Jenn West was a woman who built her life around her love for animals, working as an ER and surgery veterinary technician. But behind her professional facade, her personal life was crumbling.
“It was horrible,” she recalls, reflecting on the years lost to addiction. Heroin, crack cocaine, and whatever else she could find had taken over her life, and she was on the brink of losing everything that mattered. Her life had spiraled to a dangerous low.
For over 20 years, drugs ruled her life. The consequences piled up—she lost her children, and, in her words, her soul.
“I was underneath rock bottom when I called Healing Transitions,” she recalls. Her children had been taken by CPS, and she was faced with a choice: continue down the path of self-destruction or reach out for help. “It was either call and make a different decision, or I wouldn’t be here.”
When Jenn’s parents dropped her off at Healing Transitions, she was terrified. She had never been in a facility like it before. She’d tried to quit on her own, using methadone and Suboxone in the past, but nothing stuck. The detox process was brutal, but this time, she had something she hadn’t had before—a commitment to truly changing her life.
Healing Transitions didn’t just help her get clean; it helped her regain something far more significant. “They saved my life. If it weren’t for them, I definitely wouldn’t have my soul back. That’s how I look at it.”
During her stay, one of her biggest challenges was addressing the wreckage of her past.
“I stole a lot of money, especially from my grandparents who are no longer here—probably over $100,000. Facing those things and learning to cope in healthier ways was difficult,” she acknowledged.
Jenn worked hard to rebuild herself from the inside out. There were moments of fear and hesitation. But with the support of people believing in her like her parents, who never gave up on her, and Mary Bullock, one of her mentors, she pushed through.
Mary played a critical role in Jenn’s recovery, particularly during a crucial surgery to remove her abscessed teeth. Jenn had abscess after abscess, which left her with just a few teeth in her mouth. She was terrified of being put on opiates after the surgery, but Mary was there for her every step of the way.
“I almost didn’t go through with it because I didn’t want to take a chance of relapsing,” she remembered. But with Mary’s guidance, Jenn weaned herself off the medication early and avoided slipping back into addiction.
Jenn’s journey to recovery wasn’t just about getting clean. It was about reclaiming her life and her role as a mother.
“My kids came in and found needles. Most of the time, I was always high. I wasn’t a mom.” The guilt and resentment had consumed her for years, but over time, she became grateful for the intervention that took her children away from her because it forced her to change. 
Today, she has an amazing relationship with her kids. Her oldest daughter, now 20, has lived with her several times. Her middle daughter spends nights with her, and Jenn is there for her whenever she needs her.
Jenn had a third child with someone she met through the recovery community, but their relationship ended when he couldn’t get clean. Through it all, Jenn stayed focused on her recovery, determined not to let anyone or anything pull her back into addiction.
One of the most rewarding aspects of Jenn’s new life is her work. She continues to work with animals, a passion she’s had since childhood. Her job as a veterinary technician is not only her livelihood but also a source of purpose.
“I get to save lives every day,” she says, “even though they’re fur baby lives.” Two of her rescue dogs are even blood donors, giving back to other animals in need.
Jenn’s life today reflects the incredible changes she’s made. On November 21, 2024, Jenn celebrates eight years of sobriety. Three years ago, she met the love of her life, and they are now engaged to be married. In April, Jenn moved to Florida, and in June, she bought her first house. To top it all off, she will become a grandmother in December—a joy that, as she says, wouldn’t have been possible without the decision she made almost eight years ago to seek help.
The memories of her past are still vivid, but they don’t define her anymore. “I don’t care what it is or who it is. I will not go back to that life.” She’s built a life she’s proud of—a stable home, a fulfilling career, and most importantly, a deep and meaningful connection with her children. Jenn extends her many thanks to everyone at HT and her family.
As she reflects on her journey, Jenn offers advice to others searching for refuge and support. “It’s worth it,” she says. “It’s going to be hard, but if you stick it out and do it the way you’re supposed to, you can have an amazing life. I wouldn’t give my life up today for anything.”
For Jenn, recovery isn’t just about staying clean. It’s about regaining something that addiction stole from her—her soul.