"Angels at Ashley House"

Four months ago I thought my life and world had come to an end. Why? My oldest son is a heroin addict, my daughter thought I was just here to be her personal servant and nanny, my youngest son who is the only one who ever helped me is due to leave home to go to university, and my husband (of 26 years) and I did nothing but argue. All this on top of trying to live with my Crohn's disease.

What happened next? One day the phone rang and I answered it. I was my son's lead worker from Ashley House in Widnes. My son wasn't home so I took a message for him. Cath (the lady from Ashley House) and I had a short conversation and she invited me to come to Ashley house and meet the carers lead there. Since that day I have never looked back.

The carers lead took me under her wing . She talked to me as though I were a human being. Not just something to be trampled on and abused. She arranged for me to have counselling, which I would recommend to anyone in my situation. Unfortunately the situation at home escalated just after my counselling started, police coming to my door, my daughter laughing at me and telling me I was 'making myself into a victim'. Life became so hard I thought the only way out was to end it. I ended up in hospital. After treatment there I decided nobody was ever going to get me to that point again.

What happens now? I'm still having treatment for depression provided now through my GP. I still go to Ashley House every week. I attend the treatment group provided there. I can have a facial, a massage or various other treatments to help me relax. The main thing is I am getting out (which I didn't before) and meeting wonderful caring people. My son is still an addict, and my daughter still thinks I'm a bit of a joke. Seeing the change in me, my husband has changed and we are now closer than ever. I am beginning to get a life. All thanks to a chance phone and the angels at Ashley House. I am now coping. Thank you!!!