Generational Hope & Healing
“I was lost, I was desperate . . . I lived in fear every day. I wasn’t safe. I was not good at all.”
Five years ago, Blake Vardaman was deep into drug addiction. But addiction wasn’t new to her—she grew up surrounded by it. Her dad, sisters, and grandmother were all addicts. “It’s been generations of trauma upon trauma upon trauma,” Blake said.
Her drug addiction forever changed her life. She lost her home. She lost custody and parental rights of her two older children. She lost her freedom—she was incarcerated due to her involvement with drugs.
But it also changed her life in the best way. In her darkest days, she gave her life to God.
When she was released from jail, she went to a rehab facility. While there, she formed a relationship with Christ and experienced hope and healing in Him.
“I was surrounded by a whole bunch of people that loved me, and that loved God,” said Blake. “They walked me through all this. It was probably the best thing I could have ever done was be there at the time.” She stayed sober for many years and welcomed a new addition in her life—her son Jerry.
For five years, she lived a sober and happy life, but the COVID-19 pandemic put her in a vulnerable place. She felt alone and isolated. Not having a daily routine affected her deeply. All the unknowns and upheavals of the pandemic were triggers for her as a former addict.
She let Jerry’s dad, who was an addict, back into her life. Feeling isolated because of the pandemic and being surrounded by drugs again drew her back into drug addiction.
Her addiction caused financial stress, and her water was shut off. She made regular runs to CVS to fill up water jugs that she would take back home for cooking and bathing. One day while she was getting water there, she ran into her cousin, Falon, who saw the state she was in. Blake was not in good health and was struggling to make it each day.
Falon helped her get into a rehab facility and cared for four-year-old Jerry while Blake worked toward getting clean again. When Blake was released from rehab, she was motivated to make a better life for herself and Jerry. She didn’t know how to do that or where to turn, though. She didn’t have a home or much money to live on.
She happened to learn about our Family Care program in Mobile and stayed in our transitional home. While there, she was able to save money, learn budgeting skills, receive counseling, and have a safe place for her and her son.
“We were living in fear . . . I was always anxious and overwhelmed,” Blake shared about her life before coming into the program. “In this past year [in Family Care], I’ve been able to go to therapy and counseling, and I’ve been able to deal with these things [I went through] before and in the five years I was clean.” It made a difference for her to know people were in her corner, praying for her, and walking alongside her through this journey.
The biggest goal of the Family Care program is to provide a better future for families. “This place has given us stability and structure,” Blake said. “This is the best opportunity I’ve ever had. I’m able to say now I'm clean . . . I'm living my best life. I've been given opportunities . . . to spread my wings and fly.”
God is breaking the generational curses of addiction in Blake’s family. He is providing generational healing and a brighter future.