Venus Austin

Venus Austin is living sober and on her own for the first time in her 46 years. In November, 2007, Venus and her five-year-old son Austin graduated from The Salvation Army's Renewal Place program, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program for mothers and their children. Venus had been there two and a half years. Since she left the program, she has faced the challenges and temptations that life outside the center offers, and has come out on top.

The person she was when she first went into the treatment program more than three years ago is a distant memory. The woman who lived in a drunken haze, selling her body and who had to be reminded to look after her son, is gone. The woman she was has been replaced by a determined and loving mother who would do anything for her son, and who now is a successful, licensed cosmetologist working for Fantastic Sams.

It hasn't been easy living away from The Salvation Army's Purdue Center of Hope, but Venus has learned to adjust to living sober on her own. It helps that she can stop by the program anytime for additional counseling or advice. She is learning to balance the temptations of overspending for instant gratification, with planning for the future and providing for her son. She is thrilled to be able to send Austin to K-5 in the fall at a private, Christian school. Whenever she needs advice about what to do, she says she can hear the voices of her case workers in her head, guiding her in a firm, but sweet way.

Since she graduated, Venus has married Austin's father Randy. When Venus first sought treatment at Renewal Place, Randy also was an addict. Now, he is celebrating his first year of sobriety. Venus was the inspiration for him to seek help. When he finally hit rock bottom and looked for help, he saw the positive changes in Venus. He told her "If God can transform you, then he can transform anyone." Now Randy is a successful sales manager in his job and the couple will soon move out of their apartment into a two-bedroom rental home.

Venus shows no signs of slowing down. She has carried the same determination and feisty attitude she had at Renewal Place and channeled it into succeeding away from program. She is doing extremely well as a senior stylist and has taken on added responsibilities at the salon, such as opening the store. She runs a bi-weekly hair ministry in which she cuts and styles the hair of children from her church. Her hair ministry not only helps her give back to others, it has taught her added patience and given her more confidence in her career. She also regularly attends Alcoholic Anonymous meetings and acts as a sponsor to several recovering alcoholics. Venus is proud of her journey and has started doing speaking engagements at various AA meetings and churches around the area, telling her remarkable story of change and redemption.

"Everyone has a choice," says Venus. "Make no excuses for your actions. I could call up a dope boy as easily as I could call my sponsor, but I don't. I have learned it is okay to be vulnerable. If I need help, all I have to do is ask for it and it is freely given."

To date, Venus believes her most fulfilling achievements are making healthy, responsible choices for her son, and completing both her cosmetology course and the Renewal Place program.

"God has thankfully removed the desire to drink and take drugs," said Venus. "Now he is challenging me to live on life's terms. Being in recovery means I am able to manage my feelings and emotions without self-medicating, so now I react in a different and better way."