Tyronna Rickenbach of Indianapolis had a happy marriage, two children, a nice home, her own car and was working three different jobs. She worked hard and was appreciative of the enjoyable and rewarding life she had … and then things changed.
“For some reason, I thought the grass was greener on the other side,” she said. “I started doing drugs and thought I could handle it on my own, but the drugs messed me up pretty bad.”

Rickenbach’s involvement with drugs left her without a husband, her children and her home. In essence, everything she held dear in her life was gone.
“It wasn’t until I met my fiancé, Thomas, and my son begged me to stop doing drugs and that was the motivation I needed to look for help and get clean,” she said. “I brought myself here to Eskenazi Health looking for a way to be rid of drugs. I was trying to get clean and I met great people at Eskenazi Health. Everybody was really nice … just really wonderful people.”

“My experience was Eskenazi Health helped to get my life back on track. I was on drugs, out on the streets, didn’t have a home and didn’t have anywhere to go. I didn’t have any medication or anyway to get my mind back on track. I was just really out there in the world. I know for a fact that without Eskenazi Health, I would be on the streets and would probably be dead somewhere strung out on drugs.”

“Eskenazi Health gave me counseling, they spoke with me one-on-one. They prescribed medication for me and helped me find a place to live. They helped with furniture and everything to keep me clean and off drugs.”

Since she began working with Eskenazi Health and the Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center, Rickenbach’s life has turned around and she’s reaping the benefits of her hard work and dedication.
“I have reconciled with my children (son Germany, daughter Paris) and my son lives with me now,” she said. “One of my goals is that I’d like to go to nursing school.”

In addition to helping Rickenbach be free of drugs, Eskenazi Health also helped rid her of another terrible affliction.

“I beat breast cancer in 2017, and I got treatment at Eskenazi Health. I went through chemo and radiation,” she said.  “My doctors were amazing and I’m in remission right now. I’m taking good care of myself and on my meds, and I’m very happy. Eskenazi Health has been very good to me.  Hopefully one day, I’ll be able to give back to Eskenazi Health … maybe by being a nurse!”