04/06/2026
I am a 42-year-old woman originally from Waterval, Johannesburg.
For 17 years, I battled an addiction to CAT. During those years, I lost so much of myself. I lost my job, my relationship with my children suffered, my relationship with my mother was broken, and I believed my life was beyond repair. Most importantly, I had no relationship with God. I was lost, hopeless, and heading down a path that I believed would eventually lead to death or prison.
My family made the difficult decision to send me to Elizabeth Walk Restoration Centre. Looking back today, it was one of the greatest blessings God could have given me.
From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by the founder, Nadine Gibbs. She made me feel safe, valued, and accepted at a time when I felt completely broken. For the first time in many years, I felt that someone believed in me.
At Elizabeth Walk Restoration Centre, I was given more than recovery support. Through the centre's programmes and partnerships, I received guidance, counselling, life skills, and spiritual support that helped me begin rebuilding my life from the inside out. Most importantly, I was introduced to a personal relationship with God.
It was there that I began to discover who I truly am and who God created me to be. Through prayer, faith, and the unwavering support of the centre, I learned that my past did not define my future. Even when I struggled, the centre never gave up on me. They continued to encourage me, support me, and remind me that God still had a purpose for my life.
Today, by the grace of God, I am approaching my 10-month clean milestone. I have since relocated to the Western Cape, where I am working, rebuilding my life, and continuing to grow in my faith. God has restored hope where there was once despair, and He is helping me rebuild relationships, confidence, and purpose.
What makes Elizabeth Walk Restoration Centre truly special is that their support does not end when you leave. Nadine Gibbs still checks in on me and continues to walk this journey with me. Her dedication and genuine care have been a constant reminder that I am never alone.
I can honestly say that if I had not gone to Elizabeth Walk Restoration Centre, I do not know where I would be today. I believe I would either be dead or in prison. Instead, I am alive, clean, employed, and walking with God.
My story is proof that restoration is possible. No matter how broken a person may feel, God can heal, restore, and transform lives. Elizabeth Walk Restoration Centre was the place where my restoration began, and for that, I will always be grateful.
