An Angel on the other end of the phone....

Two years ago, my daughter, Kristen, was mid-way through her third year of high school. It was also the beginning of her third year of severe depression and chronic migraine headaches. She fell into depression a few months after her father left us. My athletic, talented, nearly straight A child had left the planet. She was failing High School, did not participate in any activities, and no longer had any friends. She was spending 3-4 days a week in bed, only emerging on the weekend to go run around. She would stay out until 3 or 4 in the morning, often forcing me to go look for her. We fought constantly, and she defied me at every chance. The school dropped her from enrollment. I had taken her to every specialist thinkable. We had counseled with our pastor and several Christian counselors. In addition, her rebelliousness began to escalate. Her brother was frightened of her, she broke all the family rules, refused to attend church, and did not listen to any authority. She had no education and no job. She was heading towards long-term disability fast and I was desperate for help. A Christian friend said, "She needs boot camp." So that day, out of frustration, I went to Google and searched "boot camp for teens." Up popped Hope For Teens! Praise God for guiding me there. I called for information and an angel by the name of Katy lovingly advised me and assisted me with making the decision to send my daughter to Phoenix, AZ to Second Chance (Hope for Teens). I spoke to other parents who had made the same choice. I knew God was in this and after much prayer, many tears and checking out their program, I knew this was a necessary and safe choice for my child. It was my last hope to save my daughter. A few weeks later, I had all the arrangements made and I had the Search and Rescue team come to my home to escort Kristen to Phoenix. I knew she would refuse to go or run away if I told her my plans to help her.
I praise God everyday for the angel on the end of that phone. Kristen today has fully recovered from her depression and is medication free. She finished the three-month treatment program and wanted to stay in Phoenix and enroll in the Elijah Generation International Bible College, also sponsored by Spirit Life Church. She completed her high school diploma while in EGI and graduated in June of 2007 from EGI. Today, she has completed a year of college and is working as a summer intern near my hometown. She will begin her sophomore year of college in the fall. She is such a blessing and I am so thankful to have my daughter back. The team at Hope For Teens turned her life around and put her back on track with God, our Father. I thank God for her salvation and her healing. The pastors at Spirit Life counseled me by phone weekly with other parents of troubled teens. Their training opened my eyes to the flaws in my parenting and how I enabled my daughter. I invite you to read my profile page to see more pictures of my beautiful daughter today and many pictures from her life changing experiences while living in Phoenix. My family is reunited and truly blessed by this life changing experience. If I had it to do all over again, I would not hesitate. I will never be able to thank the pastor's and Christian Family of Spirit Life Church for loving my daughter and helping her heal. Don't hesitate to contact me through my profile page if you have any questions.