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Feature Stories
Susan's Story
| Susan becomes an answer to a hurting family's prayers |
Judging by Susan’s appearance she seemed to be doing well. The first day she came to Youth
Strategies she had her hair styled, nice dark jeans and a blouse that fit her perfectly. Appearances
can be deceiving though. Susan grew up around drugs and different men that were called her father.
Her biological dad introduced her to drugs when she was thirteen years old. She was making
straight A’s and was well liked by her fellow students in spite of her circumstances at home. But all of
this changed when she took her first hit. In less than a year Susan had tried almost every drug on the
market. She was addicted and her friends were too. At age seventeen, Susan had been dating her
high school sweetheart for four years when she found out that she was pregnant. She knew that this
baby had to mark a turning point in her life, and a turning point it was. Her boyfriend of four years left
her with no support to raise their daughter Brandy. Once Susan stopped doing drugs, the peers she
had called friends suddenly disappeared, leaving Susan completely alone to fend for herself.
Susan struggled but by the time she reached 20 she had made up her mind to succeed. She came
to Youth Strategies having just graduated from the Alternative Learning Environment in Springdale,
Arkansas. This summer alone Susan has experienced many traumatic situations including: A valve
in her heart needing to be replaced, Her daughter Brandy being kidnapped by Brandy’s biological
father, Susan’s biological father over-dosing on drugs and dying, Her mother being arrested and
taken in for drug possession, Wrestling with the consequences of being forced to have an abortion by
her second boyfriend’s mom a month before she came on board with Youth Strategies
Youth Strategies was there for each of these events and each time provided love and support, while
training Susan to overcome her circumstances. The most memorable and heartbreaking event
occurred when Susan collapsed in the Jones Family Resource Center restroom screaming in pain.
The Youth Strategies staff picked her up and rushed her to the emergency room. After some tests
and scans the doctor entered the small examination room and asked “Is everyone sitting down?”
Susan found out that day that she was pregnant with her third child. She began to cry saying that it
was impossible and that she couldn’t have another baby. She struggled with the thought knowing
that because of her financial situation there were days when Brandy went without food. How could
she consider bringing another little one into a life like that? Youth Strategies’ Program Coordinator,
Heather, had been with her all day. Leaning over and grabbing Susan’s hand, Heather assured her
that things would work out and there would be a family to love and take care of the little one living
inside her. Susan realized that by having this baby rather than aborting it, there was a promise of hope
and a future for herself, Brandy, and the child yet unborn.
Susan is now past her first trimester. Her little tummy is growing along with the life that she carries.
Youth Strategies has worked to find a family of the highest caliber to adopt Susan’s child. The couple
God has provided is incredibly excited and prayerful because they have been trying unsuccessfully to
have a baby of their own for four years. For this couple, hearing the news from the doctor that the
procedure they had undergone was unsuccessful yet again felt like defeat. They could not imagine
what God had planned for them. Susan has had the opportunity to be the answer to someone’s
prayers. Susan is set to be induced February 14th. Please join with us in whatever way you are called
to support Susan and the little girl who will be the best Valentine’s Day gift ever to a couple whose
hearts are overflowing with love and thanksgiving.
Strategies she had her hair styled, nice dark jeans and a blouse that fit her perfectly. Appearances
can be deceiving though. Susan grew up around drugs and different men that were called her father.
Her biological dad introduced her to drugs when she was thirteen years old. She was making
straight A’s and was well liked by her fellow students in spite of her circumstances at home. But all of
this changed when she took her first hit. In less than a year Susan had tried almost every drug on the
market. She was addicted and her friends were too. At age seventeen, Susan had been dating her
high school sweetheart for four years when she found out that she was pregnant. She knew that this
baby had to mark a turning point in her life, and a turning point it was. Her boyfriend of four years left
her with no support to raise their daughter Brandy. Once Susan stopped doing drugs, the peers she
had called friends suddenly disappeared, leaving Susan completely alone to fend for herself.
Susan struggled but by the time she reached 20 she had made up her mind to succeed. She came
to Youth Strategies having just graduated from the Alternative Learning Environment in Springdale,
Arkansas. This summer alone Susan has experienced many traumatic situations including: A valve
in her heart needing to be replaced, Her daughter Brandy being kidnapped by Brandy’s biological
father, Susan’s biological father over-dosing on drugs and dying, Her mother being arrested and
taken in for drug possession, Wrestling with the consequences of being forced to have an abortion by
her second boyfriend’s mom a month before she came on board with Youth Strategies
Youth Strategies was there for each of these events and each time provided love and support, while
training Susan to overcome her circumstances. The most memorable and heartbreaking event
occurred when Susan collapsed in the Jones Family Resource Center restroom screaming in pain.
The Youth Strategies staff picked her up and rushed her to the emergency room. After some tests
and scans the doctor entered the small examination room and asked “Is everyone sitting down?”
Susan found out that day that she was pregnant with her third child. She began to cry saying that it
was impossible and that she couldn’t have another baby. She struggled with the thought knowing
that because of her financial situation there were days when Brandy went without food. How could
she consider bringing another little one into a life like that? Youth Strategies’ Program Coordinator,
Heather, had been with her all day. Leaning over and grabbing Susan’s hand, Heather assured her
that things would work out and there would be a family to love and take care of the little one living
inside her. Susan realized that by having this baby rather than aborting it, there was a promise of hope
and a future for herself, Brandy, and the child yet unborn.
Susan is now past her first trimester. Her little tummy is growing along with the life that she carries.
Youth Strategies has worked to find a family of the highest caliber to adopt Susan’s child. The couple
God has provided is incredibly excited and prayerful because they have been trying unsuccessfully to
have a baby of their own for four years. For this couple, hearing the news from the doctor that the
procedure they had undergone was unsuccessful yet again felt like defeat. They could not imagine
what God had planned for them. Susan has had the opportunity to be the answer to someone’s
prayers. Susan is set to be induced February 14th. Please join with us in whatever way you are called
to support Susan and the little girl who will be the best Valentine’s Day gift ever to a couple whose
hearts are overflowing with love and thanksgiving.
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