Journey of Hope: Patty’s Story
Patty, pictured right, with Susie, a sister in the women’s Life Change Program.
This Thanksgiving, we reflect on stories of hope and redemption, including that of Patty, a remarkable woman who has faced tremendous challenges and is eager to share her gratitude.
Patty’s journey began not with addiction but with a vibrant life as a grocery store manager and a loving mother to her daughter and son. She was the cornerstone of her family until domestic violence began to unravel her world.
“I grew afraid of my husband and his violent temper,” she recalls. “I was trying to hold everyone together by myself, and I just couldn’t.”
To cope with the stress, Patty turned to alcohol after long, exhausting workdays, which soon spiraled into full-blown alcoholism. As her addiction deepened, she turned to pain pills, which further eroded her ability to manage her life. Eventually, she succumbed to methamphetamine, and chaos ensued.
“I lost all hope and direction,” she confesses. “I lost custody of my children.” The vibrant existence she had once cherished faded, replaced by reckless decisions and even two stints of incarceration. “I was a drug addict,” says Patty. “Ultimately, I was living in a trailer in Saginaw, completely psychotic from methamphetamine.”
Patty shares the poignant story of her daughter Sammy, now an adult. Despite the distance and the pain that addiction caused Patty, her daughter would frequently drive by the old trailer that Patty called home—its peeling paint and dilapidated porch bearing witness to the struggles that now defined Patty’s life.
Each time she passed, she never stopped, but rather looked on and then drove away. But she kept coming back. It was a testament to a lingering hope that Patty could be redeemed, allowing them the chance to rebuild what had been lost. Sammy researched possible options for Patty and called Denver Harris, the Life Change Program Director at the Eugene Mission.
Courageously, Sammy made the decision to confront her mother, bravely knocking on the door of Patty’s trailer early last Spring. Arrangements had been made, a bed was ready, and she packed a small bag of Patty’s belongings and brought her to the Eugene Mission.
What ensued was a pivotal moment in Patty’s life, setting in motion a remarkable journey of healing and renewal that would change everything for her in just a few short months. “When I arrived at the Eugene Mission, I was flabbergasted,” Patty shares, noting the kindness, cleanliness, and the peaceful environment.
There she found more than shelter; she discovered structure, accountability, and a sense of community, which played a crucial role in her recovery. Engaging wholeheartedly in the Life Change Program, Patty’s days were filled with classes, counseling, devotionals, recovery meetings, and life skills training.
Patty was recently baptized, along with several of her sisters in the program.
The initial transition was difficult, but she persevered. With each passing week, she formed bonds with others who were also on their journeys of recovery. “People who are doing life together with me,” she expresses, as the feelings of isolation and psychosis began to fade.
A monumental moment in her journey came just a month ago when Patty was baptized alongside Sammy and her granddaughters. With immense pride, she now shares, “I am reunited with my son and daughter and six grandchildren, with one on the way. I’ll finally celebrate Thanksgiving with my family for the first time in over a decade.”
Patty’s story embodies the transformative power of hope, faith, and community support. It proves that even in the darkest circumstances, change is attainable, and love can prevail. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV): “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
As she reflects on her journey, Patty shares her gratitude with those who made the Life Change Program possible. “Thank you for saving little ‘ol me,” she says, a testament to her newfound self-worth.