Andrew
Andrew is a now 23 year old male that came to Pathways’ in search of housing, as he had grown up in the care of the Children’s Aid Society. He resided with foster parents for 8 years after being taken from his mother who was severely addicted to cocaine and heroin. His mother was also a prostitute, who would bring home the men she was with. These men would sexually and physically abuse Andrew on a regular basis. He was repeatedly abused by his mother and often spent days locked in his bedroom with no food or water. While Andrew resided with his foster parents he began to form an eating disorder known as bulimia. He had been raised to never know when he would see another meal, thus causing him to eat as much as he could until he would make himself purge. When Andrew was 14 years old he began experimenting with drugs, and in turn he ended up running away from home with the belief that he could make it on his own. He soon realized he was wrong and then had no home to return to, as his foster parents just couldn’t handle him anymore. With no where else to turn Andrew found out about Pathways residential program through the Home Base Drop-in centre. Andrew resided at the residence for almost one year, until he got a job and saved up enough money to get a place on his own. Andrew spent the next 3 years struggling to get by, and eventually lost his place and was back on the streets, now struggling more than ever with what had become a severe drug addiction. He experimented with numerous drugs and experienced highs that he states, terrified him because he felt as though he was “going to die”. Andrew ended up in jail for assault on a police officer, and possession of an illegal drug. I received a phone call from jail from Andrew, and that was the first time we met. He was released and that’s when we began working together. I knew there was something special about this youth; he had a huge heart that just shined in his eyes. I was able to convince him to go into a drug rehabilitation facility, where he resided for four months. He would express to me how good it felt to have some stability in his life and to begin to address the demons that had been haunting him for years. I was able to visit him once a week and I also took him to all his court hearings, in order to provide support and advice when things were confusing to him. When Andrew left the rehabilitation facility I was very nervous and knew it was the time he would need me most. Andrew did have a few relapses, and I was always the first person he called. Having someone there to talk to about these breakdowns allowed him to realize he still wasn’t ready to face the world on his own. He readmitted himself, and I am happy to tell you that he is going on 6 months clean and sober. He is working for a roofing company and making a life for himself, while continuing to seek the support from Pathways and the rehabilitation facility he continues to reside at. - Aftercare Worker
Darlene
When Darlene started coming to Home Base she was on a very self-destructive path of drug and alcohol abuse and promiscuity. She had been in and out of detox centres about 20 times in a 5 year span. Darlene’s drug use consisted of cocaine, smoking crack, and using intravenous drugs on a regular basis. She had no contact with her parents so she was couch surfing and living with friends and drug dealers. Darlene soon found out that she was pregnant and decided to keep the baby and change her life around. She was doing much better but shortly after the baby was born it died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and she reverted back to drug and alcohol abuse. Shortly after, Darlene started dating someone who was much older than her and she told us that he bought her drugs so that she did not have to prostitute herself. She continued coming to Home Base to access services and talk to the staff who made continuous attempts to help her turn her life around. Eventually, she realized that she had to move out of her boyfriends house if she was going to get clean because he was also using drugs. She decided to move in with her brother. With the positive changes she was making in her life, the Base 4 Success team could see that she was becoming ready to use the program. She met with a Case Manager and all of the services worked together to support her goals. The Case Manager helped Darlene enrol in a GED course and she will be attending college in the fall of 2008 in the Social Service Worker program. We continue to meet with Darlene to follow up and support her. - Base 4 Success Team Leader
Inesha
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Pathways. First of all, I had the opportunity to join Pathways when I was pregnant with my son, Dinu Daham Dassanayake.
I joined the ABC Prenatal Program. It’s a wonderful place that I am proud to be involved in and associated with. Pathways helped me to move forward, connect with other pregnant mothers and other programs in York Region. Pathways helped me to move forward in my life and pregnancy. I was kind of depressed – I didn’t know how to deal with this pregnancy due to the postnatal death of my first child. After Dinu was born he had a problem with digestion and with his eyes. Pathways staff members talked with me and advised me how to deal with these situations. This was a great help.
I was able to participate in a couple of programs which were conducted by Pathways such as First Time Moms, Mother Goose and Wiggles and Giggles. All the programs I attended were very helpful for my baby & myself. Both of us enjoyed participating in these different types of programs and meeting other mothers and their babies. I felt that I wasn’t alone.
I really appreciated the transportation service provided for pregnant women & mothers with babies in the ABC Prenatal program. Especially for a mother with a newborn, every day will be different, every moment will bring a new challenge, but with the right support and correct information, I felt that I was safe and I will live into this new reality. I will not be the same person as I was before. Pathways gave me great support in every way by giving helpful advice and how to cope with baby blues. I got to know many new friends by joining these programs. Presently my son is six months old and he’s graduating from ABC Program. Now I feel much more confident.
