In 1999, our family was changed forever. My husband Mark passed away from a drug overdose. We had 4 little girls, Kayla was 8, Alexis was 6, Nichole was 4 and Heather was 2.

My name is Tracy Kearney, and I am honored to serve as the East Coast Representative for Ready Now Recovery, a ministry of Adult & Teen Challenge.

My story is one of both heartbreak and hope.

My husband Mark and I were blessed with four beautiful daughters—Kayla (8), Alexis (6), Nichole (4), and Heather (2)—and I was seven months pregnant with our son when our lives were forever changed. Mark was not only a devoted husband and father, but also a successful businessman in New York City and a faithful usher at our church. But behind his outward strength, he was fighting a private and relentless battle with addiction.

In a courageous step toward healing, Mark entered Adult & Teen Challenge to seek recovery. Sadly, he was unable to complete the program and did not have the long-term support he needed to sustain his sobriety. In 1999, our family experienced an unimaginable tragedy—Mark’s battle with addiction ultimately claimed his life, leaving a void that has never truly healed.

This loss shattered our world.

Addiction is not just a personal struggle—it is a family crisis, a societal issue, and a spiritual battle. It requires more than a one-time intervention. It demands ongoing support, compassion, accountability, and love.

Through Ready Now Recovery, I am committed to helping others find the hope and healing that my family so desperately needed. We must stand together to ensure that no one fights this battle alone, and no family is left to pick up the pieces in silence.

Together, we can break the cycle. Together, we can save lives.

I was 7 months pregnant with my son. I had to raise my 5 children alone.

 

Throughout our marriage, my husband Mark struggled on and off but was finally able to get sober when he went to Adult and Teen Challenge.  Mark was a great husband, and father and had a very good job.  After Teen Challenge Mark was able to stay clean for a few years and was even an usher at our church. But the challenge of addiction was still real. He didn't have the tools he needed when he got home. So he succumbed to the addiction that ultimately took his life and changed ours forever.

  

Because of my life experiences, I can understand the pain and difficulties of those struggling with addiction. That is why I am dedicated to helping people change their lives so their families do not have to go through what we went through.