Korlaia and Mark’s journey to the beautiful life they are building was neither linear nor easy, but through perseverance, grace, and love, they have become role models for those still seeking freedom from addiction.
Korlaia
Originally from Eskasoni, Korlaia was raised in Elsipogtog. She shares that she grew up in a challenging environment, and at times her childhood was especially difficult. By age 9, she made her first attempt to take her own life, and at 10 she left home. Korlaia moved around for several years. Unable to find the support she needed, she later entered a rehab facility in Newfoundland and Labrador to address her struggles.
She was returned to her community in Elsipogtog but eventually reached a breaking point and ran away on her 13th birthday. She was sent to a hospital for the third time and admitted for six months. Later, a social worker stepped in and helped her move to a group home, understanding that the hospital placement was not meeting her needs.
It was in the group home that she became pregnant at the age of 15. Around this time, she participated in the Restorative Justice system in an effort to reconcile with her family. Over time, her life continued to spiral as she became involved in an abusive relationship and began using opioids, eventually developing an addiction to methadone.
While in Elsipogtog, she felt that she couldn’t continue living her life with addiction, and on May 27th, 2015, she quit Methadone and opioids by herself. During this time, she continued in abusive relationships for several years and became pregnant again with her second son. She bravely stayed sober throughout her pregnancy but following the birth of her second son the pain of everything kept coming back, and she turned to alcohol to numb the pain. She progressed her addiction and one day decided to smoke Crack with a friend of hers, she stated, “After that 1st puff, that was it. I was in a dark tunnel for a long time.” She started stealing and wasn’t herself as she just continuously wanted more. She remembers during that period sitting with her pipe in her hand and crying out to God, “Why aren’t you helping me?”.
Korlaia was determined to find sobriety and a different life and moved to Moncton to try and get away from the influences in her life. When arriving in Moncton, Korlaia called Harvest House Atlantic to seek a place to stay. The shelter was full, so she ended up going to another shelter in the community. She did not want to stay in a shelter but with no other choice she decided to give it a try. She remembers opening the window of her car and throwing her pipe and pusher out. She shares “My heart shattered when I heard the pipe shatter”. As she looked out her window, she saw a friend of hers, Mark who was also staying in the shelter.
Mark
Mark remembers growing up in a rough part of Halifax. His first time smoking crack was at 11 years old, and he shares that he experienced a lot of abuse in those early years. He eventually got out and moved to Moncton to attend College. While there, he was sentenced to prison for outstanding warrants for his arrest. While in Springhill Penitentiary, he met a man who spoke of Harvest House Atlantic, once released; that is where he went to start fresh. His stay in Moncton resulted in his girlfriend becoming pregnant and Mark moving away to Elsipogtiog, where he would spend the next 26 years of his life.
While there, he began selling Percocet, Oxycontin, Methadone and eventually crack. He was making good money while selling drugs, but when his children were born, he decided to sober up for the next 18 years to ensure that he raised them right. Once his children had moved out, he turned to crack again. This time, he lost his family and home and was ex-communicated from the community. His ex was sentenced to Manslaughter, and Mark made his way back to Moncton.
He made his way to the Harvest House Atlantic shelter, where he met up with Korlaia. They lived separately in the shelter for 8 months, and although he did not like the shelter life, he began working right away. Now that he had given up dealing drugs, he worked hard to find a way out of shelter. 3 years ago, Mark was approached by the staff in the shelter and offered to work in a new role with Enviro Team.
This was a turning point in Mark’s life. Due to securing the job, Harvest House Atlantic was able to move him into a property with Rising Tide. He enjoyed the security and privacy that this afforded and continued to thrive after leaving the shelter. Around this same time Korlaia was moved into Community-Based Housing with Harvest House and a year later also joined the Enviro Team with Mark. Korlaia remembers that it was difficult when she started this job as picking up the pipes triggered her earlier addiction, but eventually this left and she found great fulfilment in her role.
Their lives together began to take shape as they would spend most of their time together. With common backgrounds and hope for a better future they began dreaming of what their lives together could be. They were both Baptized together, marking an important milestone in their journey where Korlaia shares “if it wasn’t for God I would be in the grave today.”
Mark has since proposed to Korlaia, and they shared a laugh as they explained, “Mark said to me, I think we should take the next step together. It’s not good for us to be apart. I thought that Mark meant they should get a dog together, and it wasn’t until several days later it settled in that he wanted to get married.”
They are also working hard to spend more time with their children. Both Korlaia and Mark are working towards saving up to buy their own home together. This would afford more of a space for any of the 4 kids to visit along with some of their grandchildren.
They shared that sometimes they sit there and reminisce that if they were still on drugs, they would not have any of the lives that they are blessed with today.
Korlaia left us with these words for anyone struggling with Active Addiction “Keep on going. Do not let anyone bring you down or tell you that you can’t do it. Anything is possible through the grace of God.”
Disclaimer: The following story represents the personal experiences and views of the participant. It does not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Harvest House Atlantic or any individuals mentioned. Shared with permission.
