Mom posts photo of overdose to inspire others to recovery
HOPE, Indiana (KTVU) - An Indiana mother went viral last year with a photo that was taken during the "worst moment" of her life.
The photo shows Erika Hurt of Hope, Indiana, passed out in the front seat of her car with a syringe in her hand. What it doesn't show is her son, who was 10 months old at the time, in the backseat.
The photo was a turning point for Hurt who realized it was time to get sober. She is now celebrating one year sober and wants to inspire others who are struggling.
Hurt posted a collage on Facebook this week. There are three photos in the collage. In one she looks happy and healthy. Another photo shows Hurt with her toddler son. The final photo - is the infamous photo taken by police when she was passed out in her car last year.
Hurt wrote in part, "I've decided to repost the picture simply because it displays exactly what heroin addiction is. Also because I do not want to ever forget where the road of addiction has taken me. Little did I know that day, my life was about to change, drastically. Today, I am able to focus on the good that came from that picture. Today, I am a mother to my son, again. Today, I am able to be grateful to actually have solid proof where addiction will only lead you, and today I am able to say that I am one year sober! I have thousands of shout outs, too many to list. Just know that I do not tackle recovery alone, I have a very large group of supporters standing behind me each and every day to help make sobriety possible for me!"
Hurt says she debated for a month on whether she should repost the painful photo. She decided to go ahead and do it in hopes to inspire others toward recovery. She is thrilled the story is again going viral, so she has opportunities to tell her story of recovery and possibly help others.