Thankful for second chances: Local woman credits young nephew for saving her from drug addiction

Toddler helps police find wanted Whitley County woman. That was a headline that appeared in the March 1, 2023 edition of the News Journal.  Now, nearly nine months later, that same Whitley County woman is thanking her nephew for his honesty and bravery. She says that without it, she might still be struggling with addiction, or worse.

“I was on meth, and smoking weed,” said Tina Hicks of Williamsburg when asked to describe her situation back in January and February of this year. “I had a trailer, but it didn’t have electric or anything. Needless to say, it was pretty bad.”

“I had been running for two-and-a-half years on two of the warrants that I got picked up on,” Hicks continued. “Then, on the night of my dad’s birthday party, when they came and got me, all of the adults in the house said that I wasn’t there. My little nephew spoke up as soon as the cops were walking out the door, though, and said, ‘If you’re looking for my Aunt Tina, she’s in back there by the bathroom.’”

At that time, Hicks admits to being a little aggravated, but now, she says that she could not be prouder of her nephew, Steve, who is currently six-years-old and living in Ohio.

“He jumped onto the adults and told them that you should always tell the truth, and that it pays to be honest,” Hicks said of young Steve. “I tell you what, that little boy saved my life that night. He was a bigger person than all of those adults were. He is awesome. My sister has really raised him up right.”

After Hicks was taken into custody, she began the process of recovery. “I spent six months in jail, because I had a child support warrant also,” she said. “It was my second week in jail that Brays Chapel came to minister to the women there. They came every Thursday night, and I never missed a service.”

Hicks recalled the day that she decided to dedicate her life to the Lord, saying, “There was this song called ‘The Detour’ that the women at the jail had put together. They sang that song, and I went up to the altar to give my life over to God.”

Since that time, Hicks has been focused on strengthening her faith and leaving her old life in the rearview mirror. “I figured if I could chase God as hard as I did that dope, I would be a better person,” she said. “It has made me a better person. I would advise people to find a good church, and to find God. To get a good support system.”

Hicks is now an active member of Brays Chapel, which is located off of Log Cabin Road, not far from the Cumberland Falls junction on US-25W in Corbin. “Those people are awesome,” she said of her church family. “They have stood by me all the way. They text me, and ask me all the time if I’m alright. I just think the world of them. They are like my family now.”

Hicks explained that she first began her struggles with drugs and alcohol when her husband died of an overdose back in the mid-nineties. “I wanted to give up so bad,” she said. “I became a real bad alcoholic, and then I started getting into harder drugs. I just really wanted to give up on life.”

“It’s hard to get out of that lifestyle,” Hicks warned. “I have been through my battles with it, but now that I am clean and sober, and going to church, I wouldn’t take that lifestyle back for anything.”

Hicks said that getting clean has to be a personal choice for anyone who is struggling with addiction. “I’m proving it to myself,” she said. “I’m not really worried about proving it to anyone else. This is a goal that I wanted for myself, to make myself feel better. I’m getting my GED now, and I’m focusing on work and church. You just have to put yourself in the right mindset.”

Hicks has found work at the Williamsburg Huddle House, and is proud of the fact that she has been able to set back some money as she continues to pursue her education. She said that, as she continues to improve upon herself, lines of communication have gradually opened back up between her and her four children. She also has one grandchild that she hopes she will be able to see one day soon.

In addition to bettering herself, Hicks also likes to take the opportunity to help others when she can. By sharing her story and letting people know that things can change, she hopes that she can be a shining example of what can happen with faith and hard work.

God has blessed me so much,” Hicks said. “Even when I was in jail, He blessed me. If you would’ve told me 11 months ago that I would be doing what I am today, I would’ve laughed at you. I would’ve said there’s no way…”

Hicks said that she would like to one day attend college, and possibly find work as a counselor.