My unlucky hand

The problems in my life started from a very young age. My mum left me in Jamaica when I was only two and moved to England. My step-mum would treat me badly everyday.

I was terrified of my father also. He tried to rape me many times and would also beat me. There came a time when I couldn’t take it anymore so I tried to kill myself. I cut myself in front of him - there was blood everywhere - but he didn’t care. He said I should have died. I hated him.

I started drinking when I was just 16, to help me sleep and forget about everything. My drinking got even worse when I got a job at a bingo parlour because I was put to work behind the bar.

I was full of anger and hatred because of everything that was happening to me, and became very aggressive. Anyone who angered me - man or woman - was in for a fight. If someone cut me off on the road, I’d jump out of the car to fight them.

At 19, I ran away from home to live with her my brother to escape the turmoil. I then met someone and at first, he was nice. He would take me out and buy me gifts. But after my first son was born, he changed. He became possessive. We’d fight all the time. I’d have black eyes and busted lips from our fights. He would always accuse me of seeing other men and sleeping around.

I came to the UK and then married a man who only ended up using me and cheating on me. That relationship also ended. I was pregnant and alone.

Doctors told me I was going to have a stroke or heart attack with my blood pressure so high. They had me taking 5-6 tablets a day. Once I felt so depressed that I wanted to overdose. The only thing that stopped me was my son who walked in on me as I was about to take a month’s worth of pills with beer.

I’d previously tried many other religions that didn’t help. But after attending the first service at the UCKG, Ifelt so good that I decided to stay. I told God that I wanted a change within and started a Chain of Prayer.

Soon enough, I could no longer hold down a drink. It just didn’t taste right anymore. Whenever I tried to drink alcohol, it tasted horrible.

My blood pressure went back to normal and the doctors were even shocked at the result. I also began to be healed from all the emotional scars of the past and was able to let go of all the anger and grudges that went with it.

Today I’m so full of joy and people often ask me what the secret behind my smile is.

Vera Allen,
Stratford

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