Note: It’s hard to believe, but this shocking story is true, and has a happy ending.





I was born in northern Kentucky and grew up in a tough section of downtown Cincinnati. Both my parents were drug addicts. My mom’s drug of choice was crack, my dad’s, heroin. My dad took off when I was five, leaving me and five other siblings with my mom and her boyfriends. Sometimes she’d put 0 on the kitchen table and leave me with the kids for weeks at a time. My brothers and sisters all called me “mommy.”





Before I go on, I’d like to tell you that my mom is finally clean and sober. I talk to her everyday and see her on site visits all the time. But back in the early days…I finally got taken away from my mom and was placed with my grandparents. They couldn’t control us. Both my older brother and I were in gangs. His life ended on the streets.





I lived on a roller coaster for most of my teen years – on drugs, fighting, a miscarriage, in and out of rehab, you name it. A habitual runaway, my life took a big turn when I was put in State custody. Being locked up, I finally realized I had to quit being so defiant because it wasn’t getting me anywhere. I decided I didn’t want to be known as the crazy girl who is so angry that she needs to be institutionalized. I don’t want to end up dead like my older brother and sister. I want to be a role model for my younger siblings.





I came to Boys’ Haven from a lockdown facility for juveniles. My social worker told me that if I straightened up, she’d get me in a good Independent Living Program. She was true to her word. When she told me about the Boys’ Haven Equine Program and that I’d be working with horses and have my own apartment, I said “yes” immediately. I could tell you about the program all day long. After a couple of months on the job I’m not scared of the horses anymore. I give them baths, do hot walking, wrap their legs, clean their stalls—everything.





And I’m not bragging, but the horses love me. One horse, Tide, won’t let anyone give him a bath but me. He leans his head on my chest whenever he wants a hug! I’d like to get a job as a groom at Trackside someday. But for now I’m going to continue in the Boys’ Haven program while going to Jefferson Community College. I am the first person in my family to go to college!





As I see it, I just have to let go of my past. I’ve got my own apartment, a steady job, I’m in school and I have a nice boyfriend. And more than anything, the horses need me—they’re just big babies.





Basically, my story is simply a story of HOPE. I came from nothing and now I have everything I need. I love waking up in the morning and not worrying if I’m going to die or if I’m going to go to jail. I LOVE the feeling that I’m OK and everything’s going to be OK!