Working together leads to success

She moved in with her parents but continued to spiral before she admitted herself into rehabilitation.

Nicholas asked to return twice, and eventually Exodus agreed — something that happens rarely.

“There are 13,000 incarcerated women in Texas,” Stephens says. “We expect you to be fully engaged. It’s important we offer that spot to someone else, but we do serve a God of redemption.”

Nicholas, who started drugs at 19, is halfway through the program once again.

She’s sober, working full-time and takes care of her 3-year-old, Lizzy.

“I don’t even know, honestly, who I am, what I like, how I feel, but I’m figuring this out as time goes,” she says.

Two weeks before Deanna Brasier moved out of her apartment at Exodus, the mother of three was all nerves.

Brasier, who was homeless and slept in motels for three years, transformed into the person others come to for advice. Sorting out what to tell her 11-year-old son when he called her was a different story. She hadn’t spoken to him since he was 5.

“I didn’t even know if he knew I was his mom,” she says.

When the phone rang, it was hesitant small talk. She told him she tried to see him and left a present at his house. “Did you like it?” she asked.

Brasier showed up at her son’s grandmother’s door on Christmas with a present. He wasn’t home, but at least his grandmother didn’t call the cops like Brasier expected. Instead she told Brasier she was proud of her.

Two months later, Brasier drove to Arkansas to see her eldest sons — the first time all three brothers were together.

“I was very nervous and anxious,” she says. “I didn’t know what to say. It all just came naturally. It was a great feeling to feel like a mom with three boys.”

She’s grateful, she says, that now she’ll be with her sons on their birthdays, Christmas, and, if she’s lucky enough, Thanksgiving.

Volunteers can help by mentoring, caring for children, teaching skills classes, planning events, taking photos and more. exodusministries.org