OVERVIEW THE RECOVERING ADDICTS THE PARENT THE JUDGE THE FIRST RESPONDER THE SCHOOL

Whitney Johnson and Jeremy Rhoades pose for a portrait after Jeremey's baptism. Whitney was baptized in the same spot along the river near old route 33 in Nelsonville just over a year prior.

THE RECOVERING ADDICTS

Jeremy Rhoades sold Whitney Johnson her first bag of heroin. Now they’re clean, engaged, and saved.

Jeremy started using heroin 14 years ago and is now going through the Vivitrol program at Hocking County Municipal Court. Whitney has been off Suboxone for just shy of a month after eight years of drug addiction.

Both Jeremy and Whitney give credit to God for their recovery. “I seen the light through Jesus Christ and now I'm here. Clean and sober,” Jeremy said. “I got with Jeremy and actually it changed everything ‘cause God was like 'okay, if he's got it what are you doin’ kid?'” Whitney said.

Though the couple has only been together since September, they know they’re making the right decision. “He’s my rock,” Whitney said. They’ve been supporting each other through every step of recovery, and they understand each other in a way that people who haven’t gone through addiction never could.

Recovery hasn’t been easy for Whitney and Jeremy, but some days are better than others. “If I struggle then I'm just gonna be real and work from it… but God's pretty good and definitely there's a different type of high today,” Whitney said.

Jeremy walks through the river with his daughters Vada, left, and Paisley, right. All four of Jeremy's kids were excited to spend the day with their dad and stayed close to his side for most of the afternoon.

Whitney hugs Jeremy after his baptism by Pastor Bruce Livingston, left, and Whitney's adoptive father, Larry Swart, right. Jeremy has known Pastor Livingston since he was a child and sees him as a sort of father figure.

Whitney and Jeremy play with Jeremy's kids, from left to right, Aiden Rhoades, McKylie Rhoades, and Paisley Rhoades while Jeremy's mother gets ready to go home. Jeremy doesn't have custody of any of his children, and it was important to him that all of them could be at his baptism.

Whitney floats in the river after Jeremy's baptism. The river abuts Whitney's adoptive parents' property, and she often finds herself there when she needs to find peace or talk to God.

Whitney and Jeremy sing along during a church service at Freedom Memorial Church in Logan. Whitney used to frequent the church but had a falling out with some of the members and had been going elsewhere for a few months.

Whitney and Jeremy hold hands during a church service. Both credit God's support as a driving force in their recovery and look to Him when they need strength.

THE RECOVERING ADDICTS

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