying that) you truly are a great momma, your son is so lucky to have you as you are to have him :)

I couldn't agree more!!!! Big Mama, you are blessed!!! :)

What an awesome story. I believe that everyone deserves a second chance.

Hello there,I'm back again.I've been sitting here thinking ,and I think you guys will like another amazing part to this story.This will truely make you say WOW!I"LL try to make it as short as possible.But I feel compelled to share this part too,cause it really shows that their is a higher power of some sort.I live in a very tiny town out in the boonies,where you can't deive for more than 3 minutes before you're literally in the next town.Well one of my best friends ha sworked for the school district out here for years,so she knows almost ever kid in our neighboring towns.Her and I are on the phone one day and she's asking how everything is going.As you can imagine,my friends and family were not too happy that I had taken this girl in.They all thought I was nuts and had lost it while I was in jail.Seriously!So my friend and I are talking,and she asks my "baby's" name and for some reason I told her her first and last name.We'll just use the name "smith" for privacy purposes.She says "there's some smiths that live in Sultan".Sultan is 7 min. from my house.I get off the phone and tell "baby" "hey,check this out,...."Ok,"baby" hadn't had contact with her father since the age of 12,and she was now 32.You already know what I'm about to say huh?Yep,... it was her dad living 10 min away.She called him,hung up,called,hung up,and finally asked "is this John smith"he confirmed that it was ,and she said"I'm pretty sure I'm your daughter".He was at my house within 15 min,and they had their reunion right in the middle of the street.They were in each others arms as soon as he stepped out of his truck.And 2 days later she moved in with her dad and his new family that she'd never even met.Shortly after was when she got her job,her own place and the rest is history.Pretty amazing,huh? I hope ya all enjoyed that added treat.Someone had a plan for"baby" and it was definately not to die a heroin addict.:thumbsup:

Oh,....I have to add one important fact."Baby" wasn't from around here.I had been transfered to HER town 6 hours away.So the fact that out of the entire state of wash.her dad ended up living 10 min from me was....well you know!:)

WOW. you are truly an angel of compassion and mercy.
Some of us can't handle the "normal" much less a child with disabilities and
a hard drug user who has lost her fight so many times. Not to mention you took her burden when you were at such a low place in your life.

You should send your story in to the television program "It's a Miracle".

I wish you love, health and prosperity.

Demi

Awesome just awesome.......Okay now I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face. This goes to show that everything does happen for a reason, bet you werent believing that when you went to jail? You were needed there, for sure. I also believe you should write to its a miracle like Demi said it is a story that would fit right in, truly a MIRACLE!

Amen! Amen! Amen! Wow!

Jeremiah 29:11 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=30&chapter=29&verse=11&version=31&context=verse)
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I must admit I'm not very educated on the verses of the bible,and that seriously just gave me goosebumps!COOL!!!:thumbsup:

big mama,

I learn a little at a time. People usually give me a scripture to look up for a situation that I am in. A friend, at church, gave me this scripture once:

1 Peter 5:10 (New International Version)

10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

She gave me this scripture when is just seemed like every time I turned around something else with my sons situation was going wrong. This helped me beyond believe. The funny part of it was that my son put the "tabs" in my bible (you can buy them at the Christian store to mark the books in the bible) and he put 1 & 2 Peter backwards. So when I went to look up the scripture it remineded me of him where he messed it up.

MicheleCJr,Amen! ;)

This is amazing.... you are a wonderful person for helping her out when she needed you most. My boyfriend was an addict and last summer he over dosed and almost died after he came home from the hospital I didnt want him doing the drugs anymore and made him quit and like your friend he detoxed bad and I had a very hard time but when the detox was over it was all better and now he is clean and has been since and he says he will always stay clean, like your story all he needed was support and faith. thanks for posting now maybe others will see that if you put your mind to it you can do anything....

God is good all the time!!!!!

Big Mama,

I praise you for what you have done and inspired this woman to do and become. My story is alittle different and although Ive never been in prison I feel like I am somedays because the times my husband calls and I listen to the stories, and then my heart drops. I met my husband in prison, through a friend of mine whose boyfriend was hanging out with him in there. We wrote for months and finally saw him, after 1 yr I married him. Well before the wedding. I always suspected that my husband was doing someting in there, but i was too nieve to think drugs dont flow through the prisons. Boy was I wrong. Well it took his best friend to call me and tell me Karissa its not good, Justin is doing Crack. and hes hooked bad my heart sank and I fell apart. I confronted my husband and told him Im here, and will be... of course being in prison you cant just run to a rehab center, and the consequences were more time on him if he admitted he had the problem. so he lied and said a releative passed away and wanted to go to the hole for some time alone. Well he did, and the emotions and letters poured into my mailbox, and it was the hardest time ever. BUt he made it through it I was so proud of him. he did it ALONE, no meds, no doctors, not rehab, NOTHING just pure love and respect that he found for himself. Ok that was last year. I paid over 5000 in debts to people.
Well hes doing awesome and said he would never let that place bring him down and he will face his problems head on, no drug will ever go in his body. He cant beleive i stayed with him through it all, and I said when you love someone you support them and care and be there for them, I dont think what I did is anything special. I knew what had to be done and at one point I had to let go and told him when you are ready for help. Im here but I will not be an enabler by paying the debts. while he was in the hole I and his friend worked with the people on the compound and paid them off. Sadly I found out 2 of them i paid off, were CO!!! I was furious.
But I bit my tongue and moved forward.
my question to you all....anyone whose on the outside of drugs, is it ok to be feeling insecure sometimes, or wondering if they are doing the drugs? I feel bad for these feelings but I cant help it, sometimes his moods make me think it. He had a bad childhood born in a prison, raised by foster care I am all he has. I love him so much. I just hope that my doubts arent wrong I dont say anything to him, because he gets upset if i do. But I just was wondering if its ok to feel this way????

