Building Our Beautiful Future

For seven years, William and Marie faced the demons that brought them together as a couple. Their long and winding path brought them to new beginnings.

TOUGH CHILDHOOD

Marie’s story begins with life in a negative family environment which included heavy drinking and abusive behaviors. She would often run away, and was once put into the foster care system. Her father had epilepsy which she also inherited. Additionally, she was diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. By the age of 7, she was prescribed Adderall, a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. which are central nervous system stimulants that affect chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. Marie was prescribed this medication; it wasn’t until she hit the age of 23 when a doctor took her off it.

“As an adult, they don’t put you on Adderall for ADHD. I went to a doctor who just told me to stop, cold turkey,” Marie reported. “I found myself sluggish and unable to think. I was in full withdrawal and looking to change that.”

GIVING IN TO TEMPTATION

That’s when her first temptation happened; her sister’s friend brought methamphetamines into their home.

“At first, I told her I wasn’t interested, but she was persistent. Eventually I gave in,” she recalls. “I quickly realized it was just what I needed. It wasn’t long after my initial use that I began shooting the drug. Once you do that, there is no turning back. I was in a constant chase for the ultimate high.”

Her abuse continued until a family crisis occurred. She knew she wouldn’t be welcome back into the family unless she got clean. She went to a rehabilitation center in Coshocton where she worked their rehabilitation program. Her roommate in rehab had an ex- boyfriend who kept calling their room, but the roommate wouldn’t talk to him. Since Marie was the one always answering the call, they eventually became phone friends.

REHAB FRIENDSHIP

“I found myself beginning a friendship on the phone with William. At the time, we were both in rehabilitation programs. He was in the Community Transition Center (CTC) in Lancaster, Ohio. We were there for each other. When it came time for his release, I had completed my rehabilitation program, and I actually went to pick him up,” Marie said.

Marie’s family was back in Wayne County, so she convinced William that they should make a clean start by moving back to her hometown. They were together for one year when Marie became pregnant.

TRAUMATIC FIRST LOSS

“Our precious William Jr. was born, but when he was five months and 10 days old, he had an epileptic seizure,” Marie tearfully recalls. “He wasn’t breathing, and they rushed him up to Akron Children’s Hospital where he died. William’s father, who himself was a drug addict, showed up at the hospital and handed us a chunk of meth and some needles said, ‘Here, make yourselves feel better.’”

It was William’s father who had introduced him to the world of drugs originally. Now, here he was again offering the only support he knew how to give.

Both William and Marie returned to their addictions. In 2021, they were living in a camper, with no vehicle, no job, and dumpster diving to maintain a life. Marie became pregnant again, and she stopped using. On January 14, 2024, Raylan, their second son was born.

SECOND TRAUMATIC LOSS LEADS TO PATHWAY HOUSE

“I told William’s father and stepmother that if they didn’t clean up their act, they wouldn’t be able to continue seeing the baby,” Marie said. “Furious, it was them who called Children’s Services telling them that Raylan was living with parents who were on drugs.”

Raylan was removed from their home. William did what he did best––drinking and drugging–– and was picked up for aggravated possession and trafficking.

“I was arrested for aggravated possession and trafficking. I knew then that I had to change my life. On April 4, 2024, I entered the recovery program at OneEighty’s Pathway House before I went to court,” William said. “Pathway was unlike any of the other rehabilitation programs I had ever experienced. I was an individual human being in this program. No barracks-style living. I had my own room, and the men who shared the house became a family. We went to the grocery store together and cooked meals. We adhered to a very structured treatment program. And by August 20, I was able to bring my son to live with me in the house. That was lifechanging.”

In October 2024, William and his son moved into transitional housing where they stayed until January 4, 2025.

BUILDING THAT BEAUTIFUL FUTURE

Meanwhile, Marie was following her path to regaining custody of her son with William.

 “Even though I knew I was clean, a swab test gave me a false positive. I knew that the only way we would be able to get our son back was to work through another rehabilitation program. “When I went to Arrow Passage Recovery program in Massillon, they did the hair follicle test, and it came back clean. I asked them to please allow me to work the complete program so that I could get back to my son.”

Finish her program she did. The couple now lives in a beautiful home with an incredible landlord who has offered the couple a living arrangement where William works with him to help pay their rent.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Through the Department of Job and Family Services, William was enrolled in the Training Center program at Goodwill where he now maintains a part-time job while pursuing a welding career at the career center.

Marie is completing her classes to become a certified State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA) and has her sights set on obtaining her practical nursing degree.

Both partners can’t say enough about the help they have received through the Pregnancy Care Center. There they work with a parent advocate, Heidi Hathoway, and Pastor Phil from the state Ridge Project, who helped them earn a crib, diapers, and baby books because they utilized the parent training programs and Man of Honor offerings at the center.

“Darnell, Amber and Erin are all individuals at OneEighty who keep helping us continue our path of recovery,” Marie and William said. “This program works because OneEighty builds a network of support which goes beyond the walls of its buildings.”