Success Story: Katesha
My name is Katesha. I am 20 years old. I have two sons, a four year old, Jordan, and Johnathan who is three. I am expecting a third son, due in November. I am currently in treatment at the Stephen Center. And I am fighting hard to get my boys back from the State of Iowa.
Growing up through elementary school was really nice for me. I truly enjoyed it! Then my life started to tumble. When I was 11, in the 5th grade, our house burnt down. My family had to go live with my Aunt. It was there that I was introduced to marijuana. I began to skip school and get high on a pretty regular basis. I ended up getting put on juvenile probation. I would not straighten up and became very defiant. They sent me to a girl’s academy in Esterville, Iowa called Forest Ridge for 1 year. I was 14 when I was allowed to come home.
Right before my fifteenth birthday, I was introduced to Meth (crank). I liked it-a lot! I put down the pot; Meth became my drug of choice. A few months before I turned 16, I became pregnant and dropped out of school. I was afraid for my unborn child, knowing that I had been using Meth so heavily. I quit everything-cold turkey! I even quit smoking cigarettes. Jordan was born September 18, 2002. He was healthy and happy. Two weeks later, I started using Meth again. When Jordan was 4 months old, I found out I was pregnant again. I was 16, in an abusive relationship and a Meth addict. I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to be pregnant. I did not stop using during this pregnancy. He was on his own. Johnathan was born November 12, 2003.
(I recently learned he has a developmental delay.) I had great family support and felt that I was providing a stable environment for my kids even though Meth still played a big part in my life. One day, while my sister watched my children, authorities with the State of Iowa took them. I was eighteen. I fought hard to stay sober; I knew that was the only way to get my boys back. I realized that I could not do it on my own, so I went to outpatient treatment. I failed! My children are still in foster care.
This past April, one month before my 20th birthday, I found out I was pregnant again. It was time to stop! I started looking for inpatient treatment for the sake of myself and my baby. I tried to get into numerous places; they would not accept me because of my pregnancy. I finally heard of Stephen Center. I filled out an application and got an interview almost immediately. I was accepted to the HERO program, with an intake date of July 31, 2006. I was one of the first 5 clients to enter the brand-new facility.
I’ve been in treatment for 80 days. I will be graduating within the next two weeks. Being at Stephen Center has really changed my life. Through classes like Co-Occurring Disorders and Relapse Prevention, I have learned the cycles of my addiction and behaviors. The staff has given me the tools I need in life to catch my old behaviors from re-occurring and to come up with a relapse prevention plan. The staff offers and encourages everyone to participate in Tuesday night Family counseling. As a result of this class, I have developed a better relationship with my family and they are now able to understand my addiction as well. The classes and the 12-step Program the Stephen Center offers have filled me with courage, hope and strength. With the help of Mark, my counselor, I have been given the chance to join an After Care Program in Des Moines, for my baby and me. Hopefully, I can show the court that I am a good, loving mother and they will give me the opportunity to be a mom to Jordan and Johnathan.
In closing, I would like to thank the staff at the Stephen Center. They are very understanding, encouraging, helpful and supportive. They will not be forgotten!
