The day after an emergency cesarean section to deliver her premature twins, Rachel came back from the neonatal intensive care unit to find her now ex-husband napping in her hospital bed.
k9C ^m
kAmk6>mr@?E6?E H2C?:?8i %9:D 2CE:4=6 4@?E2:?D 8C2A9:4 56D4C:AE:@?D @7 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46] x7 J@F 2C6 6IA6C:6?4:?8 G:@=6?46 2?5 ?665 96=A[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]E969@E=:?6]@C8QmHHH]E969@E=:?6]@C8k^2m[ 42== Wg__X fhh\fabb @C E6IE “DE2CE” E@ ggfgg]k^6>mk^Am
k9C ^m
kAm$96 H2D D@C6] ~G6CE:C65] r@F=5 32C6=J H2=<] $96 ?66565 E@ C6DE 96C 3@5J[ :7 6G6? 7@C 2 >@>6?E]k^Am
kAm“x D2:5 x C62==J ?66565 E@ =2J 5@H?[ 2?5 9:D >@> DE2CE65 J6==:?8 2E >6[ D2J:?8 96 925 2 C62==J 92C5 52J[” C642==65 #2496=[ cb]k^Am
kAm%92E >@>6?E 76=E 52C<[ 3FE D96 5:5?’E J6E <?@H 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46 H@F=5 AFD9 96C :?E@ 52C<6C E6CC:E@CJ =625:?8 E@ 2 DF3DE2?46 FD6 5:D@C56C 2?5 E96? 9@>6=6DD?6DD]k^Am
kAm%96 23FD6 DE2CE65 H96? D96 3642>6 AC68?2?E] $96 2DDF>65 E96 DEC6DD @7 EH:?D H6:8965 @? 96C ?@H 6I\A2CE?6C] !6C92AD @?46 96C 323:6D 2CC:G65[ E96 ;@J H@F=5 BF6== E96 H@CCJ] qFE E96 3CFE2=:EJ 8@E H@CD6 2D E96 J62CD H6?E 3J] %96 52J :? E96 9@DA:E2= H2D ;FDE E96 DE2CE @7 E96 566A 6I92FDE:@? E92E H@F=5 H2CA 96C =:76]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ ?6H3@C? EH:?D 2?5 2 962=:?8 3@5J[ D96 925 EH@ @E96C 49:=5C6? E@ E2<6 42C6 @7] w6C A2CE?6C 5:5?’E 2==@H 96C E@ H@C< @C 92G6 96C @H? 32?< 244@F?E[ D@ D96 DE2J65 9@>6 E@ C2:D6 96C <:5D[ E9@F89 D96 DECF88=65 E@ 36 7@4FD65 2?5 2=6CE] w6C ?:89ED DEC6E4965 :?E@ 9@FCD @7 G:@=6?46[ C@33:?8 96C @7 D=66A] $96 762C65 E96 72E:8F6 >256 96C 2 325 >@E96C]k^Am
kAm“x E9@F89E >6E9 H@F=5 >2<6 >6 2 36EE6C >@>[” #2496= D2:5] “xE 82G6 >6 >@C6 6?6C8J E@ <66A FA H:E9 E96 <:5D[ 2?5 x H2D ;FDE D@ 6I92FDE65 7C@> E96 23FD6] x E@=5 >JD6=7 E92E =:6[ E92E :E H2D >2<:?8 >6 36EE6C[ 3FE 5CF8D ?6G6C >2<6 FD 36EE6C A6@A=6]”k^Am
Rachel stands on a staircase with her dog Punkin in Laurelhurst Park on a sunny autumn day in Portland. Rachel, a survivor of domestic violence who experienced substance abuse and homelessness, said her mission is to help others with similar experiences.
