Indra’s path began on shaky ground. Her parents lived in a haze of heroin, theft, and lies. Her mother’s “iron fist” kept order in name only, and the chaos of addiction seeped into every corner of their lives. When her mother went to prison, Indra and her sister faced experiences no child should endure.
To survive, Indra turned to manipulation, using sex and drugs as currency. By nineteen, heroin no longer felt like an escape — it held her captive. “Every baby I had after my second child was taken from me,” she recalls. “I indulged negativity. I wore many masks.” At Vandalia prison, she closed herself off from others and ignored the consequences.
Then something shifted. One day, she prayed, “God, if you are real, make yourself known to me.” From that moment, change began. “He healed my despair. He healed my brokenness. I started being transformed,” she says. Her voice grew stronger, her faith deeper, and her vision for life clearer.
Since leaving prison, Indra has reconnected with her children, pursued her education, and earned her driver’s license for the first time. She also visits the county jail to speak with inmates, offering her story as proof that transformation is possible.
Indra knows the road to change requires courage. Her challenge to others is simple: Don’t be afraid to take risks when they lead you toward freedom.
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