Dope to Hope
Kang-Chun Cheng “KC”
Team Eisert
Story Summary
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Cherri Bridges, 28, was born addicted to methamphetamine from her addicted mother Candy Meyer’s 27-year-long history of drug abuse.
Cherri’s own addiction began at 13, starting with alcohol and marijuana, then moving on to painkillers and methamphetamine. Now at 28, she has been clean and sober for 3 years, and is working as a peer counselor at Recovery Lighthouse, an outpatient center in Sedalia, Missouri. The organization’s mission is to help clients overcome their addictions, according to Cherri. “It took having to tell my mom that I’m going to jail for meth possession to realize what I’m doing with my life,” she says.
A year ago, Cherri encouraged Candy to join her as a certified peer specialist at Recovery Lighthouse.
“You’re only as sick as your secrets,” says Candy. “Healing starts when you get rid of the pain and stigma and guilt.” Although it’s not always easy, the mother and daughter are working to rebuild their relationships and the trust of their family and in themselves. Along with small towns across America, Sedalia battles substance abuse. Cherri and Candy hope that their story will inspire others on their road to recovery.
Candy Meyer looks into a bail bondsmen shop where she made bail after being arrested for drug possession on Valentine’s Day in 2005. She was in jail for 81 days.
Cherri and her husband, Braxton Bridges, in photos from 2022, above a slogan Cherri wrote to inspire her recovery from methamphetamines addiction.
Cherri mugshot from when she was arrested for possession of methamphetamine in 2020. She was in jail for one week. After 12 years of abusing drugs, she is now a certified peer specialist at Recovery Lighthouse counseling addicts in Sedalia.
Cherri reads a letter that she wrote to herself in the 7th grade, where she promised she’d never give in to drugs. A year later, at age 13, she started abusing illegal substances.
Despite being estranged from her parents for decades, Candy is now extremely close to them, visiting them with Cherri at their home. It hasn’t been easy rebuilding their relationship after 27 years of substance addiction, but she now refuses to keep secrets from anyone.
Cherri visits her mother, Candy. Things aren’t perfect between them, but they’re closer than they’ve ever been.
Cherri shares a light-hearted moment with Candy at her home. They don’t shy away from discussing painful memories, like how Candy did not bail her daughter out of jail in 2020, believing that each person needs to learn their lessons themselves.
Cherri now works as a certified peer specialist at Recovery Lighthouse counseling addicts. Recovery Lighthouse offers patients the tools to take back control of their lives and rebuild relationships with friends and family. After getting a job as a certified peer specialist, Cherri encouraged her mother to do the same. Now the two do everything together, from working in the office to spending time at home.
Cherri takes a smoke break at work. Around the Sedalia office.
One of many motivational notes placed around Cherri's office.
Cherri and her colleagues play with a patient’s newborn at Recovery Lighthouse. The co-workers say they are constantly looking out for one another.
Cherri met her husband, Braxton, at a ‘trap' house, where illegal drugs were sold in New Mexico, after she ran away from home in 2017 to ‘start a new life.’ The couple has weathered a rocky recovery process including violent fights. They got married last summer in Sedalia. Cherri says that now they couldn’t be happier.
Brian Kratzer, Co-Director
Alyssa Schukar, Co-Director
Hany Hawasly, Technical Director
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