THanks for letting me share my story

kari05,I believe that what you're feeling is probably very common,and it's absolutely alright to feel insecure.When you're close to someone that's been heavily hooked on drugs and get's clean there is that constant nagging fear that they might relapse.I'm going to give you my honest opinion here.It kinda worries me that he get's mad if you ask him if he's staying clean.I had another good friend who got addicted to crack,and cleaned himself up.He was clean for quite awhile actually,but I started noticing changes in his behavior that made me wonder if he was using again.Now he's usually the nicest most mild mannered guy you could come across except for when I'd ask him if he was getting high.Oh man,he'd get sooooo pissed off at me,and stomp out of my house every time.He'd come back later and he'd give me this story about how hurtful it was to him that I didn't trust him,blah blah blah.Anyhow,....he stayed with me for about 4 months,and I continued to be suspicious,but I wasn't convinced that he was getting high because he maintained his weight,and looked like the picture of health.Well,....he messed up!!!!!The dude that he'd been buying his dope from(in MY car),....his family lives directly across the street from me,and dude recognizes my car and comes to my house trying to sell to my friend!!!!!!!I told you guys I live in a small town.Well,....Big mama flipped.Not only was he lying through his teeth to me,after I'd opened my home to him,but he was getting high in my bathroom every single day.He confessed everything to me after I made him move out.He came to pick up some things and told me that all of my suspicions were right all along.Now I'm not saying that your situation is going to turn out the same,but your man getting upset with you definately raised a red flag to me.I know that doesn't comfort you at all,but I woudn't have felt right if I didn't share that with you.Just be on the lookout for changes in his behavior.They don't even have to be big either.I only saw one tell tale sign in my friend,and he lived with me.That's how good he hid it,and I'm not naive when it comes to spotting someone who's high on coke or crack,but.....?????? I truely hope that he's not getting high,and maybe he's not so don't let my story totally trip you out.So,.... to give you a really really long answer to your question,let me reiterate,...your feelings are normal.Good luck,and take care!

What an awesome story. I love miracles and destiny; they bring me back to that wide-eyed love of life I felt as a little girl. Thanks for sharing yours. You ROCK, out there in your teeny little town- it's an honor to meet you.

kari05,I believe that what you're feeling is probably very common,and it's absolutely alright to feel insecure.When you're close to someone that's been heavily hooked on drugs and get's clean there is that constant nagging fear that they might relapse.I'm going to give you my honest opinion here.It kinda worries me that he get's mad if you ask him if he's staying clean.I had another good friend who got addicted to crack,and cleaned himself up.He was clean for quite awhile actually,but I started noticing changes in his behavior that made me wonder if he was using again.Now he's usually the nicest most mild mannered guy you could come across except for when I'd ask him if he was getting high.Oh man,he'd get sooooo pissed off at me,and stomp out of my house every time.He'd come back later and he'd give me this story about how hurtful it was to him that I didn't trust him,blah blah blah.Anyhow,....he stayed with me for about 4 months,and I continued to be suspicious,but I wasn't convinced that he was getting high because he maintained his weight,and looked like the picture of health.Well,....he messed up!!!!!The dude that he'd been buying his dope from(in MY car),....his family lives directly across the street from me,and dude recognizes my car and comes to my house trying to sell to my friend!!!!!!!I told you guys I live in a small town.Well,....Big mama flipped.Not only was he lying through his teeth to me,after I'd opened my home to him,but he was getting high in my bathroom every single day.He confessed everything to me after I made him move out.He came to pick up some things and told me that all of my suspicions were right all along.Now I'm not saying that your situation is going to turn out the same,but your man getting upset with you definately raised a red flag to me.I know that doesn't comfort you at all,but I woudn't have felt right if I didn't share that with you.Just be on the lookout for changes in his behavior.They don't even have to be big either.I only saw one tell tale sign in my friend,and he lived with me.That's how good he hid it,and I'm not naive when it comes to spotting someone who's high on coke or crack,but.....?????? I truely hope that he's not getting high,and maybe he's not so don't let my story totally trip you out.So,.... to give you a really really long answer to your question,let me reiterate,...your feelings are normal.Good luck,and take care!


Thanks Big Mama
I hear what your saying, in the past he was getting mad at me and thats because he was guilty, this time seems so differnt, he is constantly keeping busy now, working out, eating, smiling, happy and Im the only one out here with money for him so I know he doesnt want it anymore. He told me the stress of people isnt worth it, the problems become bigger when he was using. So we are on a good path now, I just get scared sometimes cuz he will seem quiet or down and I say Whats wrong? and he gets upset because i ask it like im assuming hes on drugs. I just worry about him.
Im so glad that you spoke to me onthis it makes me feel much better.
Im so blind to drugs and signs to look for since i have never done them. or been around anyone on them really.
thanks girl
KARI

Kari, you are doing what is right and I truly wish you both the very best. It was not an easy road by far, but I believe you and he have made great progress!!! Thank you for sharing your story as well!!!

Thanks eternal... i appreciate it. Its nice to come to a place where people actually understand and know what you go through when you love a person in prison.

THanks to all of you

Talking About Gods Angels..
You Were There When He Need You To Do His Work For Him..god Bless Yu..

God does work in mysterious ways! That is an awesome story. I am so glad God was able to use you to help "baby."

May God bless you!