With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we reflect on all we have to be grateful for at The O’Connor House this year, with recent resident, Madeline (Maddie), being one! Maddie, 23, has just transitioned from The O’Connor House after 9 months of living at the home with her baby. From continuing on her path of sobriety to navigating the new world of motherhood, Maddie has overcome many challenges and has grown tremendously this past year. 
In the Fall of 2020, Maddie was turning her life around for the better. Not only had she finished her liberal arts degree from IUPUI in Indianapolis, but she was also working hard as a barista at Starbucks and on her path to sobriety. When in the past her hard-earned money was being spent on alcohol, she was now living at home with her parents and disciplining herself to save money during this journey of personal growth.
Her life took a turn when she found out she was pregnant with her first child. With the father out of the picture and her family unable to support her and her soon-to-arrive baby boy, Maddie was desperate to find help and support. It was through an adoption agency that she found The O’Connor House. In February 2021, at 5 months pregnant, she became a resident.
It was through The O’Connor House, and especially through the other young mothers living at the home, that Maddie had a change of heart.
“I was considering adoption at one point, but when I saw how well the other mothers at The O’Connor House were doing, I decided that’s what I wanted,” she said. “And then I just fell in love with being a mother.”
With a few more months to go before her due date, Maddie was able to find another barista job at a Starbucks near The O’Connor House. She worked diligently to save money and to attend AA meetings. She welcomed her son, Emery into the world on June 15, 2021.
“He’s really happy and really sweet,” she said. “He has taught me so much about myself and just enjoying life as it is.”
Maddie claims that giving birth to her sweet son and putting him first before everything else has been her proudest accomplishment while living at The O’Connor House. She’s also proud of the discipline she has built with the help of The O’Connor House holding her accountable.
Today, Maddie has saved for her own apartment for herself and Emery, which they plan to move into in December, 2021. She was also recently hired at a daycare where she hopes to continue working. Her long-term goals include using her degree to go into child psychology and development.
“I’m grateful for the family environment that we have here at The O’Connor House. They were the support that I needed throughout everything that I have been through in the past year.”
Maddie has been a joy to have at The O’Connor House, and we know that she will go on to do great things while continuing to be an incredible mother to Emery!
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