Molly's Story

This is Molly.
Molly's life has not been without its share of ups and downs and lingering darkness.
For her, the darkness started when her little brother died prematurely at the tender age of 19 in 2004, due to a brain aneurysm. Molly and her brother were the best of friends and such a loss devastated her tremendously. His death tore her family apart and shook Molly's foundation. The pain she felt from the grief, and the isolation she faced from her family(who were grief stricken as well)began to wear down on her.

One year later, Hurricane Katrina blew through the Gulf Coast and tore down Molly's residence. After having to move in with her grandmother, she began volunteering to help others who also lost their homes.
Then in 2008, through a series of bad decisions and poor choice in friends, Molly's grief and dark pain caught up with her and she found herself living a life addicted to heroin.

Two years later, Molly's father passed away suddenly from congestive heart failure. Adding to the grief inside, Molly began spiraling out of control. She continued to abuse drugs and alcohol, and take for granted the relationships she had around her. This pattern of living led Molly to overdose on three different occasions. According to Molly, the destruction she was living in was better than the pain she was carrying inside.

Then one day, Molly had enough. She looked around her life and all she saw was loss of friendships, family, and even assets. So out of shear desperation to regain control over her life and her grief, Molly made the brave move to South Carolina to start over again.

In 2011, Molly's life changed forever...she became pregnant. Immediately, Molly was finding the strength she needed in the life of her unborn baby. She became more than determined to conquer her past and live life triumphantly. Sadly, Molly endured another loss as her grandmother passed away before ever meeting the baby. While her grandmother was still in hospice, Molly spent most of her pregnancy by her side. Those countless times she stayed with her will always be a memory Molly will cherish forever. Molly drew strength and encouragement from her grandmother, which gave her the foundation she needed to start again.

Later, on January 4, 2012, Molly gave birth to her daughter Amelia. Upon meeting her blue-eyed, red hair daughter, Molly found hope again in life and in being happy.
Molly's plans for her life is to start nursing school in the Fall of 2014, with the hopes of achieving her Bachelor's in Nursing. Her greatest goal is to have Amelia be proud of her and to give her daughter a life full of love and commitment.

Molly's many losses and the pain she carried from each of them nearly destroyed her life.
However, you'll find that although she is still figuring her life out, she is full of hope and determination to make a good life for her and her daughter....free of drugs and self inflicted pain as a means to cope.

Molly's Words of Encouragement:

"Going through any measure of a difficult time in their life, it would be to keep rolling with the punches. Life isn't easy but it's not there to put you down either, you've got to work to what you want out of it and don't take no for an answer. Do what you've got to do to remain happy, because in the end that is what really matters"

 Click here to view Molly's transformational photo session,

courtesy of Hanna Lorraine Photography

Molly

Nails and eyebrows done by Chris's Beauty College .

Makeup and hair by Paula Leigh

Pamela's Story

Pamela is a woman who has lived the meaning of dedication.

Pamela is the mother to 6 children ranging from 32 to 11. One of her sons, now age 19, was born with tuberous sclerosis and a severe form of autism. He cannot speak but a few words, is unable to care for himself in any way, and is labeled as being mentally retarded.
Throughout the years, she has sacrificed in order to make sure he received the best care. Her constant care of him forced her to miss a lot of her children's special moments, because no one would babysit him. The strain of caring for a disabled child took a toll on her finances and ended her marriage when her son was only 3. 
 Later, Pamela met a wonderful man, who was a veteran, disabled from the Gulf War.  He accepted her entire family as his own and married her.

Years later, at the age of 16, her son became increasingly aggressive that it became impossible for her to physically care for him. So she made the heart wrenching decision to put her son in a nursing home facility. This caused Pamela to live in a state of unbelievable grief. Till this day Pamela struggles with forgiving herself and dealing with the guilt of putting her son in a home.

While juggling her life, Pamela continues to be an active mother to her youngest son, age 11, by making sure he doesn't miss anything in his childhood like football games and outings. 
Along the way Pamela's graciousness and enduring love for her family has never failed. She has never turned down a cry for help from any of her children. At one time her daughter fell on hard times, so Pamela opened up her home to her daughter and her family. In a house built for 4-5 Pamela had 14 people living with her. While they lived with her she continued to care for everyone's needs, all the while never asking for anything herself.

One of Pamela's son's is currently in active duty. But no matter how hectic her life is she has never neglected to send the care packages he needs to make it through. 

Even though Pamela has seemed resilient in giving endlessly, her body and health has failed her on many occasions. Currently, she struggles with rheumatoid arthritis which leaves her in constant pain and on a chemotherapy regimen to manage the disease. Because of the toll it has taken on her, she can no longer walk without the aide of cane. This has added to her stress and burden as a caretaker. However, Pamela refuses to let her own health problems interfere with caring for her family. 

Pamela's devotion, enduring love, and commitment to her family has taken a lot out of her, but somehow she finds the strength inside to give of herself at a moment's notice, no matter the need.
Her family is incredibly grateful for her constant sacrifice and feel overwhelmed with love for their wife, mother, and grandmother.

