Grace in the Struggle
SYNDEY
Recovery Guest
Sydney was born in Montana and soon moved to Tucson. “I grew up in a broken home. I started doing drugs at 13,” she admitted, showing the pain she carried from her childhood.
As she got older, Sydney tried to get clean, but it didn’t work out right away. “Me and my kids ended up facing homelessness,” she said, but their father suggested Tucson. “Being here, it’s changed everything — not just for me, but for my kids too.”
Tucson was a new hope, but not an easy one. Sydney and her children found a place of safety at GRM. Here, things slowly began to heal. “It gave them a structure here, as well as a routine for them,” she explained. “They get to be kids now. They can breathe. They don’t have to worry about if we’re gonna have electricity.”
Sydney first came to GRM in September 2023 but didn’t stay. The second time, her attitude was different. This time, she wanted real change.
“I saw the impact it had on my son and how much it affected him,” Sydney said. “And I don’t want to put him through that ever again.”
Little by little, Sydney learned to let go and let God guide her.
For her, GRM wasn’t just a shelter — it was “a bubble,” a place to breathe, to grow, to watch others blossom.
She appreciated the structure at GRM, even the schedules. “The fact you guys have these schedules… it’s a great start to having a routine. It gives you that footing to get in there and build that routine for yourself.”
Sydney worked hard in her recovery, taking on the Genesis program and bravely facing her next steps.
“I was actually really, really, really bad with time management,” she said. But her focus is on growth. “My kids are happier because I’m not all stressed out. I’m present with them, and I get to do things with them.”
To other parents facing hard times, Sydney says, “Utilize your resources — that’s what they’re there for. Don’t put that stress on your kids. Pray about it. Honestly, don’t be scared to ask for help.”
“Just let God be in control. It may take time, but it’s going to be better than what I would have expected to do if I took care of it myself.”