Rehab and Redemption: A Story of Coming Home to Christ

“I used Suboxone, I used Xanax, and I used meth every single day, um, during my entire pregnancy; there was a lot of guilt and shame.”

As a Christian, April Byrd had always stayed away from the world of drugs, drinking and promiscuity. Then, at 21, her marriage of 2 years ended in a bitter divorce. The partying quickly turned into addiction to drugs and alcohol that she managed to hide, at least for a while. For years she struggled with addiction and had many different relationships. One resulted in the birth of her first child, Ayliana. Although she had sworn off drugs and alcohol, she felt that she was being pulled back in. So after two years, she gave in. Shortly after, April’s destructive lifestyle began to spiral more out of control. She even had to send her daughter, to live with her parents, and her visits to her daughter were very few. Her daughter Ayliana says, “sometimes I would just pray like, God would, would it be okay if mom would just show up this time? And, you know, sometimes she would, most of the time she wouldn't.”

In addition to her worsening addictions to alcohol and cocaine, April continued to get involved in several abusive relationships. Then, at the age of 28, April had another daughter, Marielle. April shares: “I used Suboxone, I used Xanax, and I used meth every single day, um, during my entire pregnancy. So of course, she was born with multiple drugs in her system and six months later, the state came and took her away from me.”

April felt she was even beyond God’s help. I had cried out to God, uh, multiple times, and I asked God to please free me from addiction. And I knew that he could do it, and I didn't understand why he wouldn't just do it for me”, April said.

With no hope, April checked herself into a rehab facility. It was there, that she found her way back to God. April gave her life to Christ, and over the next year was able to conquer her addictions. She also met her now husband Matt, who was also a recovering drug addict. They married and begun to build their lives together. April eventually regained custody of Marielle and her relationship with Ayliana was also restored. April loves her new life with her blended family. Matt even adopted her youngest daughter, Marielle. The Byrds run a recovery house for drug addicts, sharing their testimony of God’s redemption in their lives. Regarding her story, April says, “you know, a lot of people, they'll say, oh, well you got your kids back, that's great. Or, well, you're off of drugs now, that's amazing, and it is, but the reward is I have a relationship with Jesus Christ now. And that's the miracle; that's the number one reward. Forever grateful.”