JESS HUME-PANTUSO,Mid-Valley Media
kAm%@ 3C62< 7C66 7C@> E96 5@>6DE:4 23FD6[ E96 DF3DE2?46 FD6 2?5 E@ AC@E64E 96C 49:=5C6?[ #2496= A=F?865 96CD6=7 :?E@ 2? 6BF2==J 5:C6 A=246 — 6IA6C:6?4:?8 9@>6=6DD?6DD H:E9 7@FC 49:=5C6? :? E@H — :? 9@A6D @7 D@>6E9:?8 D276C @? E96 @E96C D:56]k^Am
kAm%96 {66 t?E6CAC:D6D !F3=:4 $6CG:46 y@FC?2=:D> %62> DFCG6J65 `d_ H@>6? 2E 52JE:>6 2?5 @G6C?:89E 9@>6=6DD D96=E6CD 24C@DD E96 !24:7:4 }@CE9H6DE 23@FE E96 4@??64E:@? 36EH66? 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46 2?5 9@>6=6DD?6DD]k^Am
kAm%96 DFCG6JD H6C6 4@?5F4E65 2E H@>6?VD D96=E6CD :? $2=6>[ ~C68@?[ 23@FE ad >:=6D ?@CE9 @7 p=32?J 2?5 r@CG2==:D[ 2D H6== 2D ?:?6 @E96C D96=E6CD =@42E65 E9C@F89@FE E96 !24:7:4 }@CE9H6DE] x? a_ac[ ~C68@? C2?<65 7@FCE9 :? E96 ?2E:@? 7@C E96 C2E6 @7 A6@A=6 6IA6C:6?4:?8 9@>6=6DD?6DD A6C `_[___ A6@A=6 2?5 :E 925 E96 D:IE9\9:896DE C2E6 @7 76>2=6 9@>6=6DD?6DD :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= p==:2?46 E@ t?5 w@>6=6DD?6DD]k^Am
kAmx? E9:D C6A@CE[ {66 t?E6CAC:D6D @>:ED 7F== ?2>6D @7 G:@=6?46 G:4E:>D E@ AC@E64E E96:C D276EJ 2?5 :56?E:EJ]k^Am
kAm~7 E9@D6 DFCG6J65[ efT D2:5 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46 42FD65 9@>6=6DD?6DD 2E D@>6 A@:?E :? E96:C =:G6D[ 2?5 chT D2:5 :E 42FD65 E96:C 4FCC6?E 3@FE @7 9@>6=6DD?6DD] ~7 E9@D6[ `eT D2:5 DF3DE2?46 FD6 2=D@ 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E96:C 9@>6=6DD?6DD H9:=6 ;FDE `_T C6A@CE65 E@ DE:== 36 DECF88=:?8 H:E9 2 DF3DE2?46 FD6 5:D@C56C]k^Am
kAm#2496=[ H9@ :D >@C6 E92? `a J62CD D@36C[ 92D 4FDE@5J @7 96C 49:=5C6? 2?5 ?@H H@C<D 2D 2 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46 >6?E@C[ D2:5 :E :D ?@E F?FDF2= E@ D66 2 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46 G:4E:> DE@A FD:?8 DF3DE2?46D E@ 4@A6 2D D@@? 2D E96J =62G6 E96:C 23FD6C] qFE E@ AC6A2C6 2 DFCG:G@C[ A2CE:4F=2C=J H@>6? H:E9 49:=5C6?[ 7@C =@?8 E6C> DF446DD[ C64@G6CJ AC@8C2>D ?665 E@ 36 3F:=E 7@C >@E96CD]k^Am
k9amp DEC@?8 C64@G6CJk^9am
kAm“~?46 :? C64@G6CJ[ x ?6G6C C6=2AD65[” #2496= D2:5]k^Am
kAm(:E9@FE E2IA2J6C\7F?565 D6CG:46D[ D96 <?@HD E96 DEC6DD @7 C2:D:?8 7@FC 49:=5C6? H9:=6 DE2J:?8 D@36C H@F=5 92G6 AFD965 96C 324< :?E@ 96C 23FD6C’D 9@>6]k^Am
