Victoria's Story
I grew up in a very unhealthy family where there was a lot of drinking and drugs. My father died before I was born. I was taken out of my mother’s home when I was 9 and was moved from one home to another. I was molested and abused for many years and became a very depressed child.

I was returned to my mother when I was 13 and my life just got worse. She was drinking heavily and coming home with men I didn’t know. When I couldn’t stand it anymore I ran to the streets and did drugs and drank alcohol in order to forget my problems or so I thought. I was getting into street fights, doing acid and had thoughts of suicide, just trying to abandon my life in any way possible. At age 17 I got off the streets and found out that I was 2 months pregnant. I told the father of the baby and he asked me to get an abortion. I said no and shortly after that I landed in the hospital with an asthma attack.

A caseworker was brought in from OHSU and gave me some advice about my options. One of the options was Bethany House and after hearing about the home I knew right away I wanted to have an interview. When I walked into Bethany House, to my amazement, the house was clean, organized, roomy and feminine. I was accepted into the program and the day I entered my room there was a vase of flowers and a balloon that said, ”I love you”, and “we understand”. My biggest surprise was how kind everyone was, in an unconditional way. It was family, something I had never had. I had a very low trust factor with people but the staff and other girls living in the home understood this, because they had experienced it themselves.

My first days at Bethany House I was very insecure and spent my time hiding in a hole and acting like someone I was not. Bethany House showed me that life isn’t as “screwed up” as my past had taught me it was. They also taught me that a mother is someone who really cares and will go so far as to give her child a better chance at life through adoption.

Everyone at Bethany House showed me I could have a life that involved God and a loving family. They showed me that I can change my life around 180 degrees, if I just believed and that is what I have done!!

After being off the streets for about a year I met my future husband through friends. He heard me giggle and was hooked. After knowing each other for 2+ years we were married on Sept 25th in the backyard of his grandparent’s home. The first call I made was to my family at Bethany House and Beth, the Director, took my wedding pictures. Even after this long they are still my biggest supporters. Thank you all for supporting this home. You saved my life!

– Victoria

 

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