Your gift gives these girls hope for a better life
From the outside, Vair’s life seemed normal. But inside, she was hurting from her parent’s divorce. By 19, she was married and had moved away. “My ex-husband was abusive. We were married a year. During that time I turned to prescription drugs to deal with the physical and emotional pain.”
This began a vicious cycle of drug abuse that reared its head off and on for years. “I tried different treatments,” she says. “Nothing worked. I spent five years going to a methadone clinic believing I was getting better, but I wasn’t.”
After losing a baby at four months, Vair went on a crack binge for three days and attempted suicide. “I was depressed, I couldn’t imagine going on living,” she recalls. “My life spiraled out of control. I was arrested in 2009 and sentenced to seven days in jail. My family was tired of my mess and refused to bail me out. Honestly, going to jail was exactly what I needed, I just didn’t know it at the time.”
While in jail, Vair realized she had nowhere to go once she was released. She thought of ways to kill herself when she got out. “Looking back, I can see God was watching over me. It was a Thursday night when Brenda (from a local church) shared the verse: ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’ from the book of Jeremiah. At that moment, I knew God had a plan for me. It’s a good thing, because instead of seven days, I spent the next 90 days in jail. I had plenty of time to think, pray and reconsider suicide.” After being released, Vair was ready for a fresh, new start. Things began to turn around. She started dating and was soon engaged.
“When I learned I was pregnant, I was so excited,” shares Vair. “I was also surprised to discover I was pregnant with twin girls.” Ten days after a planned C-section, Vair developed an infection and almost died. “I was in so much pain; they put me in a coma. I had six surgeries and spent more than two weeks in the hospital. It’s a miracle I survived.”
It took months for her to fully-recover. She was still in a lot of pain. “I didn’t realize how much I was relying on the medication to get through the day,” says Vair. “I refused to admit I had a problem. It took getting two DUIs within a week of each other for me to admit I needed help.”
Facing a potential prison sentence, Vair put her faith in God. She knew either way, she needed help. She wanted to be healthy and whole for her girls. She pled guilty and prayed. “Twenty minutes before my court appearance I had a phone interview with a case manager at Nashville Rescue Mission and was accepted into their Life Recovery Program. Once I learned it was a Christian ministry, it sealed the deal. I could even bring my girls with me.”
Vair came to Nashville Rescue Mission, not knowing if she would be able to complete the program. She simply trusted God. After receiving probation for her offenses, Vair is looking forward to the days ahead.
“I know it’s only by God’s grace that I’m here. I don’t deserve it,” she says. “I should be dead. The fact I have survived is truly a miracle. I’m excited to be in the Mission’s Life Recovery Program. My life has changed so much over the last several months. I’m looking forward to celebrating Christmas with my family. The holidays have a whole new meaning for me this year. For the first time in a long time I can celebrate with peace.”