kAm“x 5@?’E <?@H :7 x H@F=5 92G6 366? D@ DEC@?8 :? >J C64@G6CJ :7 27E6C x =67E 9:>[ x 925 E@ :>>65:2E6=J 7:?5 H@C<[ 8@ E@ @FEA2E:6?E D6CG:46D 6G6CJ 52J 2?5 A2J 7@C 49:=5 42C6[” D96 D2:5] “|2J36 x H@F=5 92G6 72==6? 324< :?E@ E9:?<:?8 x ?66565 2 >2? E@ 96=A >6 277@C5 E@ =:G6]”k^Am
kAmp?:E2 w2C8C2G6[ 2 A9JD:4:2? 2?5 :?E:>2E6 A2CE?6C G:@=6?46 C6D62C496C 2E &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r2=:7@C?:2 $2? uC2?4:D4@ 2?5 q6?:@77 w@>6=6DD?6DD 2?5 w@FD:?8 x?:E:2E:G6[ D2:5 42D9 DF3D:5:6D 7@C DFCG:G@CD E@ AC@G:56 DE23:=:K2E:@? :D @?6 D@=FE:@? 96C C6D62C49 DEC@?8=J DF886DED]k^Am
kAm“(96? :?E6CG:6H:?8 DFCG:G@CD[ H9:=6 E96C6 H6C6 >2?J H2JD E96J D2:5 E96:C 23FD6 =65 E@ 9@>6=6DD?6DD[ E96 64@?@>:4 C62=:EJ AFD965 E96> 7FCE96C :?E@ 2 5@H?H2C5 DA:C2=[” w2C8C2G6 D2:5] “u:?2?4:2= 23FD6 :D @7E6? A2CE @7 2? 23FD:G6 C6=2E:@?D9:A — ?@E 92G:?8 2446DD E@ E96:C @H? 7F?5D[ D@ :E >2<6D A6@A=6 6IEC6>6=J GF=?6C23=6 H96? E96J =62G6 E96 C6=2E:@?D9:A]”k^Am
kAm#2496= BF2=:7:65 7@C 42D9 36?67:ED @7 23@FE Sfa` 2 >@?E9 2?5 E96 ~C68@? w62=E9 !=2? A2:5 7@C 96C C64@G6CJ D6CG:46D] (9:=6 DE:== F?9@FD65[ D96 3682? 8@:?8 E@ @FEA2E:6?E C64@G6CJ D6CG:46D 7@C >65:42E:@?\2DD:DE65 EC62E>6?E E@ C646:G6 DF3@I@?6[ H9:49 EC62ED @A:@:5 56A6?56?46] (9:=6 E96 >6E92>A96E2>:?6 2==@H65 96C E@ DE2J 2H2<6 5FC:?8 E96 52J E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 96C <:5D[ E96 @A:@:5D 2==@H65 96C E@ 3=@4< @FE E96 ?:89E=J A2:? @7 E96 G:@=6?46] $96 H2D 7:CDE AC6D4C:365 @A:@:5D 7@==@H:?8 96C r\D64E:@?]k^Am
kAm%96 C64@G6CJ 46?E6C 2==@H65 #2496= E@ 3C:?8 96C <:5D H:E9 96C 6G6CJ 52J[ D@>6E9:?8 EJA:42==J 282:?DE E96 CF=6D] (:E9@FE E92E DFAA@CE[ D96 <?@HD D96 H@F=5?’E 92G6 366? 23=6 E@ AC:@C:E:K6 96C 962=E9 ?665D]k^Am
kAm$96 DBF2EE65 :? 6>AEJ DE@C6D H:E9 96C 49:=5C6? E@ 9:56 7C@> 96C 23FD6C H9:=6 D96 H2:E65 7@C 2 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46 D96=E6C E@ 92G6 6?@F89 C@@> 7@C 96C 72>:=J @7 7:G6] #2496= H2D E6?24:@FD :? 2446DD:?8 D6CG:46D — @7E6? D96=E6C 365D 2?5 C64@G6CJ D6CG:46D 2C6 D42C46[ 3FE D96 42==65 F?E:= E96C6 H2D 2? @A6?:?8]k^Am
kAmw2C8C2G6 D2:5 @?=J dT @7 F?9@FD65 H@>6? C6A@CE65 DA6?5:?8 >@DE @7 E96:C ?:89ED :? 2 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46 D96=E6C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 96C C6D62C49 :? r2=:7@C?:2]k^Am
kAmtG6?EF2==J[ #2496= >@G65 :?E@ 2 DF3D:5:K65 2A2CE>6?E]k^Am
