“Bev”, age 38, came from a good, middle class family and never missed a Sunday at her Baptist church in Hendersonville, TN. Her dad left at a young age, but she had a close relationship with her mom. After high school, she attended a community college, but started to drink quite a bit. Her drinking got out of hand and she dropped out of college. She got married, had a baby and was on a good path. Then, she had her second child and remembers something “changing” in her body. She didn’t bond well with her son, felt extremely low, and was diagnosed with post partum and manic depression. She began drinking again, hiding it from her husband and family. Soon, she knew she needed help and checked herself into a rehab center. She was sober for three years. By this time, her husband had filed for divorce and had custody of her children.

Bev soon got remarried to a doctor, had a good job and was doing well. However, one day, while at home sick with the flu, a neighbor brought over a Loratab and she took it to feel better. This led to other opiates and eventually to heroin use. She remembers being the mom who was at her kids’ soccer games, but was shooting up heroin in the bathrooms. After multiple DUIs and several car wrecks, Bev served 8 months in jail. While incarcerated, she took up drawing and painting. Every time, she started a new project, she would draw a specific tree. It was a large tree, with lots of branches and roots going down deep. She didn’t know why, but she drew this same tree every time she created a new drawing or painting. Soon after, her mom mailed her a brochure about The Next Door and she saw this exact tree on the brochure, as a part of their logo, and knew it was a sign of where she should go.

Today, after only 3 months at The Next Door, Bev feels more motivated than ever to start a new life. She has repaired the relationship with her kids and talks with them often. She has strengthened her faith in Jesus and feels closer to Him than ever before. She looks forward to her weekly counseling appointments with TND staff, to overcome the issues she has with guilt and shame. And, even though she comments that “she has nothing in life”, Bev feels like she has more than she’s ever had – self respect and hope.