Hi my name is Juanita Wessell.

My childhood was filled with pain, fear, and instability. My mom was loving and supportive, but the man she was married to was abusive in every possible way. At just eight years old, I was introduced to weed and alcohol—far too young to understand the path it would lead me down.

At just 11 years old, I was introduced to harder drugs like cocaine. I was raped at a party at 11. For a few years, I did weed and alcohol. I was 11 hanging out with guys who were 16-21 years old. My parents worked 3rd shift, so I would sneak out while they were gone. There were times I don’t even know how I made it home. At 16, I started using meth, and my struggles deepened.

At 18, I suffered a heartbreaking loss—I miscarried twins. Soon after, I became pregnant again, and at 19, I gave birth to my daughter, Kesi. I tried to build a stable life for her, but when she was two, her father and I split up, leaving me to navigate motherhood on my own.

After my breakup, I got involved with another man, and we started smoking and using pills together. He was abusive, and when I became pregnant with my son, things got even worse. One day, he beat me so badly that I finally left. I had nowhere to go, so I went back to my ex-husband as we tried to work things out.

I had my son Ethan in 2011. Then, in 2012, I was arrested on a manufacturing charge. When I got out, I became pregnant with my youngest daughter. Audriena was born in 2013, but soon after, my world fell apart—my mom passed away. We had to make the heartbreaking decision to take her off life support. The pain was unbearable, and I turned to heroin to cope.

I was in jail when my dad passed away, 6 months after my mom passed.

When I got out, I had nothing—no parents, no kids, no support. The pain was too much, and I started using again the very same day. For the next few years, I was in and out of jail and prison. With more time incarcerated than at home.

In 2019 I overdosed. That overdose sent me straight back to jail, then to prison.

When I was released, I was sent to WeCare. After completing the program, I was hired to work at WeCare. I loved everything about my job. It gave me purpose. The staff members were my family. I love them so much as well as every girl who walked through the doors of WeCare. But at home, things started falling apart. My husband ended up relapsing, and one day, I found him on the floor. He had overdosed. I gave him CPR until the paramedics arrived. The staff from WeCare met me at the hospital, supporting me like family.

Little by little, I started slipping. Before I knew it, I was in deep again. Then, my husband overdosed again. After he survived that overdose, I was terrified to sleep, afraid I’d wake up to find him gone. I convinced myself that using meth would help me stay awake to watch over him. But that excuse quickly turned into full-blown addiction. I spiraled into psychosis, and it scared me to death. The addiction wouldn’t let go. But GOD saved us! I have overdosed multiple times and I shouldn’t be here today. I am alive by the grace of God. 

Then, on September 12, 2024, everything changed. I called Rachel and asked what she was doing. She told me they were having choir practice. We decided to stop by Trinity and were sitting outside as everyone was leaving. When Rachel walked up to the car, I just broke down. I told WeCare staff everything—I couldn’t do it anymore. I knew my husband and I were either going to die or end up in prison again. We had kids. We had a grandbaby on the way.

We could not do it alone.

I knew the love that WeCare had for people like me. I knew they wouldn’t turn me away.
I went to detox and then returned to WeCare. I was able to start therapy again, go to choir practice and church, attend Brianna’s Hope, and share my location with staff—these things made all the difference.

Now, I’ve been clean for a year and five months. I had almost five years clean before, and I’m fighting to get there again. I am once again able to be there for my husband, kids and now my grandbaby. I know God has a plan for us! WeCare is an amazing program. They help women recover every day. On top of that, they stepped up to help my husband! If that doesn’t show you the type of people they are. They love everyone and truly want to help. I am blessed to have these amazing people in my life.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you.”