kAm“x 925 2 =:76E:>6 @7 23FD6 2?5 255:4E:@? E@ H@C< @?[” #2496= D2:5] “%92E `_ J62CD @7 9@FD:?8 2DD:DE2?46 2?5 42D9 2DD:DE2?46 2==@H65 >6 E@ C2:D6 >J @H? <:5D[ 2==@H65 FD 2== E@ 8@ E@ 4@F?D6=:?8 2?5 :E 96=A65 >6 36 DEC@?8 :? >J C64@G6CJ] (96? H@>6? 5@?’E 92G6 6?@F89 C6D@FC46D E@ DFCG:G6[ E96J 6?5 FA 8@:?8 7C@> @?6 23FD6C E@ 2?@E96C[ E9:?<:?8 E96 ?6IE :D ;FDE 2 8@@5 >2? H9@ H2?ED E@ 96=A J@F]”k^Am
kAm|@C6 E92? 2 564256 =2E6C[ #2496= :D ?@ =@?86C C646:G:?8 42D9 2DD:DE2?46 3FE >2<:?8 96C H2J @? ?@?AC@7:E H286D H9:49 “2C6?’E BF:E6 2 =:G:?8 H286[ 3FE WD96 :DX DEF33@C? 2?5 56E6C>:?65 ?@E E@ 8@ 324<” E@ 96C 7@C>6C =:76[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 D96 7=65 96C 6I\A2CE?6C[ D96 :?D:DE65 D96 ?66565 C64@G6CJ D6CG:46D 3FE 96 E@=5 96C D96 H2D “C:5:4F=@FD” 2?5 5:5?’E 2==@H 96C E@ 2446DD E96>] p5G@42E6D D2J AFD9:?8 DF3DE2?46D @? G:4E:>D :D 2 H2J 23FD6CD ECJ E@ DEC6?8E96? E96:C 4@?EC@=]k^Am
kAm#2496= 5:5?’E =62C? 962=E9J 4@A:?8 D<:==D F?E:= D96 6?E6C65 @FEA2E:6?E C64@G6CJ D6CG:46D] u@C 96C H9@=6 49:=59@@5[ D96 H2E4965 96C 72E96C 23FD6 96C >@E96C 2?5 DE6A>@E96C[ 2?5 H2E4965 9:> 562= 2?5 FD6 >6E9] (9:=6 D96 ?6G6C FD65 DF3DE2?46D H9:=6 AC68?2?E @C 3C62DE7665:?8[ #2496= D2:5 96C 7:CDE 6IA@DFC6 E@ E96 DE:>F=2?E H2D H96? 96C 72E96C 82G6 E96> E@ 96C H96? D96 H2D `a]k^Am
kAm“(96? x H2D :? D:IE9 8C256[ x 7@F?5 @FE >J 525 925 pxs$[” #2496= D2:5] “x H2D E6CC:7:65 E@ =@D6 9:> 2?5 96 H2D E6CC:7:65 E@ 5:6] $@[ x DE2CE65 FD:?8 E@ 36 4=@D6C E@ 9:> 2?5 96 FD65 E@ ?@E 72== 2D=66A @C >:DD 2?JE9:?8]”k^Am
Rachel, a domestic violence mentor who shared her story with Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team, walks Laurelhurst Park in Portland as she describes the challenges of recovery while raising children and overcoming homelessness as a domestic violence survivor.
JESS HUME-PANTUSO, Mid-Valley Media
kAmr@A:?8 H:E9 DF3DE2?46D 2?5 23FD6 :? C6=2E:@?D9:AD D66>65 ?@C>2= E@ 96C] %@ 962= 7C@> 96C DF3DE2?46 FD6 5:D@C56C[ #2496= ?66565 E@ 962= 7C@> 564256D @7 A2:?[ E@@]k^Am
kAm~?46[ 96C 23FD6C E9C6H 2 =:E 7:C6H@C< 2E 96C 7246[ =62G:?8 2 9F?5C65 E:?J D42CD 52?4:?8 24C@DD 96C 7@C69625] p?@E96C E:>6[ 96 D=2>>65 96C 92?5 :? 2 5C2H6C @G6C 2?5 @G6C F?E:= 3@?6D DA=:?E6C65 @FE] w6’5 364@>6 2?8CJ :7 D96 =67E E96 9@FD6 H:E9@FE 9:D A6C>:DD:@? — 6G6? E@ 3FJ 7@C>F=2 2?5 5:2A6CD] w6 EC24<65 96C A9@?6 2?5 >@?:E@C65 96C AFC492D6D] $96 @?46 H@<6 7C@> 2 566A D=66A E@ A@=:46 :? 96C 9@>6[ 8F?D A@:?E65 2E 96C[ 3642FD6 96 42==65 h`` E@ 72=D6=J C6A@CE D96 925 2 8F?] !@=:46 D:>A=J E@=5 6249 @7 E96> E@ DE2J @? D6A2C2E6 7=@@CD @7 E96 9@FD6 E92E ?:89E]k^Am
