Jackie Graduated High School with Hope for Her Future

By Diane Harney, Volunteer Writer

It was a long and winding road that brought Jackie to the Kentucky United Methodist Home in Versailles last year – and it became Jackie’s chance to find love, hope and forgiveness for the first time in her life.
“I love it here,” says 18-year-old Jackie. “The Methodist Home has given me the best experience of my entire life.”
Jackie’s life before the Methodist Home became difficult when she was only seven years old and her mother was diagnosed with hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver.
“I started missing so much school to stay home and help her,” says Jackie. “When I turned 12, I started to hang with people who wanted me to sneak out, smoke weed, and drink—everything a 12-year-old should not be doing.”
Though Jackie’s family tried to help, her behavior only declined. Then came the journey down a winding road of 25 different “placements” which included foster homes, time in jail, a brief stay at the Kentucky United Methodist Home’s Mary Kendall Campus, attending a day treatment program, a therapeutic foster home, time in a drug rehabilitation facility to overcome a cocaine addiction, and then back to her hometown again.
“After rehab, I got out and got a job and started helping my Mom again,” says Jackie. “She passed away in January of 2005, and after that I was the worst child you could have ever met.”
Jackie was 17 years old when her mother passed after a nine-year illness.

More illegal activity landed Jackie in jail once again, and, finally, she was brought to the Methodist Home in Versailles last November.
“The people here showed me how to talk to God about everything and how to ask for forgiveness,” Jackie says. “I’ve learned communication skills, how to get along with other people, and how to deal with anger.”
“By the grace of God, my charges in court were all dismissed. God has answered all of my prayers. I’ve learned that He will help you through anything.”
Jackie now has the skills to help her navigate a straighter path in life, and she leaves the Methodist Home with a couple of things she didn’t have upon her arrival: a high school diploma and hope.