When Elise came to Healing House in June 2021, she’d hit rock bottom. An Adderall addiction had led to opioids, meth and even heroin. Things were spiraling out of control. “I just kept putting a Band-Aid on things,” Elise remembers. “But the Band-Aids kept breaking. I was in pretty big trouble, but I thought I would just go to rehab for 30 days, and everything would get ‘fixed.’ That’s not how it works.” When Elise’s plans for rehab fell through, she contacted her lawyer for help. He’d heard stories about Healing House, so he made the call and within an hour, a staff member reached out to her.
“I talked to Melissa at Healing House. Her voice was so warm and understanding. Just hearing her compassion for my situation felt so good. She asked if I could come Monday, and I said YES! Thank God! I just know God wanted me here.” When she arrived, Elise was greeted with the words “welcome home.” They explained to her that the program was faith-based, but she didn’t mind. “I was agnostic but had always felt an overwhelming sense of love surrounding me. Even when my behavior was reckless, I sensed Someone protecting me.” At Healing House, Elise has embraced a relationship with God and found a new life full of purpose. For the first time, she is truly happy. Having always struggled with her identity, she now feels comfortable in her skin. “Before, I would just go with the flow. Whatever crowd I was in, I would try to be like them. Thankfully, the horrible things that could’ve happened to me didn’t … not yet. And I don’t want them to, so I am never going back! Now I just want to follow wherever He leads me.” And He is already leading Elise to great things! Today, she is helping others, working at Healing House as a certified peer specialist. “As a believer, I have nothing to fear. I know He will give me the resources to accomplish the things He is giving me to do. I want to be one of His people, for His people. My dad said, ‘If you have to hold on to Jesus to stay strong, then do it.’ I laughed and said, ‘I do! And I will!”