kAmqFE 96C >@DE 962CE3C62<:?8 >6>@CJ H2D H:E?6DD65 3J @?6 @7 96C J@F?86DE 49:=5C6?]k^Am
kAm“|J 6I H2D ECJ:?8 E@ AFD9 >6 5@H? E96 DE2:CD E@ E96 32D6>6?E 2?5 E96 3:886C @7 >J EH:?D H2D :? E96 <:E496? 4=@D6 6?@F89 E@ D66[” #2496= D2:5] “x 42F89E >JD6=7 D@>69@H[ 3FE 96 <6AE AFD9:?8 >6 282:? 2?5 282:? 2D x ;FDE 96=5 @?] $@@? 27E6C E92E :?4:56?E[ H6 H6C6 7:?2==J :? 2 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46 D96=E6C 2?5 E96C6 H6C6 2 D6E @7 DE2:CD E96C6[ 2?5 @?6 @7 >J EH:?D D2:5[ ‘s@?’E H@CCJ >2>2[ x H@?’E AFD9 J@F 5@H? E96 DE2:CD]’”k^Am
kAm$96 4@F=5?’E 5@ 2? :?E6?D:G6 :?\A2E:6?E C64@G6CJ AC@8C2> 3642FD6 D96 4@F=5?VE =62G6 96C 49:=5C6?[ E9@F89 D96 :D E92?<7F= 7@C E96 D6CG:46D D96 5:5 2446DD] }@H 2D 2? 25G@42E6[ E9@F89[ #2496= D66D 2 566A ?665 7@C C64@G6CJ D6CG:46D E92E 2==@H >@E96CD E@ 3C:?8 E96:C 49:=5C6? — E@ DE@A 23FD6CD 7C@> 86EE:?8 4FDE@5J @7 <:5D[ E@ DE@A <:5D 7C@> 72==:?8 :?E@ E96 7@DE6C 42C6 DJDE6> 2?5 E@ @776C DFCG:G@CD 2 4@?7:56?E:2= A=246 E@ C64@G6C]k^Am
kAmp4C@DD ~C68@? E96C6 2C6 23@FE `__ @7 E9@D6 365D[ E9@F89 E96J =2C86=J 2C6 46?E6C65 :? !@CE=2?5[ 72C 7C@> p=32?J 2?5 r@CG2==:D[ @C 2?J 4@>>F?:EJ ?@E H:E9:? 2? 62DJ 4@>>FE6 E@ E96 4:EJ]k^Am
kAm%96 {6EEJ ~H:?8D r6?E6C[ @A6C2E65 3J @?6 @7 !@CE=2?5’D =2C86DE 9@>6=6DD 2?5 DFAA@CE:G6 D6CG:46D AC@G:56CD[ r6?EC2= r:EJ r@?46C?[ 9@FD6D ag @7 E9@D6 365D] $@>6 @7 E96 4=:6?ED #2496= H@C<D H:E9 ?@H 92G6 925 DF446DD H2=<:?8 E9C@F89 E96:C 5@@CD]k^Am
kAm%:?2 q:2=2D[ E96 AC@8C2>’D 5:C64E@C[ D2:5 :E E2<6D 23@FE Sc]e >:==:@?[ =2C86=J 7F?565 3J |65:42:5[ E@ @A6C2E6 2??F2==J — 2 D66>:?8=J =2C86 6IA6?D6 E@ E2IA2J6CD[ 3FE ?646DD2CJ E@ DE@A E96 86?6C2E:@?2= 4J4=6 @7 G:@=6?46 2?5 DF3DE2?46 FD6]k^Am
kAm“x DECF88=6 E@ E9:?< @7 2?J H@>2? x 92G6 H@C<65 H:E9 E92E 92D 4@>6 96C6 2?5 92D?’E DF776C65 A9JD:42=[ D6IF2= @C 6>@E:@?2= 23FD6 E9C@F89 E96 J62CD[ @7E6?E:>6D DEC6E49:?8 324< E@ E96:C 49:=59@@5[” q:2=2D D2:5] “|2?J @7 @FC H@>6? 5@?’E C64@8?:K6 2E 7:CDE E92E H92E H2D 92AA6?:?8 E@ E96> :D 4@?D:56C65 23FD6] $@ E92E :D 2 3:8 A2CE @7 E96 H@C<[ 96=A:?8 E96> C6D6E E96:C F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 H92E D9@F=5 36 ?@C>2=]”k^Am
