For the First Time, She Wasn't Alone: Teresa's Recovery Story

For years, Teresa’s life was defined by addiction, instability, and loss.

She was caught in a cycle that felt impossible to escape—an IV drug user since 2003, in and out of jail, without a home, without work, and separated from her children. The weight of those years took a devastating toll, not just emotionally, but physically.

“I have been an IV drug user and addict since 2003. I tried to get sober many times through the years,” she shared.

That cycle nearly cost her everything.

In 2019, her addiction led to endocarditis—an infection of the heart—that resulted in a stroke. She lost the ability to speak for more than three weeks and remained hospitalized for over three months. Just six days after being discharged, she overdosed on fentanyl.

It could have been the end of her story.

Instead, it became a turning point.

After another attempt at recovery and a relapse, November 2022 marked a moment of decision. Facing seven active warrants, Teresa chose a different path—entering rehab and committing fully to change. She completed a 30-day program, followed by three months in a Chem-Free house, laying a foundation she had never been able to sustain before.

When she returned to Russellville in early 2023, she was introduced to the 100 Families Initiative—and for the first time, she didn’t have to navigate recovery alone.

“They immediately went to work to help me put my life back together,” she said.

What followed was not a single act of help, but a coordinated, consistent effort to remove barriers and rebuild stability. The team walked alongside her through the practical and emotional steps—helping her secure vital documents, showing up with her in court, and encouraging her through every challenge.

Step by step, her life began to change.

She found employment, first at Daddy’s Smackin’ Wings and then at Tabor Enterprises, where her dedication quickly stood out. Within six months, she earned a promotion—something that once felt far out of reach. Her legal barriers were resolved, her warrants cleared, and she regained her driver’s license, restoring a level of independence she hadn’t experienced in years.

At the same time, something even more meaningful was being rebuilt—her relationship with her children.

“Over the years, I had not been in my boy's lives much at all because of my addiction. I missed out on so much, but since moving back to Russellville, my relationship with my boys is being restored.”

Moments that once felt impossible became reality. She showed up—for the first day of school, football games, homecoming, and milestones she once feared she would never witness. The distance created by addiction was slowly replaced with connection, pride, and presence.

“They are so proud of me and I am so thankful to be in their lives.”

Today, Teresa’s life looks completely different.

She is over a year sober and thriving in her recovery. She has stable employment, a home she shares with her sister, and a renewed sense of purpose. What once defined her—homelessness, legal trouble, addiction, unemployment—has been replaced with stability, growth, and forward momentum.

And she’s not stopping here.

Her goals now reflect a future she once couldn’t imagine: purchasing a car, earning her GED, and eventually becoming a Peer Support Specialist to help others walking a path she knows all too well.

“I want to thank the team at 100 Families for the support and direction they have provided. I have grown to love and respect them so much for the work they have done with me and for so many others throughout the River Valley.”

What began in crisis has become a story of resilience, restoration, and hope—proof that even after years of setbacks, a new future is possible.