My name is Kayla McInnis. I’m a 42-year-old single mother of two beautiful daughters—Destiny (22) and Kashay (3). I’m also a survivor, a recovering addict, and a college student just one year away from earning my Bachelor’s degree in Mental Health and Human Services. Today, my life is filled with purpose, love, and hope—but it wasn’t always this way. I’ve lived through addiction, homelessness, prison, and unimaginable loss. And I’ve learned this: changing your life is not easy—but it is absolutely possible if you want it badly enough and are willing to fight for it.

Pain Was My Beginning, Not My End

I grew up in chaos. My mother struggled with addiction, and my father was absent. I was left with strangers as a toddler and rescued by my grandmother, only to lose her years later. At 12, I was homeless. By 14, I was using drugs. At 19, I had my first daughter, and by 22, I lost custody of her after going to prison. Every time I tried to get up, life knocked me back down. I didn’t think I was worth saving. But even in my darkest moments, there was a small voice inside me whispering that there had to be something better. I just didn’t know how to reach it yet.

The Turning Point: Wanting More for Myself

My wake-up call came during my last prison sentence in 2019. I was tired—tired of hurting, of losing, of feeling like nothing would ever change. I got out, went into a sober home, and made progress. But like many of us know, recovery isn’t a straight line. Heartbreak hit, and I relapsed. Then came the moment that changed everything: I found out I was pregnant with Kashay. That was it—I had to do something different. I got clean during my pregnancy. But life still tested me—DHS took Kashay after she was born. That broke me. I ended up back in jail, and it was there, on the cold floor, that I dropped to my knees and prayed. I begged God for another chance. And that’s when I knew I had to go to rehab and do it the right way this time.

Recovery Is Hard—but So Is Staying Broken

In October 2022, I entered Wellspring’s Infinity House. I won’t lie—recovery was hard. Facing my trauma was hard. Staying when I wanted to run was hard. But every day I stayed clean, I got stronger. I had people who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself—especially my counselor, Alisha. She never judged me. She never gave up on me. She held my hand when I was drowning and helped me see the woman I could become. Because of her belief in me, I applied to college—and now I’m just a year away from getting my degree and becoming a support system for others like me.

A Life I Never Thought I Deserved

After graduating rehab, I faced another setback: I was denied placement at a sober living home. I thought, Here we go again. But God had another plan. I was welcomed into the Godparent’s Home, where Barbara and Ed Ford gave me love, safety, and acceptance like I had never known. One month later, Kashay was reunited with me.

The Message I Want to Share

To anyone out there battling addiction, I want you to hear me clearly:

Yes, change is hard.

Yes, it takes time, pain, and facing the parts of yourself you’ve tried to bury.

But it is worth it. YOU are worth it.

I lost so much—but I gained more than I ever imagined. I’m a mother in recovery. I’m a student with dreams. I’m a woman of faith, walking in purpose. And you can be too.

No matter how many times you’ve fallen, you can still rise.

No matter how broken you feel, healing is possible.

All it takes is the willingness to try—again and again, if you have to.

Because when you want something badly enough—and you refuse to give up on yourself—you can build a life you never thought you’d have.

I did. And so can you.