Recovery Story
Jill:
My name is Jill A. DuLac, born August 26, 1966 in Milwaukee. I am the fourth youngest of 14 children. My father left when I was four and I have never seen him again. I was sexually abused for as long as I can remember. I had my first drink when I was about eight years old and started doing drugs at ten. At the age of 14, I had an abortion which was a result of the sexual abuse from my brother.
I met my boys’ dad when I was 15 and he was 25. We moved to New Orleans so I could go to art school. I ended up pregnant and had another abortion. Eight weeks later, when I went back for a checkup, I found out I was pregnant again with my oldest son, Douglas. We moved back to Milwaukee and lived with some heavy heroin users. Even though I was pregnant, I tried it and knew that was exactly what I was looking for—the high was so good. I also knew it was bad for the baby, I just couldn’t stop. When Doug Jr. was born healthy, I was overjoyed—he was the most important person in my life.
Within six months, I was pregnant with my second son. Depressed, I started using again—heroin, pot, downers, anything to make me feel better. My mom stepped in and had me court ordered to treatment. When I got out I was seven months pregnant, I moved in with my mom and tried to stay clean which lasted less than two weeks. Steven was born premature but healthy. Living with my mom was hard, so we moved to a dumpy apartment in a gang and drug-infested community. When Steven was one, I found out I was pregnant again. I quit my job and started selling drugs to support my habit. I loved my boys but was leaving them with drug dealers.
I was busted for cocaine while pregnant with Jacob. I was sent back to treatment in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin. I left after two days and hitchhiked back to Milwaukee. I overdosed and woke up in the hospital. I then moved in with my brother Chuck who had just gotten out of prison and was staying clean.
I went to meetings, put the boys in daycare, went back to school, got my diploma and started at the tech school. Two weeks after I started school, Chuck moved out and the drugs started all over again. I went on welfare, continued to use and drink and then I met my husband Steve DuLac. The abuse with Steve started immediately, but I was so strung out I didn’t even care about the black eyes and broken noses. Once, he pushed me off of a cliff and left me for dead. I went to L.E. Phillips for treatment. When I got out, he beat me so bad I was in the hospital for three days. The boys and I left and stayed with my sister who was just as messed up as I was.
I remember praying for help while I spent eight weeks in 23-hour lockup. I was truly clean for the first time in my entire life. I hooked up with Women’s Way, found a job working in a coffee shop and loved what I was doing. In January, 2006, I found out that I have cancer of the kidneys. I am now going through chemotherapy and then onto radiation. Through all of this, I have not used or drank, which for me is the longest I have willingly gone without any drugs.
