KINGMAN – As mentioned in Part 4, when a resident progresses to Diane’s Hope House, she is nearing the last phase of her journey at Angel Manor.
Rana Brooks is one of the residents there with a story of failure and success. Because of addiction to meth, she lost her son.
First time I was here was March 7, 2024,” Ms. Brooks said. “I was here nine months and got my son back. I got a job and got too big for my britches. I left and relapsed the same day. I thought I had recovery kicked, thought I could do it on my own.”
She said her son who was 13 when she relapsed.
“I knew if I was gonna have a chance at life, I needed to go somewhere safe and I knew Angel Manor was safe,” she said.
She came back but left again because she said she wasn’t done partying, but left her son here. She came back January 1 this year and has been clean since January 2 she said.
“I’m learning how to be truthful and I have all these beautiful ladies I can open up to and they won’t pass judgement. We’re all here to get clean and sober. Angel Manor saved my life and my son’s life.”
Ms. Brooks’ son, living with her in Diane’s Hope House, now 14, stayed strong through it all and tried to help his mom.
“I didn’t think she made right choices,” Donald Holman said. “I talked to her about how she had come back three times and she denied it.”
He said it was difficult for him during that time, but she’s doing a lot better now.
“She’s making better decisions and putting in a lot of hard work and dedication. She’s trying to be the best Mom she could be. She still struggles, but she’s getting there,” Donald stated.
He goes to Angel Manor’s Salt and Light Christian Academy where he’s in the 8th grade. He is a member of the youth group at College Park Church and said he really likes it. He wants to be a chef and a pastor and is currently training to be a youth leader. In his spare time he also helps out on a ranch.
Tracy Veen, another resident of Diane’s Hope House said, “I’m no stranger to drugs and alcohol. For 20 plus years, I was addicted to alcohol, pot, and meth.”
She said the call of God on her life was what brought her to Angel Manor.
“I spent 15 plus years seeking and following the Lord,” Tracy said. “He brought me back to sanity.”
Ms. Veen said she was in her third year of Bible college when God told her to give Wendy, Angel Manor’s director, one year of her life.
“I’m honored and privileged to be here,” Ms. Veen said. I was in a destructive pattern. I’ve gone to AA and NA. I’ve gone through the program and I have an understanding of the hard work these ladies put in for their lives and children.”
She continued, “We just have to learn to live daily, to just give ourselves over to the Lord. As long as we stay strong on our path, God’s gonna grow us in ways we can’t even imagine.”
Connie “Ceejay” Jones
cjstandardnews@gmail.com
