Joelle Wise Spirit is a member of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and is from the Cannonball area. She grew up in an abusive household where she often saw her mom get hurt. “All I ever wanted to do is protect my mom, but I was too little,” she says. “My dad was in and out of my life, all I really wanted was for him to love me and to stay.”
She grew up very close to her Grandma Leora, who died when she was five. “I slept beside her and would put the thread through the needles for her because she loved to sew,” she says. “After she passed I was hurt. That was my first heartbreak, then I lost my cousin Jared to suicide when I was 13. Losing two important people in my life had me not wanting to speak or be present. I had a gaping hole in my heart.”
“Then I found alcohol and all of a sudden everything was okay for the moment. I felt like I belonged actually was a part of life at last.”
For twelve years she struggled with alcohol, fentanyl, meth, and marijuana. Two years ago she started trying to get help in Minot, but each time she got sober she would end up relapsing.
Then she overdosed and her mom had to Narcan her.
“I almost didn’t come back and it scared me; I didn’t want to die. I knew my story wasn't done.”
A month later she walked through the doors of Heartview for an evaluation and a day or two later started both intensive outpatient treatment and moved in to sober living, where her life completely changed.
“Today, I'm responsible, reliable, honest, and I have integrity. I show up when I say I’m going to, even 15 minutes early to help anyway I can. I pay my bills, I pay fines and I’m fully self-supporting. I’m working the NA steps and soon will be able to sponsor and walk other women thru the book that saved my life. I have a homegroup and I have a commitment at that homegroup. Heartview gave me all the tools I needed all I needed was that willingness and open mindedness to want to change my life.”
“I’ve endured a lot of pain. But today I'm choosing to make that pain purposeful and live my life one day at a time. I’m forever grateful for Heartview and the staff for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
