Finding Purpose After Addiction: Brittney’s Story of Recovery and Renewal
My name is Brittney, and I am 36 years old. I spent over 20 years trapped in addiction. It took nearly everything from me time and time again—family, relationships, and worst of all, my three sons.
For six years, I lived homeless, moving from place to place with no stability or certainty. I didn’t know where I would end up each day, or even when I would eat next. During that time, I also endured numerous abusive relationships that brought me to the brink of death more than once.
On September 9, 2023, I entered a one-year faith-based program in Marshall, Arkansas. To be honest, I wasn’t looking for help at the time—I was simply looking for a place to stay off the streets for a while. But God had bigger plans for me.
I had been separated from my three sons for nearly 12 years, only seeing them briefly during that time. But just a few months into the program, I began to see restoration in my life. My relationships with my children and my extended family started to heal in ways I never thought possible.
After six months in the program, I began working 20 hours a week as a dishwasher and closer in the deli at Harps. When I completed the program, I made the decision to stay in Marshall and continued working my way up, eventually becoming assistant deli manager. I truly loved my job and finally felt stable and comfortable in life again.
A few months after graduating the program, while attending a Bible study at my church, I was approached by Valerie Seaton, who asked if I would be interested in working for her at Seaton Court Reporting. I was shocked. I had no experience in that field whatsoever—I was just a deli worker. I told her I would think about it.
Months passed, and I felt the Lord continuing to guide me toward something new. In the last week of October 2025, I reached out to Valerie and asked if the offer was still available. I was terrified. I was preparing to leave a job I loved for something I knew nothing about, but I trusted that God was leading me.
On November 24, 2025, I officially became an employee at Seaton Court Reporting.
Since then, my life has continued to change in ways I never imagined possible. I have gained full custody of my youngest son. I completed a college course through Arkansas State University. I am currently working toward my AAERT CER certification and have also enrolled at IR International Realtime Court Reporting Institute to become a certified voice writing court reporter.
Looking back, I can see how far I’ve come. Recovery didn’t just remove me from addiction—it gave me a new life, a new purpose, and a future I once thought was impossible.

Brittney

My name is Haley Pruitt. I grew up in a household surrounded by all types of addiction, with a mother who was in and out of prison. Sadly, as a young adult, I quickly found myself following the same path. By the age of 14, I was already on juvenile probation. This life-style involved holding down a job, losing a job, toxic relationship which led me deeper into drug addiction, polysubstance abuse, and physical, mental, and emotional abuse. I slowly found myself in many other relationships with the same types of abuse but now adding sexual abuse to the cycle.
The unresolved trauma and the weight of all the chaos in my life became unbearable. I fled from my job without ever showing my face again, resulting in a missing persons report being filed on me. I became estranged from my three beloved sisters — one older and two younger. Within two months of disappearing from that job, I became a charged felon at the age of 21. I spent the next four years running from my mistakes, accumulating multiple felony charges, being released on bond only to run and disappear over and over again. Shame, guilt, and fear ruled my life. Eventually, I was apprehended by the sheriff’s office for what would be the final time. Praise God.
While sitting in county jail awaiting my court date, my oldest sister found a faith-based recovery program for me to attend. At that point, I knew I was guilty and deserving of the punishment ahead. Still, nobody wants to go to prison. The judge agreed to release me to the recovery program and postponed my sentencing until I completed it. At first, I was reluctant and terrified. I was still living in a wounded mind and didn’t know how to face life or my memories without being numb.
Once I arrived at the program, I learned about an incredible strength that is available to us all through Jesus Christ. For the first time in my life, I found the hope I had been searching for, and it continued to grow. The fear I once had of prison slowly transformed into faith — faith that no matter the outcome, God had me. I realized that where He had placed me was not punishment, but protection and restoration.
As I neared my second phase of recovery, I was approached by a woman who would become one of the biggest blessings in my life: Valerie Seaton. After hearing how quickly I spoke — haha — she offered me a job as a scopist at Seaton Court Reporting, and I accepted. I started work knowing absolutely nothing about grammar and was still carrying the weight of the consequences I might face. But the Lord prepared Valerie’s heart with patience and understanding to teach me, and He prepared mine to receive everything that was being poured into me.
Upon graduating the recovery program and accepting my position at Seaton Court Reporting, I found myself entering what you might consider phase three of my restoration journey. I still did not have a vehicle or a place of my own to live, but once again, God provided exactly what I needed through Chuck and Valerie Seaton. They opened their home to me and welcomed me as family during that season of rebuilding. They provided transportation to and from work and to visit my family while I saved money and worked toward stability. Because of their generosity, encouragement, and belief in me, I was eventually able to purchase a vehicle, rent a home of my own, and continue spreading my wings into greater independence. Their investment in my life was another powerful example of God’s provision and faithfulness as I learned to stand on my own two feet again.
When time came for my sentencing, I walked into that courtroom no longer the same woman who had first entered recovery broken, hopeless, and running from her life. During that season, God had surrounded me with people who had witnessed firsthand the transformation taking place within me, and several of them stood before Judge H.G. Foster to testify on my behalf — speaking not only about who I had been, but about who I was becoming through Christ. That day, by the grace of God, I experienced freedom in more ways than one. I had already been set free spiritually through Jesus, but that day I was also spared from years of confinement and instead sentenced to 18 years of probation. It was yet another reminder that God’s mercy had followed me even through the darkest chapters of my life.
I thank God for the people He placed in my life to be His hands and feet. I thank Him for preserving my mind and body even while I was poisoning both. Today, I have been with Seaton Court Reporting for almost three years and have grown into roles I never could have imagined for myself — serving as both a certified deposition video specialist, also known as a legal videographer, and a scopist. Even more meaningful is the privilege I now have to help train and encourage new members of our team, just as I was once trained myself: with grace, patience, and love.
What once seemed permanently broken has now been restored in ways I never thought possible. My relationships with my sisters have been healed, and I have the blessing of being present in the lives of my nephews and niece again. Today, I am also in a healthy, longstanding relationship with a man I will marry in just a few short months — something I once believed I was too damaged to ever have. And beyond that, I have been given the unexpected gift of becoming a bonus mom to a child I never imagined would one day hold such a special place in my heart.
My story is proof that there is life after addiction. There is healing after trauma. There is redemption after failure. And through Jesus Christ, there is always hope.

