Team TrV Runners for Hope

You never know what life has in store for you. My adventure began growing up in Detroit but my family moved after 9/11 because of racial tension in my neighborhood and a bad job market. I was in high school at the time. We moved around some and I ended up living with my Aunt on an Air Force base.  In school I joined the JROTC and the Color Guard; I worked part time jobs and then found myself pregnant, so at the age of twenty-one I got married. After my daughter was born, I joined the Army as a 25Q Radio Specialist. I attended basic training and sent my daughter to live with my mother, since I was trying to become independent of my husband. I needed to leave him because he was abusive, but I never quite left him completely.

I served in the Army from 2009 until 2015; I served in Iraq in various capacities and locations –when I was discharged I was given 80% disability. When my youngest daughter was two years old and I’d been discharged, I moved to Spindale with my husband to be near his parents. The cost of living was low, and the family owned several properties. I thought things were going well – I had my own home, and was back in school at Virginia Tech. One day we had an argument, so my husband went up to one of the houses he was fixing and also where he sold cars. It was not the best neighborhood. That day three people invaded the home, shooting my husband dead –two shots to the head. Our security cameras were connected to my phone, and I saw it happen in real time. By the time help came, he was gone.

In the house there was a safe where there was cash and drugs. Because of the amounts found, I was arrested in regard to the killing and robbery. I went to jail, and afterward started really using drugs. I lost custody of my kids. When I got out, I had a habit to support, so I found some of the old crowd we were involved with who were very unsafe and I got pulled back into that life. I used until I knew I was going to die one way or another if I didn’t stop. I was already a five-time felon. There wasn’t much more in that life to discover.

I had my sister take me to the VA when I saw how close I was to dying, and from there to a rehab, but I relapsed and used again for three months after going back to where I’d come from. I got stuck there, meaning I couldn’t seem to escape, but I knew street life was not for me anymore.

My journey led me to ABCCM Transformation Village. Here I am supported in my recovery by my Case Manager, the other residents, staff and volunteers. I was hired to work in the emergency homeless shelter (Code Purple).  I love it because I genuinely care about these ladies and I can relate to them.  Helping others is very rewarding! My sobriety and getting my kids back matter most to me. It’s been a hard and lonely journey, but with the support of Transformation Village I will succeed. 

Thank you.
– Neina V.