LaCosta Gardenhire’s Journey of Resilience and Recovery
Homeless for five years, living out of her car with her three dogs, and deep in the holds of addiction, life was once an unimaginable struggle for LaCosta Gardenhire. Once a week, she would visit the neighborhood health clinic for a shower, clinging to what little normalcy she could. Her days were filled with uncertainty, fear, and a deep sense of hopelessness. She knew deep down that something needed to change but struggled to find the path towards recovery.
Then, one pivotal moment changed everything. LaCosta vividly recalls the terrifying experience that became her wake-up call. “I was woken up by my boyfriend screaming my name. He showed me my son’s face, and he was purple, his lips were blue, and slobber was draining down his face,” she recounts. In a scene that unfolded like a nightmare, LaCosta realized that her son had overdosed. Panicked, she rushed to call 911. “We carried him to the back porch, and that’s when I started CPR. I was screaming to every god that would hear me, ‘Please don’t let my baby die.’”
LaCosta fought through the terror, performing CPR while listening to the unsettling noises it made, even as her boyfriend vomited nearby. “I kept on and on. I could hear the EMTs coming, but it felt like forever.” When they finally arrived, first responders used a manual resuscitator for ten minutes and administered three doses of Narcan before he finally stirred. “It was the scariest, most horrendous thing that has ever happened to me,” LaCosta reflects. This harrowing experience jolted her to action. “It was an eye-opener to save my life,” she says.
LaCosta’s journey to recovery began when she connected with Triumph, a treatment center where she was able to start detox and the recovery process. Following her treatment at Triumph, LaCosta was connected to a peer support counselor at Comprehensive Healthcare, Andrea Walker. “As a peer support counselor, my goal is to walk alongside people like LaCosta and help them get where they want to go,” Andrea shared. “I could see LaCosta was determined to stay sober despite everything she has been through. It’s amazing to see how much strength she has shown.” This connection proved to be a lifeline, pulling LaCosta from the abyss she had lived in for so long.
The support LaCosta received was more than just professional – it was deeply personal. “The team that worked with me were actually ex-users themselves, so they had a lot of insight and knowledge,” she explained. Andrea became a pillar of strength for LaCosta, especially during the most taxing times. “My mom died one month after I got clean, and Andrea was there for me. She had just lost her dad, so she knew exactly what I was going through,” LaCosta recalls, her voice thick with emotion. “She got me out of my car and into a place to live. She was there for me no matter what.”
Andrea also felt a deep connection with LaCosta through their shared experiences. “I felt like we had the same story,” Andrea said. “I had just returned from leave after my dad passed, only eight months after losing my mom. When I met LaCosta, I could see so much of myself in her.” Andrea found that the wisdom and support her cousin had offered during her own grieving process became invaluable in her work with LaCosta. “I shared with her what my cousin had told me – that it’s okay to cry when you remember, but also try to think of something good so you can end with a smile.”
It was like waking up in a new life.
LaCosta Gardenhire
Through the Methadone program and daily classes, LaCosta began to rebuild her life. These classes taught her about addiction and recovery, helping her to set goals and find a new purpose. “It was like waking up in a new life,” she says. For LaCosta, these programs did more than provide treatment – they allowed her to rediscover herself and her potential.
Now, one year into her sobriety, LaCosta’s life is a testament to resilience and transformation. “I have my own place and a new car, and I go to my NA meetings every day,” she proudly states. “I try to stay focused on recovery because I don’t want that life of despair back.” Through her recovery, LaCosta has not only reclaimed her life but also rebuilt her relationships with her family. “My sister has been a lifesaver,” LaCosta shares. “She took me in during my most desperate times, helped me through severe anxiety, and kept me busy and focused so I wouldn’t relapse. My brother and his wife even bought me a car for my one-year clean and sober anniversary. It was a gift for new beginnings.” This outpouring of love and support from her family has been instrumental in her journey, giving her the strength to move forward and a renewed sense of belonging.
Andrea beams with pride when she talks about LaCosta’s progress. “She’s so much more confident now and has this incredible willingness to help others,” Andrea shared. “LaCosta’s resilience amazes me. Despite everything she’s gone through – leaving inpatient treatment only to be homeless, losing her mom, and even facing bullying in her sober living house – she’s remained sober and strong.” Andrea recalls how, even as LaCosta faced new challenges, she never wavered in her commitment to her recovery. “She still goes to her meetings, reaches out when she needs support, and even helps others, almost like a peer support counselor herself. I wouldn’t be surprised if she becomes one someday.”
LaCosta’s story is one of hope, and she wants others to know that recovery is possible. “I would tell anyone struggling to give treatment a shot, to give Comprehensive a shot,” she advises. “They helped me rebuild my life to what it is today. I’m no longer living in my car. I can lay down at night and wake up feeling safe.”
Her dreams for the future are rooted in gratitude and a desire to help others. “I would like to help another suffering addict, to show them that they can make it, that there is life out there,” LaCosta says, her voice filled with conviction and hope.
LaCosta’s journey is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. She is living proof that with the right support, even the most challenging circumstances can be overcome. Her message is clear: there is hope, there is help, and there is a way forward.
