She was living in Eugene, Oregon under the Washington/Jefferson bridge on 1st Ave when I first saw her, looking about my age and out of place huddled under the bridge in the cold darkness. It really upset me so I stopped and gave her a sweater and snacks. She had one of the most beautiful smiles I had ever seen and she thanked me so graciously. I wanted to do so much more, not out of pity but she immediately felt like a friend and I wanted her off the street! At the time, I was living with my Sister & family, working as their nanny and even using their vehicles, but I knew I could do something! I asked others to bring me what they weren’t using from their closets and many people brought me clothes and snacks so I was able to stop daily and say hi and give what others gave me to give. I would worry when I didn’t see her but then quickly hope she had a safe and warm place to go. At some point I gave her my number which she somehow held on to and called me when she had a place to go to. I was so excited hearing from her and cried really hard. She made it!! She got help, created a support system and worked very hard having two jobs, getting her education and volunteering too! When you are down to almost nothing, you have to fight harder to survive and get to the next level. She’s had many struggles and has had to fight hard battles on a daily and continues to win by not ever giving up!

She lives in Portland now and just celebrated FIVE YEARS free from drugs and alcohol!! She inspires hundreds of people on a regular basis to change their lives and is a Recovery Mentor, helping people battling addiction. It was so beautiful to witness her last week in a packed room surrounded with people full of love, admiration and happy tears, all celebrating her daily achievements over the last five years. She did all the hard work, including loving herself with fierce determination! She gives out socks in Portland to those in need and donates money to, giveasockorg. on a regular basis. Full circle giving - paying forward and/or backward is such a beautiful thing to see!

Dikeeshea Witherspoon changed her life in more ways than I can keep up with. It takes a lot of guts and courageous to stay clean for a day, a week, a month, Years. She IS the meaning of the Serenity Prayer...Accepting the things she cannot change and having the courage to change the things that she can! She changed my life for sure too and I am forever grateful to her and her friendship! I really admire her courage, strength, Grace and just totally adore her!

Here is some of her physical transformation over the last five years starting at the bottom! She is a gorgeous, bold, very bright young woman, with a brilliant huge smile and even bigger heart, with an amazing life ahead of her! Here she comes World and she’s got it all!