kAm(:E9@FE 7:CDE 6DE23=:D9:?8 2 ECF=J D276 6?G:C@?>6?E[ H9:49 E96 46?E6C @776CD[ 2 DFCG:G@C’D 3C2:? 42??@E >@G6 @FE @7 E96 7:89E @C 7=:89E C6DA@?D6 E@ DE2CE 962=:?8[ q:2=2D D2:5] %@ 255C6DD >F49 @7 E96 DF3DE2?46 FD6 5:D@C56C E92E q:2=2D D66D[ E96 H@>6? 92G6 E@ 255C6DD E96:C EC2F>2 H9:=6 4@?4FCC6?E=J 255C6DD:?8 E96:C 255:4E:@?]k^Am
kAm(@>6? 2C6 2==@H65 E@ 3C:?8 @?6 49:=5 F?56C E96 286 @7 e H:E9 E96> E@ E96 C6D:56?E:2= AC@8C2>] $@>6 6I46AE:@?D 2C6 >256 :7 2 H@>2? 8:G6D 3:CE9 E@ 96C D64@?5 49:=5 H9:=6 E96C6 @C D96 92D EH:?D] %96 492==6?86 :D 7@C >@E96CD =:<6 #2496= H9@ 92G6 >F=E:A=6 49:=5C6? @C @=56C 49:=5C6?]k^Am
kAm“xE :D >F49 92C56C 7@C 2 >@E96C E@ 7@4FD @? 96C C64@G6CJ :7 D96 :D 42C:?8 7@C >@C6 E92? @?6 49:=5[” q:2=2D D2:5] “p?5 H96? J@F 86E E@ D49@@=\286 49:=5C6?[ J@F CF? :?E@ E96 =@8:DE:4D @7 H9@ H2E496D E96 <:5D @? D49@@= G242E:@?D 2?5 ?@E H2?E:?8 E96 @=56C 49:=5C6? E@ 2EE6?5 E96C2AJ D6DD:@?D H:E9 E96:C >@>D 3642FD6 :E H@F=5 36 :?2AAC@AC:2E6 7@C 49:=5C6? E@ 962C E92E … E9:D :D 567:?:E6=J 2? 2C62 @7 :>AC@G6>6?E[ E@ 7:8FC6 @FE 9@H H6 2D 2 D@4:6EJ 2?5 D6CG:46 56=:G6CJ DJDE6> 42? 4C62E6 H2JD 7@C @=56C 49:=5C6? E@ 36 H:E9 2 A2C6?E H9@ :D 8@:?8 E9C@F89 EC62E>6?E]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96 4@?G6CD2E:@? @7E6? 9@G6CD 2C@F?5 E96 >@E96C’D C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 2D D96 DECF88=6D E@ 2446DD 9@FD:?8 @C EC62E>6?E[ q:2=2D 2D<D[ “(96C6 2C6 E96 W72E96CDXn (6 D9@F=5 36 6IA64E:?8 D@ >F49 >@C6 @7 E96>]”k^Am
kAmk6>m}:4@=6 w2J56? :D 2? :?G6DE:82E:G6 ;@FC?2=:DE @? E96 {66 t?E6CAC:D6D !F3=:4 $6CG:46 y@FC?2=:D> %62>]U?3DAjs@ J@F 92G6 2 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46[ C6DEC2:?:?8 @C56C[ 9@FD:?8 @C C6=2E65 =682= DE@CJ J@F 36=:6G6 ?665D E@ 36 :?G6DE:82E65n r@?E24E }:4@=6 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i}:4@=6]w2J56?o=66]?6EQm}:4@=6]w2J56?o=66]?6Ek^2m]k^6>mk^Am
Rachel plays with her dog Punkin in a carpet of yellow ginkgo leaves at Laurelhurst Park in Portland. Now 12 years sober, she said she once used drugs to cope with domestic abuse that she suffered while raising young children.
JESS HUME-PANTUSO, Mid-Valley Media
Nicole Hayden can be reached at nicole.hayden@lee.net or at (810) 210-1561.
In this Series
Updated
Jan 20, 2025
Updated
Jul 20, 2025
Updated
Jan 20, 2025
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