  

Pamela's Words of Encouragement:

"Realize you can't do it all. 

Some things you can't change no matter how hard you try. 

 Do your best and understand that's all you can do. 

Take time for yourself because you are who they depend on."

Click here to view Pamela's transformational photo session,

courtesy of Hanna Lorraine Photography

Pamela

Haircut and color donated by Chris's Beauty College . 

Jewelry donated by Maurice's
Makeup and hair by Paula Leigh
 

Rachel's Story

Rachel is a strong woman who has endured more than her share of hardships and trials of strength.

After overcoming a difficult childhood, Rachel still persevered through school. 

Years later, Rachel gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Unfortunately, her daughter's father abandoned the both of them and has remained out of their lives, even now.

While her daughter was just a baby, hurricane Katrina devastated their home, forcing them to move to Texas for a while. Some months passed and Rachel and her daughter came back to their home in Mississippi. Not soon after she met her current husband and the two had another baby girl. 

During this time it became evident that her eldest daughter had a series of health problems and complications, including: asthma, IBS, sleeping disorder, constant bouts of pneumonia, severe allergies, and a diagnosis of ADD and ADHD. Dealing with a child who was constantly in and out of the hospital exhausted Rachel--who also suffers from her own health problems including: depression, arthritis, pleurisy of the lungs, and orthopedic problems.

Years went by and a parent's worst fear came true for Rachel, she found out her daughter, then age 5, had been molested by a close family friend. This news devastated her family and nearly tore them apart. Rachel found herself struggling to compensate for the damage done to her daughter as well as fighting to keep the family together. There were many times where Rachel felt so alone in carrying her world on her shoulders. In the span of 2-3 years, justice was finally served and the man who molested her daughter was found guilty and put away in prison. 
However the emotional and mental trauma, suffered by her daughter, still lingered causing added stress and worry to Rachel and her family.

Yet despite all of that, Rachel has chosen to remain strong and loving towards her family and those around her. She's decided not give up on life and still hope for the best for her children's sake. Very rarely does she ask for anything or take time for just herself. 

Currently she is spending most of her free time aiding her dying grandfather who is suffering with prostate cancer--and lives nearly an hour away. Thus causing her to put her current career goals on hold for the time being.

A part from her devotion to family, she works at her local church in the children ministry department.

Rachel's faith in God, the support of her grandmother, and her unrelenting love for her children have given her the constant strength to endure these quiet battles of her life. Rachel believes that a strong foundation in God and a strong, united family can carry her through anything she may be facing.

Rachel's Word of Encouragement:

"God and my friends and my grandmother have given me the strength I need to make it and have stood by my side. My kids always give me strength, whether with my depression or anything else, they always put a smile on my face. I have God and people behind me even though it seems at times I'm all alone--we are never alone. God will give us strength and put people in our lives to help guide us through the hard times and give us that shoulder we sometimes so need, we just need to stay open and not close up, which can be so hard at times."

Click here to see Rachel's transformational photo session,

courtesy of Hanna Lorraine Photography

Rachel

Makeup and hair by Paula Leigh

Shannon's Story

Shannon is a woman who's path of life found herself suffering great loss at an early age...beginning with the death of her mother while in high school.

Prior to this Shannon had become a single mother to a beautiful baby boy. 

Such grief overcame her and drove her to seek out anything that would offer any relief from the pain...including drugs and alcohol.

During her drug lifestyle, Shannon witnessed horrible events including her friend being killed in front of her. This, of course, added to the pain and darkness Shannon was drowning in. Eventually Shannon found herself in jail on many different occassions.

Then a few years ago, Shannon's best friend and sisiter, Brittany, died suddenly of complications to pregnancy. Within a week or so Shannon also lost her grandfather to illness. This threw her into a dark spiral of depression and numbing loss. In and out of jail and abusing prescription drugs was the only life Shannon had going for her...even her son had been taken away from her.

Then one night in jail, Shannon said God came down and ministered to her and her broken heart. Feeling His love for the first time and seeing the path she was on, Shannon made the decision to give her life to Christ and let go of her addiction and wayward living.

Getting clean and sober proved challenging for Shannon, but because she was determined to become a better mother to her son, and because of the new found strength in Christ---Shannon persevered.

Shannon is now going strong being sober, drug free, and has attended college. She now has a new vision for her life a part from a life of hopelessness and despair. 

She has now been reunited with her son and the two are strengthening their relationship and love for one another. Shannon also has a heart to help others who are in similar situations. Currently she reaches out to past friends in jail, ministering to them and showing them the way of Christ.

Today you will see Shannon smiling....because she is free!

Shannon's Words of Encouragement:

"...life's to short and there's so much more out there for us individually. We all have a unique talent, of our own, that can be used to spread so much love and joy. Think of your past and be grateful for it. All bad endings turn into blessings for you and other women. If it was not for our experiences... we wouldn't know how to help the next woman. So, praise God for it all. What the enemy meant for evil, God will use for your good."

Click here to see Shannon's transformational photo session,

courtesy of Hanna Lorraine Photography