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OUR PATIENTS

Deb’s journey back to health and life

At the age of 18, Deb Vance began her struggle with addiction. She dropped out of college and allowed alcohol, crack cocaine
and an abusive relationship to take over her life. As the world welcomed the new century, Deb was ready to take back control. By
2001, she was clean and looking forward to the future.
With some college credits still available for her build upon, she earned her bachelor’s degree in small business entrepreneurship in
2006 from DeVry and graduated magna cum laude, Latin for “with great honor.” Deb’s life experience and ability to overcome a
20-year addiction led to a career as a certified peer specialist. Peer specialists are a key support network for individuals who fail to
live to their full potential due to psychological trauma, substance use and mental health issues.

Deb was a responsible mother and grandmother in March 2015 when she lost her job as a result of a relapse. “I thought just one
beer would make me feel better, “ Deb said. Instead, one beer fast-tracked her back into addiction. “Losing my job, led to losing
my home and my car. Then, I lost all hope.”
Things were complicated by the fact her grandson, Markeiss, who was 11 at the time, had been living with her. “My daughter is
an active addict. So, I was the only family he could rely on. He is my joy.” Deb said. Deb’s church family took in Markeiss while
she worked on getting clean and healthy again.

“I could barely walk through the darkness I found myself in,” she said. “With the help of City of Refuge and Mercy Care, I walked
out of that darkness.”

Her road back wasn’t an easy one. During her relapse, she ended up in the hospital and was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. She
unknowingly had the virus long enough that it caused cancer cells to grow on her liver. Mercy Care helped with referrals to
Grady and Piedmont hospitals for six months of treatment including medication, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
“Mercy Care provided me with everything I needed to recover,” Deb said now free of cancer and Hepatitis C. “In addition to
taking care of my body—high blood pressure, itching due to the Hepatitis C medication, Eczema flair ups, dental needs and eye
care—their peer support program gave me back my self-esteem and the confidence I needed to stop using alcohol and drugs.”

While Deb says green smoothies and all around good nutrition changed her life, she also credits many people for helping her
succeed. Included on her list is Mercy Care’s nurse practitioner April Cameron and Mae Morgan, MD, chief medical director as
well as House of Cherith director Kelsi Deel and City of Refuge case manager Nicole Haxton.

Deb’s own hard work, dedication and strength didn’t go unnoticed. A volunteer at City of Refuge helped her get a job at Lucy’s
Market, a high-end home goods store in Buckhead. The City of Refuge where she lived for nearly two years provided her with a
vehicle so she could not only work at Lucy’s but also earn re-certification as a Peer Specialist.
Now employed by Assertive Community Recovery in Decatur as a peer specialist, Deb has her own home and her grandson
again. She believes at some point, her daughter will rally the strength she knows she has to get clean and live life. “God is so
good,” she said. “Having Mercy Care at the City of Refuge is a blessing to the community.”

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