My name is Judi and I am a wife to a recovering crack-cocaine addict & mother of 3. When my husband left SCRC and later started setting up HEAL support groups I was not in the least interested. He took the drugs not me, so why should I help or attend these meetings! He was healed or fixed as they say and he had my ‘support’ in that I was the "good wife" that continued with him on his journey. I never realised that my life had become all about him. After a year I was compelled to attend a HEAL meeting as I wanted to hear how other people coped with their loved ones coming out of rehab. I was shocked to see how many people and of all walks attended. Everybody had freedom to express themselves. No one judged or criticized me. I cried for almost a year and didn’t care if anyone thought my tears where due to my husband. It was a way of my healing from the broken trust, hurt, anger and fear of the ‘what ifs’ and not knowing what to do. Attending these support meetings gave me hope and comfort. I learned new skills like implementing boundaries for myself and finding my voice again. Through hearing so many testimonies, I discovered Jesus Christ to be real and ever present in my everyday situations & I regained new found strength and self-worth. The love and support from like-minded people in these groups became a much needed anchor through a very traumatic stage of my life. For any one suffering from the consequences of addiction, attendance to support meetings are non-negotiable! For me HEAL has been life changing and empowering.

On the 16th of January 2011 I attended my first HEAL meeting, as a supporter to my then brand new boyfriend that I had been dating for 2 weeks. It was part of his “terms and conditions” that I joined him at HEAL as I had very limited knowledge about addiction and at the time we met, Nathaniel was already 3 years clean so he knew how crucial his recovery was as well as my involvement in it. I needed to understand the dangers of enabling and becoming co-dependent and what life with an addict was like, even though he was strong in his recovery. I was very sceptical and reluctant but I thought I would see how things go. The amount of knowledge that I gained about addiction, triggers, family dynamics, conflict resolution, relapse prevention and so much more, was absolutely life changing. If it was not for the equipping, education and support that we receive from HEAL, Nathaniel and I would not have been able to cope with the pressures of being in a relationship with a recovering addict. I have subsequently learned so much and almost 6 years later, I am married to the man of my dreams, we have a beautiful little girl and recovery is part of our lives, every single day. Through HEAL we both learned how to walk, and talk recovery. Our weekly HEAL meetings keep us on rock solid grounding, surrounded by accountability and friends, who have become family. We know that HEAL is a massive part of what keeps Nathaniel clean along with a God centred life and family support.

My story starts many years ago when I was 13, I got mixed up with drugs, clubbing etc... I then proceeded to struggle with addiction for the next 18 or so years. My addiction eventually took me to the streets. I had had my kids by then and my life was a complete chaotic mess. I OD on the streets and by God's Grace I am still here today.

I went into long term treatment (4th time) in 2013. The hard work started when I came out into the real world. It has been a tough road but the Lord has taken me out of the darkness and into the light. I have recently moved into my own place with my kids, I have started a successful business and I have the most amazing relationships with my kids, family and new friends. I have made an absolute point that my recovery is life long, and that it's not a destination. In order for me to stay in recovery I am totally committed to HEAL. For me it's a platform of accountability, I am also able to get a wealth of information / advice and continuous support. It also feels good to give back. The HEAL ministry has definitely been a huge part of me staying clean and I 100% believe Gods hand is at work in HEAL and I'm proud to be a part of that.