Being a bridge

Written by Angel Bailey

     We met 3 1/2 years ago when she came in for some coffee and was upset because her boyfriend and father of the baby she was carrying, kicked her out.  She was in active addiction but desiring help to get clean. We sat and talked about the life inside of her, the mother she wanted to be and prayed and cried together for a couple hours. She was in and out of my life through similar scenarios like this for the next few years. I was able to assist her with the birth of her fifth child and worked on getting her into treatment several times. 
     It was about a month ago that she came in to the café, frantic and bruised up and pregnant again, stating that she needed to go to the hospital and try to get into rehab somewhere. I drove her to McGee Women’s Hospital and spoke to our team about finding a place for her to go. We made connections with Beaver County Behavioral Health and Salvation Army. They found a rehab center for her and got her a hotel room for four days till she could get on a bus that would take her to get the help she was finally wanting. I knew she didn’t need to be alone because she suffers with severe anxiety disorder and PTSD from past life events so another team member and I stayed with her at the hotel the four nights. The day she left, I took her to the bus station, prayed with her and waited till she got on and the bus departed from the station. She called me when she made it to the center.  This is the work of our Second Responders. This is the work we are needing more help. It is about building relationships and walking with those that are struggling in their addictions and needing (though it may take a bit for them to get to the point where they really want it) help moving from isolation to community.