Past
My name is Theresa Dollmann. I was
born in Houston, Texas on January 18, 1984. I was raised in Lake Charles,
Louisiana from age 6 to 26. I attended Catholic school from age 3 to 18. Our
high school mascot was the Saints. I graduated and went on to college where my
mascot became the Demons. I started drinking at age 15 and smoking pot at age
18. I moved on to ecstasy, acid, mushrooms, then cocaine, meth, and pills. I
did uppers, downers, anything I could get my hands on; nitrous oxide to K2. I
turned to drugs for stress relief, escape, and to fit in. For 15 years I did
drugs till one day the drugs did me.
I got into a fight with my then boyfriend in
Tulsa, Oklahoma and landed in jail. They gave me 5 years probation. I did well
the first year then failed 3 drug tests with my P.O. so I decided to stop using
and just drink alcohol. I ended up totaling my car in a DUI, going back to
jail, and violating my probation. I got out on bond. My drug addiction spiraled
out of control. All within one month I lost my car, my dog, my new boyfriend, my
job, and got kicked out of my home. I tried to
commit suicide. I took two bottles of Tylenol. I didn’t tell anybody. I woke up
the next morning in severe pain and called 911. They brought me to the
hospital. They put me in ICU. The doctor told me my liver enzymes were at
16,000 when they were supposed to be at 40. He told me I was going to die. I
told him, “Well, that’s what I wanted.” I lay in the hospital bed and made my
peace with God. When I woke up the next morning the doctor came in and said, “You
are a miracle, your liver enzymes have cut in half to 8,000.” When he left the
room I looked up to God and said “I’m listening…” I knew there was something He
wanted me to do before I died.
I was now homeless with a warrant out
for my arrest. My lawyer told me I needed to check into rehab because they were
going to throw me in prison. I called about 8 rehabs in Oklahoma. Some were too
expensive, some would not accept me because of my violent crime, and the others
had 6 month waiting lists. I was hopeless. I about gave up. I cried. Then my
counselor told me about Faith Refuge. It wasn’t hard to find. It was the only
door open.
Present
Here at The Refuge I learned more
about God in the first 3 months than I did in 15 years of Catholic school. I
got saved August 21, 2014. And I believe God spared my life so that I could
find Jesus Christ. The programs here at The Faith Refuge have changed my life.
I am a new creation in Christ. I have hope. I have learned how to have a
relationship with God by going to Him in prayer and reading my Bible daily. I
have learned to praise Him in all circumstances, trust Him with every detail of
my life, and allow the Holy Spirit to work through me. The classes here have
also taught me how to forgive others, take responsibility for my actions and
feelings, set boundaries, and how to speak life using Scripture. I’ve worked on
things I didn’t even know I had problems with like pride, arrogance, and selfishness.
I just thought I had good self-esteem. I’ve also worked on problems I have had
for years like anger, self-pity, depression, drug addiction and everything that
goes along with that. Let’s just say I am fully clothed, in my right mind, and sitting
at the feet of Jesus now. I have been to 7 different rehabs in my life and I
can honestly say that addiction can only be defeated by the power of Christ.
Future
My plans for the future are to be
working full-time in Home Health Care as a Personal Care Taker and continuing
my education in the health care field. I believe I have been called to serve
others. I know the most important thing I can do to stay clean and sober is to
anchor my life in Jesus so I will not be blown away by my circumstances. Also,
to stay clean and sober I must stay connected to the community of fellow
believers. I will stay connected by going to church, attending Bible studies,
and giving back to the community of Wichita Falls. Thank You God for saving my
life so that I could find salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You
God for the broken road that led me to The Refuge, I could not have overcome
addiction alone. Thank You God for a second chance at life. May everything I do
bring honor and glory to You.
