Summer’s Story

I’m Summer and I was born in Alabama, raised by my mom and my mom’s side of the family. When I was four years old, my dad went to prison and I was molested. I don’t know if my mom ever really believed me but it was really confusing for me as a child growing up. I was an only child and I always had what I wanted and needed. My parents spoiled me, you know, I think a little too much.

My dad got out of prison when I was 15 or 16, and then I started using hard just because I knew it was going to be really hard to be around him. I felt unheard and unseen by my mom and I moved out when I was 16 to live with my unborn baby’s dad. While we were selling drugs to pay the bills, our house as raided. That was the first time I went to jail.

I had my son by that point and my first CPS case. When I lost my son, I was in psychosis – which happens when you are living a lifestyle with constant drug use. My son’s dad got clean but I went downhill – I didn’t know who I was and I didn’t know who the people were around me.

When I got to Mn Adult & Teen Challenge, I was completely surrounded with love. I now know that was the love of Jesus Christ. Even though I’d been raised Catholic, I had never felt anything like how I feel today. Since I’ve been here, I’ve been learning so much about my identity in Christ and I’m working towards forgiveness towards both my mom and my dad, and it’s made me really happy that they’ve both told me that they were proud of me.