Haley Pruitt

My journey over the past year has been nothing short of life changing. In February of 2025, I entered a program at a point in my life where I was searching for direction, stability, and purpose. During that time, I was given the opportunity to step away from distractions and truly reflect on who I was and who I wanted to become.
It was in that first six months that I found the Lord in a deeper and more personal way than ever before.
Through daily structure, guidance, and faith-based support, I began to rebuild my life on a solid foundation. I learned the value of discipline, accountability, and trusting God-even when I didn't fully understand His plan.
After completing the initial six months of the program, I was blessed with an incredible opportunity to move in with the Seatons “R Place” for the last 6 months of the program . Their support, encouragement, and belief in me helped ease my transition into this new chapter of life. Not long after, Valerie offered me a position as a legal videographer—an opportunity I never imagined for myself before entering the program.
Since then, i have been steadily growing in my career, gaining new skills, and building confidence in my abilities. What once felt uncertain now feels purposeful. I can clearly see how every step of this journey has been guided by God's hand.
This experience has taught me that God has a purpose for each of us, even when we can't see it right away.
Everything happens in His timing, not ours. We are called to trust, to wait, and to remain patient through the process.
Today, I am moving forward with hope, direction, and faith — grateful for how far I've come and excited for the future.

Abby Smith

Life wasn’t always chaotic and painful. I had a good childhood for the most part. I was sheltered, protected, and especially close to my mom.
When I was 15, my parents divorced, and my world began to shift. What started as drinking and smoking marijuana eventually led me into addiction. After high school, I became hooked on benzos, pain pills, and eventually methamphetamine. I swore I would never use needles, but addiction takes you further than you ever imagined.
Within one year, I became pregnant twice and gave birth to my son and daughter. Even motherhood wasn’t enough to overcome the grip addiction had on my life. Eventually, my mom took custody of my children while I spiraled deeper into intravenous drug use and lost everything — my identity, my purpose, and the life I once knew.
In July of 2022, I finally reached a breaking point. I was exhausted from surviving and knew something had to change. I entered a faith-based recovery program, and for the first time, I truly began to heal. I learned how to forgive myself, face my struggles, and rebuild my life with faith and purpose.
About six months into the program, I met Valerie Seaton, who gave me an opportunity to work at her court reporting firm when many others wouldn’t give me a chance. That opportunity became a turning point in my recovery. I found a workplace rooted in faith, compassion, and support — a place where people genuinely cared for one another.
Today, by the grace of God, I am four years clean. I have custody of both of my children, I purchased my first home, and I now work as a legal videographer and assistant manager. Recovery didn’t just help me get sober — it gave me my life, my family, and my future back.
My life still has challenges, but I can say with confidence that my worst day sober will never compare to my best day high. God restored everything addiction tried to take from me.

Shana Douglas