Hearts of Hope Program Testimonials
Story from Brenda Schory
Program gives addicts second chance By BRENDA SCHORY Kane County Chronicle 10/9/2004 ST.
CHARLES Leslie McIlvaine held up a silver urn containing her dead sons ashes and said, This is the truth of drug use. McIlvaine and her husband, David, stood before the 123 graduates of Kane County Drug Rehabilitation Court and a standing-room-only crowd of family and friends Friday to make a point about drug use. Their son, Nathan David McIlvaine, 19, of St. Charles, died of a drug overdose Aug. 6. I dont want any of your mothers or fathers to feel the pain of losing their child, McIlvaine said to the crowd in the sanctuary of Christ Community Church in St. Charles. I brought Nathan with me tonight. Because this is the truth of drug use she held up the urn Its a trap. It is a lie. It hurts. It kills. It leaves behind broken hearts and pain and takes with it hope, life and joy.
It was the flip side of the graduates celebration: acknowledgment of how deadly addiction can become. Nathan McIlvaine was in drug court but left after a month to stay clean on his own, his mother said. To participate in Kane County Circuit Court Judge James Doyles drug court, addicts agree to go into a program and must stay clean for two years while checking in at drug court and being tested randomly. Their felony drug charges are held in suspension until they complete the program. This is the programs third and largest graduation, Hearts of Hope/Mom Squad secretary Ruby Garcia said. The first year, there were 25 graduates; last year there were 69. This year, 123. The Hearts of Hope/ Mom Squad is the volunteer support team for the drug court. Several graduates, clad in flowing white graduation robes with mortarboards perched on their heads, acknowledged their second chance. If anything, they showed how undiscriminating drug addiction is, as they were men and women, all ages, all nationalities. As they waited to file in for the program, they glowed with the joy of their achievement.
Comments from previous patients
Jacquelyn D., 34, of Batavia, left behind a long arrest record for cocaine possession to embrace working and going to school. This is the most exciting day of my life, Jacquelyn said.
Terri C., 42, of Aurora, was a prostitute to support a crack cocaine habit. Through the drug court, she is clean, working and going to college to be an addiction counselor. This means the world to me. I never would have believed this was possible, she said.
Jesse M., 23, of Elgin, said he was using marijuana and drinking heavily since he was 13 years old. Drug court changed all that. It kept me out of jail. I got married. I have a kid on the way. I have a house, a job and a car. I never could have this without drug court, Jesse said.
Nancy B., of Batavia, was a supporter attending for her brother-in-law, 35, who was addicted to cocaine. Its an honor to be here, to see him doing good. He is working, he got promoted, she said. It is finally clicking.
Hearts of Hope has helped my son overcome his addiction. They helped him bring his life back on track, he ended up going back to high school and is now looking forward to college. Without this company he would have been lost in the world of drugs, more importantly I would have lost him from my life.
Hearts of Hope is a wonderful organization. They helped me recover from my drug addiction and show me that there are other ways to cope with the stress of life. Thanks to them I am now back on me feet and have a great job. I am more confident in myself and I will never go back to drugs now.
John S. 43 of Glen Ellyn had a long history of Marijuana and Cocaine usage. Hearts of Hope and Drug Court helped him have a second chance to start over. He has a stable job, house , and even pets to take care of.