Hilda

Hilda got married at 16 and had 3 sons. “I had wonderful parents, but alcohol played a big part in their lives.” She began drinking at 15. When she was 34, her husband committed suicide. Hilda remarried twice, both times to alcoholics. Her oldest son died in jail of cancer and Aids. Her middle son did drugs, but turned his life around. Her youngest is in and out of jail.

After 30 years Hilda finally quit drinking. “I fight alcohol every day.” She lived with a niece until she broke her pelvis. When she recovered she lived with her youngest son but they struggled financially. Depressed, they both tried to commit suicide.

“I woke up, with my son dying next to me. God told me not to let him die, so I called 911.” The paramedics saved him and they stayed in the hospital for 10 days but had nowhere to go. A nurse told her about the Women’s Shelter. “It took me time to adjust,” she admits, until she accepted Christ as her Savior. “I learn as much as I can from the Bible studies here. I feel like they are talking directly to me. God gave me a chance to be in His arms and pulled me back from death so many times. He’s putting words in my mouth and love in my soul. Everyone here has blessed me.”