Deja’s Story of Hope
My journey with drugs began early. Before I was even four years old, my parents were dealing drugs, and my brother and I were placed in foster care for six years. When my dad went to prison, it seemed like things couldn’t get harder. Growing up, I was actually the one who was against drugs. I saw what they did to my parents, and I had plans—real plans—to go to college and build a different life. In high school, I even got my CNA certification because I loved helping others, with nursing as my ultimate career goal.
Life took a different turn in my teens. I started smoking marijuana with one of my brother’s friends and eventually selling it for him. He introduced me to meth, and it took hold of me. I never wanted to be like my parents, yet there I was, in the same darkness that consumed them. By nineteen, I was deep in addiction, and got arrested. That terrified me, but fear wasn’t enough to keep me clean. When I met my daughter’s father, we used drugs most of the time. But thankfully when she was born premature, she was healthy and beautiful.
Knowing I needed help with my baby, I came to Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, where I stayed only a month. I missed my mom and wanted us to all be together so she could experience her granddaughter. I managed to stay clean for about three or four months—not long for most people, but for me, it was an achievement. Then in the spring of last year, my daughter’s father overdosed and died. Something broke inside me that day. I spiraled downward, using more than ever, but feeling terrible as a mother because my daughter didn’t deserve to live that way.
I remember working at a grocery store stocking shelves from 10 PM to 6 AM, then going straight home to take care of my baby. I got maybe an hour of sleep a day. That’s when meth became a way to stay awake, to keep functioning. Eventually, my mom began caring for my daughter, so I could get help and enroll in a long-term program. Thankfully the leadership here remembered me and offered me a second chance.
I’m so excited because I’ve grown so much that by the end of February my daughter will be back with me. Just saying those words makes my heart race with excitement and gratitude.
When I was little and in foster care, I attended church and learned that God loves me. Even in my difficult times, I knew God was on my side. And even though I knew I wasn’t living right I knew He was always there for me. Now I pray and am learning to study the Bible through our Monday night Bible studies. He’s showing me things I never saw before.
The staff here are teaching me how to live a normal life—something that might not sound like much to a lot of people. But when you’ve been in survival mode most of your life, it means everything. In addiction, you dodge responsibility; you don’t know how to do basic things that most people take for granted. It’s a cycle that feels impossible to break. But here I am breaking it! Now I have hope, and my greatest hope is to give my daughter the life she deserves — one that is better than I had.
Update: We are happy to update that Deja’s daughter is now with her full time at Abba’s House, where they are healing together and creating a bond with each other!
