PADUCAH — Four Rivers Behavioral Health has opened a new sober living home in Paducah, Lily's House, for women in recovery who are pregnant or who have small children.
From the kitchen to the bathrooms to the rooms, Lily's House is baby-proofed from top to bottom, so the women who stay there can focus on caring for their babies and themselves.
From the kitchen to the bathrooms to the residents' rooms, Lily's House is baby-proofed from top to bottom, so the women staying there can focus on caring for their babies and themselves.
"It's just hard, like, before you're pregnant, to get back to that happiness and that energy level and stuff, because you're…caring for a newborn or toddler," Nicole Lindsey said. She’s staying at Lily’s House with her 1-year-old son, River, to ensure she doesn't relapse, as she's expecting another child in a couple of months.
Nicole Lindsey poses for a photo with her son, River.
"Doing drugs kind of makes you feel high on life and like nothing can get you down, even if you do have a newborn. So, your newborn was crying all last night, and then they finally took a nap. It's almost the perfect situation or time to, ‘Hey, let's go do some drugs,’" she said.
Lindsey's been sober for three years. She said she believes the structure and services Lily's House provides for her now will continue to help her once she’s on her own.
Nicole Lindsey poses for a photo with her family. Lindsey said she's committed to staying sober for her children, and Lily's House is helping her do that.
"I feel like I will still use those tools even after we leave, because they're somewhat embedded," she said.
Four Rivers Behavioral Health Vice President of Clinical Services Thelma Hunter said that is exactly what Lily’s House is for.
Four Rivers Behavioral Health Vice President of Clinical Services Thelma Hunter said Lily's House aims to give pregnant women and mothers of babies the tools they need to stay sober.
"They would have to go to therapy. They would get peer support services. They would also get case management services. Someone would be in the home almost every day to check on them and to help them with meetings and help them get things started, and because this is brand new for people, and it's kind of hard when you're fresh out of treatment to know what to expect," she said.
There are certain things women are required to do to stay there.
"Things that would prevent people from staying here are active substance use. They would have to be at least in recovery for 30 days, have come through treatment, or be in an active treatment program. Something else that would prevent them from coming in would be any violent charges in their history, any children over the age of 2," Hunter said.
Lindsey said her children push her to stay sober.
"You kind of had two options: Either just keep doing what you're doing or, you know, change and have your kids. And honestly, all I've ever wanted to be was a mom, ever since I was little. So it really wasn't a hard choice," she said.
