Brokenness to Hope

Ekaterina is 29 years old, and on her second attempt at recovery. To look at her, you'd never know her deep-rooted troubles. She appears together, both as a mum, and professionally as a teacher, but her past is full of loss and pain.

“My earliest memories are of my dad who was always intoxicated. Mum kicked him out but he would beat the windows – it was terrifying." After that, she gained a stepfather who was a good person.

When Ekaterina was 21, single, and pregnant with her first daughter, her mum committed suicide. The resentment towards her mum for leaving her built up, as did her love of alcohol. Ekaterina's daughter ended up being cared for by her other grandparents and was later placed in an orphan institution many miles away.

Ekaterina tried to rebuild a manageable existence. She married, but over the course of two years, she lost everyone she was close to...

“My stepfather committed suicide, my brother was poisoned and died, and then my husband took his own life with a gun. I was a mess, and I began a new relationship with someone who used drugs, adding another layer of problems to my life.”

Ekaterina, now addicted to drugs and alcohol, became pregnant with Eva.

“I didn't tell a doctor I was pregnant, I just turned up at the hospital for the birth. They would not give her to me and she was taken to an orphanage. My mind was filled with the sound of crying children - it broke me.”

Having lost two children and knowing that drugs and alcohol were not fulfilling her desperate need for happiness, Ekaterina went to a rehabilitation facility. She got clean, and in the years ahead, found a job teaching, began attending church and even reinstated her parental rights to Eva.

Due to a lack of support that works, 90% of addicts in Russia relapse within a year (according to Human Rights Watch), and when Eva was three, Ekaterina relapsed.

Had she used the Russian healthcare system to try recovery again, she would have had to put Eva back in an orphanage. Thankfully, she heard about our Centre – a place where she and Eva could be together.

Afraid to face the deep feelings of loss beneath her addiction, Ekaterina struggled to accept the kindness and help on offer. Each day she'd ask Eva "Are you happy here?" – hoping she’d say 'no' and give her reason to leave!.. But, every time, Eva replied "Yes! I love it here - I have friends!"

Ekaterina eventually embraced where she was and has been sober for six months! She even realised that God had put her here - and that as a teacher, in a sober state, she had much to offer all the other children at the Centre.

Ekaterina has at last been able to process the awful events she's lived through, and the subsequent addiction that plagued her.

The next important milestone for Ekaterina is restoring parental rights for her firstborn. This would be a dream come true, but it’s literally going to be a long journey. Her elder daughter is at an orphanage 13 hours north of the Crisis Centre. Ekaterina will need to visit several times to progress with the legal process. Please pray for this situation, and for Ekaterina, who has no family - that she will be reunited permanently with both her girls.