May 7, 2018by Yolanda Ross, LMSW, LCDC
My name is Yolanda Ross and I am a grateful recovering alcoholic and addict. I am the mother of a daughter who is living with an Intellectual Disability due to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). I am also a woman living with HIV and I am proud to say that I am a living testimony of a woman of color who continues to thrive and live with purpose.
My journey into chronic addiction is not your typical story of an individual who came from a broken home or experienced some type of abuse or trauma. I was introduced to drugs and alcohol in my late teens and I honestly do believe even before I turned twenty, I was a full-blown addict at the age of 19. Throughout my twenties, I was arrested for various criminal activities and at the age of 23 I was placed on 3 years Deferred Adjuration Probation for the Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Sadly to say, I did not complete my probation successfully and found myself facing a 10 year sentence. While I was incarcerated, I found myself pregnant and to my surprise, I only did 5 months in jail and was released to my parents and placed on parole for the remainder of my sentence. I was soon using crack-cocaine and binge drinking with my unborn child. After my daughter’s birth, she suffered from many significant developmental delays, and it was soon confirmed that she was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).
Instead of me fighting to stay clean and sober, I fell further into my addiction. At the age of 31, I once again found myself pregnant and using with my unborn child and as a result, Child Protective Services (CPS) intervened and forced me into treatment with my newborn son. Sadly, I was so engrossed in my addiction, I gave up my son and my paternal rights were terminated. Throughout my thirties, I was in and out of jail once again for numerous criminal offences and prostituting myself to feed my ongoing addiction. On January 25, 2005, I received a phone call from the City of Houston who wanted to talk to me about a test that I had taken. I was informed that I was HIV positive and that it was very important that I give them all the names of the men I had slept with. I had informed the worker that I did not know the men I slept with because I was in the midst of my addiction. Instead of getting help for my newfound diagnosis, I got high and was arrested eight days later for another drug possession.
While once again incarcerated, my father was the only one visiting and I could see in my father’s weary eyes he was physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually tired. I soon relapsed and was asked to leave my parent’s home. Out of desperation, I agreed to go to treatment and when we arrived at the treatment facility, my father literally fell into the arms of the counselor and stated with tears in his eyes, “I cannot take this anymore, she is killing me.” That was September 12, 2005 and I have been clean and sober ever since. I soon began treatment for my HIV status in which I was linked with Thomas Street Clinic, Legacy Community Health Services in which I qualified for Ryan White Funding and much-needed services through AIDS Foundation Houston (AFH). After completing 3 months at the treatment facility, I went back to Houston Community College and graduated with my Associates Arts Degree in 2009. In 2012, I graduated with my Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from the University of Clear Lake. In 2016, I graduated with my Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Houston. Today, I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) through the State of Texas.
Looking back over my life’s journey, I can truly say I am a miracle in disguise. Today, I have been clean and sober for over 12 years, I am a professional career woman, a mother to a beautiful daughter who loves me unconditionally and has forgiven me for what I did to her and I am HIV undetectable. But most importantly, I am a child of God whom He loves and who continues to give me favor and purpose to help other women overcome the trials and tribulation of their past and strive to be the best they can be.