Free His Desert Rose by Deborah R. Brandon Page A

finished.
    “You also experienced another loss at that time and that was the loss of your unborn child,” Lisa stated.
    “Yes, I wasn’t taking care of myself during that time and that very well may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Renee answered.
    “Losing the baby you mean?” Lisa clarified.
    “Yes, it was a season of too much loss and I even lost myself for a while,” Renee said.
    “During this time you became addicted to prescription pain relievers, correct?” Lisa asked.
    “Yes, it was. Prescription medicine was an escape for me. It was initially prescribed to me after the DNC was performed for pain management. When life was more than I could handle, I would take one to help me sleep until I needed one. I wasn’t functioning at all, just sleeping. It’s how I coped. It wasn’t a good thing, it was a very dark time for me,” Renee explained.
    “How so?” Lisa asked.
    “Going through this experience was a very humbling experience for me. I’m the type of person who doesn’t allow herself to stay down for long. Life happens. Do whatever you have to or can do to survive, had always been the motto of my life. I wasn’t raised to stay stuck in my feelings. Not only was I stuck in my feelings, I was being suffocated by them. There were waves of doubt. There were waves of fear. There were waves of failure. All crashing back and forth, tossing me back and forth. There was an inner war going on and the way I saw it, I was losing. I doubted whether or not I was in fact that strong independent woman I had always claimed myself to be. I doubted that I would be okay ever again. I thought that I might actually die myself. I became fearful of losing my sister, my nieces, and my friends. I had stopped working. I pushed anyone and everyone away including Antonio. I was down for the count and instead of getting the help I knew I needed, I just stayed stuck,” Renee explained.
    “What finally broke you out of the cycle?” Lisa asked.
    “My doctor told me that if he had to write me one more prescription for pain he was going to have to recommend that I get psychological help. I started back reading my bible and praying, and believing the promises God put in there. Lastly, I realized that the way I was living was not honoring my parents,” Renee answered honestly.
    “Wow that’s deep,” Lisa said. “You and your sister, South Carolina State Representative Jasmine Anderson, opened a rehabilitation center that helps victims of domestic violence, people with addiction issues and young adults who got off track to do job training and further their education. Tell us a little more?” Lisa encouraged.
    “Yes, the center is called the LMK Rehabilitation Center. LMK stands for Love, Mercy, and Kindness. We both are very passionate about helping people. We have centers in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia that are fully operational. We believe there are people who need help in this world, and if you offer them a hand they will accept it and start making changes,” Renee answered.
    “Wow, that’s incredible. How can our readers help?” Lisa asked.
    “They can go online to www.LMKrc.com and make a onetime donation or set up a donation schedule of their choosing.
    “Now, you are engaged to Italy’s favorite son, Antonio Favero. Marrying him next Saturday, in what I can only imagine as a fairytale ceremony. Antonio has been described as mostly all work and very little play. Yet he has shown that he is ferociously protective when it comes to you. Help us see him the way you see him, and please explain how you were able to capture his heart when so many others have tried and failed,” Lisa said teasingly.
    Renee smiled and then answered, “Antonio gave me his heart. I didn’t have to capture it. I plan to take care of him in the same manner I desire to be taken care of. I know that must come off as arrogant, but I think that sometimes we spend too much time chasing love when we