Struggling Drug Addict Believes Pregnancy is a Sign from God
Since the age of 15, Laine has been in and out of multiple rehabs for her severe drug addiction. Although she had tried many times to quit, she always found herself back in the same place.
“There’s been times when I’ve been sober and then messed up again, and again, and again. And I just never seemed to get it right,” she said.
But Laine is now pregnant, and believes her baby is a sign from God that is it time to quit for good.
“Maybe this is my sign, this is my time. This is where I’m supposed to stop. This is where my selfishness needs to end,” she said.
Laine worried for her baby boy, and the chances that he would be born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. NAS means that he could be born addicted to drugs, and could need morphine and time in the NICU to detox.
But when she was 12 weeks pregnant, she moved into a drug addiction recovery home for pregnant mothers, called Karen’s Place Maternity Center.
“People don’t understand that we’re not pregnant women who use drugs, we’re addicts that happen to become pregnant,” Laine said.
Fast forward to today, and Laine is now 36-weeks-pregnant. She is still sober, and plans to stay that way to support her son.
But the transition from pregnancy to a new life with a baby can be difficult for a struggling mother, let alone one addicted to drugs.
Thankfully, the program at Karen’s Place means she does not have to leave after she has her baby.
Her doctor, Dr. Thomas Mahoney, is glad Laine will have continued support from other mothers in the program once she gives birth. “You actually have people helping you work through it,” he said, “versus sitting in an apartment all by yourself at your wits end.”
More patients continue to come to Dr. Mahoney after attending rehab programs like Karen’s Place to turn their lives around.
“I don’t think you can hold it against them,” Mahoney said, “especially if they’re trying to do better for them and their baby.
“Our point is, at the end of the pregnancy, she’s as healthy as she can be and the baby is as healthy as it can be.”
And with less than a month to go, Laine is excited to finally meet her blessing from God. “I just want to see him, you know,” she said.
“It’s been a long time coming and I’m just excited to see him.”
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