Yolanda's Story
Yolanda’s mom was never a disciplinarian and often seemed burdened by motherhood. She would leave Yolanda for days at a time with relatives – sometimes strangers.
“She was the type that did not have time for a child,” Yolanda recently said of her mom. “My aunt, my mother’s only sister, knew something was happening to me while I was being neglected. I was 8 the first time I was molested by a family friend and then again shortly by my mother’s nephew. I believe my mom knew what was going on because my aunt brought it to her attention but she never accepted the fact that this happened.”
Yolanda went to live with her aunt in St. Louis. She struggled through school but managed to graduate. However, it was her rapid weight loss during this time that tipped off her grandmother that something else was going on.
“I had an older boyfriend that was using drugs and I thought I could fit in better if I did what he did,” said Yolanda about how she began using crack cocaine. She was 17. Her boyfriend was 24.
Yolanda’s aunt signed her up for a 28-day treatment program but it was unsuccessful. Shortly, after, Yolanda moved to Milwaukee to live with her mom. Yolanda’s journey with drug addiction led to a cycle of abusive relationships, prostitution, rape, and incarceration. She also gave birth to several children who were raised by relatives or involved with child welfare. In 2007, she became pregnant with her last child. She was homeless and had become very ill. One day, Yolanda approached an outreach group that agreed to pick her up and help her access treatment.
“I stayed up all night, walking the streets back and forth, waiting for them to pick me up the next day,” Yolanda said. “They probably thought I was not coming because I had asked before and had not shown up.”
She arrived at Meta House in June 2007 four months pregnant.“I just felt relieved when I walked in the door,” Yolanda said. “I came with the clothes on my back. I came with nothing. I really wanted some help. I had been in 8 treatment centers before but Meta House targeted a lot of issues. They got to the core. I had never had in-depth treatment like that before.”
Yolanda gave birth to a drug-free baby girl at Meta House in November 2007. She graduated from Meta House’s Residential Treatment Program and continues to receive out-patient treatment at Meta House to work through her trauma. She currently works at Step Industries, a packaging company that gives recovering people a second chance, and lives in Meta Housing with her 20-month-old daughter. She is also trying to rebuild relationships with her other children.
“When I really look back on where I’ve been and how far I’ve come, I’m pretty proud of my self,” said Yolanda who recently celebrated two years in recovery.