One woman's struggle to survive: Student battles drugs, abuse by Elizabeth Podzemny The Ranger Reporter

Hope and desperation carried Sheila Oxford more than 300 miles from home on a quest for survival.

An abusive marriage promoted reoccurring problems with drugs which finally became too overwhelming for a mother to deal with.

Oxford's decision to leave her home in search of sobriety is what eventually changed her life and that of her children.

Arriving in Amarillo without a single friend or acquaintance was Oxford's best chance for hope.

Not long after checking into the Haven, otherwise known as the Amarillo Alcoholic Women's Recovery Center, Oxford found out she was pregnant with her third child.

"It's one thing to destroy yourself; it's another thing to take somebody with you," Oxford said.

She soon realized what she needed more than sobriety and her children.

She had lost her faith in God.

What started out as a 30-day treatment soon turned into three months.

Once sober, Oxford left the Haven with the original plan of returning home, but for obvious reasons ultimately decided against it.

"I chose to be homeless rather than going back to the life that almost destroyed me," she said.

By the grace of God, Oxford wound up at Martha's House, a homeless shelter for women.

Throughout the whole experience, she did not spend a single night on the streets.

Back on her feet and working at United's Market Street, Oxford was introduced to the Transitional Housing Program, which helped move her into an apartment.

Not long after moving, Oxford gave birth to a healthy baby boy, which preceded the relocation of her 8-year-old son to her new home.

It wasn't two months later that her 13-year-old daughter finally was able to rejoin them and experience the joy of a new baby brother.

Oxford is enrolled in the paralegal studies program in her fourth semester at AC. She said she is excited about her 3.76 GPA and recent induction into Phi Theta Kappa.

"I'm finally going to get my education," she said. Oxford is living on grant money and trying to make every little bit last.

"I'm not sure where God is going to lead me, but I'm here, and here to stay," she said.

Oxford has many people to thank for her now successful life and makes it known she will never forget them.

"There aren't many people who come from where I come from who can make a success out of their life," she said. "People don't usually get to just walk away from that lifestyle, but I did."

She said she must deal with sobriety every day.

"I can't take trips down memory lane, because they always end in a bad place," she said. "I pray a lot and constantly focus on God's will."

Through making donations and volunteer work, anyone can help, Oxford said.

"Right now, I'm not financially stable enough to give money but hope someday I can," she said. "Until then, I'm just going to share my story."

Oxford said the best advice to someone who might be struggling with the same problems is "Get help. If you really want to be free of it, you'll do whatever it takes.

"I not only left a supportive family, but also a great circle of friends. You quickly learn that everyone in your past is just a doorway back there.

"The best way to get help is through the Heavenly Father."