Break Free of Addiction

Vicki Giallombardo

I’m originally from Lodi, New Jersey. I’ve spent 13 years in my addictive lifestyle, which I have now surrendered—to God be all the glory. Before coming to Christ, I destroyed my family and anyone I loved. Growing up, I had a decent life—I never wanted for anything. But looking back now, I know something was missing. I wasn’t walking with the Lord, so I knew how to take, take, take! And when I didn’t get what I wanted, I’d hurt, hurt, hurt! When I got involved with drugs, it was destructive and cruel on a whole other level. I was lost and missing something inside, but I didn’t know what it was until I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior in 2016. However, I still wasn’t ready to fully surrender. I completed my first 10-month program with Calvary House for Women and was accepted to the transition program. After being in the program for several months, I had a relapse. I thought my life was over this time for sure. But that was nothing but an attack from the enemy because at this point in my life, I knew I was a Child of God and there is no condemnation in Christ. I had fallen, yes, but, I had to really hit rock bottom for the Lord to reveal Himself to me. Hebrews 13:5 tells us He will never leave us nor forsake us. I had so many people praying for me and, more importantly, I had God who never once gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself. Thankfully, we serve a God of second and third chances, and He made a way for me to come back and repeat the program again. Although it was painful, it was necessary. On June 14, 2020, I will be one year clean and God gets all the glory.—Vicki Giallombardo

Nicole Dabrowski

I was born in Canada, but raised between New York and Pennsylvania. I grew up in a dysfunctional family riddled with addiction and abuse. I was introduced to drugs at age 13. Over the next 17 years, I used pills, cocaine, marijuana, heroine, and meth. I went from one relationship to another trying to find my fulfillment and identity in men. When I lost custody of my three children, that’s when my rock bottom began. I became homeless, I was prostituting, and I was completely broken and lost. I ended up getting arrested and placed in the Christian dorm at Paul Rein Detention Facility in Pompano Beach, Florida known as the Lifestyles Unit. This is where I met Jesus and surrendered my life to Him. Before being incarcerated, I actually had four outstanding warrants in NY. By God’s grace, and with the help of those in the Prison Ministry, I was able to have all my warrants dismissed in lieu of me attending Calvary House for Women. When I began my program at Calvary House for Women, I was facing termination of my parental rights and had no contact with my children. I was broken, lost, and hopeless. That’s when God began His restorative and redemptive work in my life. I now have contact with my children and continue to see God restore my relationships with my family. I am now a part of the transition program. I no longer dread waking up each day, but instead I wake up hopeful and full of gratitude for the life Jesus has given me. I recently celebrated 15 months sober and look forward to continuing this journey with Jesus and those He has placed in my life. I’m so grateful to be able to say that I’m a daughter of the most high, Jesus Christ and that He has a good plan for my life.—Nicole Dabrowski