Mar 18, 2018 5 min read

When Janetta (Nettie) Ledbetter arrived at LeMoyne Community Center in Washington on a recent Monday, she was knocked backwards a few steps by the fierce hug delivered by her granddaughter, Bella Miller, 6.

“Nana! Nana!” Bella said, jumping up and down, the colorful hair beads Ledbetter had woven into the little girl’s braids bouncing.

Following behind was Ledbetter’s grandson, Eli, 8, who embraced her.

Ledbetter, 54, is the primary caregiver for the two, and their brother, Nyzaveon, 14.

A supervisor at Washington City Mission’s Avis Arbor, Ledbetter has raised the children for most of their lives because her daughter has struggled with opioid addiction.

“I didn’t actually see myself doing this, and it’s not easy, but I also know (the children) are innocent,” said Ledbetter. “Addiction wreaks havoc on families, but someone needs to be in their life showing them the way.”

Ledbetter is not alone.

Nationwide, an estimated 2.7 million grandparents are raising grandchildren as a result of the opioid crisis.

Caring for her children has reordered Ledbetter’s life. She became a licensed foster parent in order to gain custody of her grandchildren, and her days now revolve around their activities and needs.

Ledbetter, a single grandparent, arises at 5 a.m. to pray and read the Bible, gets breakfast for the children, drives Bella and Eli to Washington Park Elementary School and drops off Nyzaveon at Washington High School before heading to work.

Bella and Eli attend the LeMoyne Center’s after-school program, and by 6 p.m. Ledbetter – after a day spent working with homeless women and children – swings by the center to pick up the children.

“I’m so grateful for Joyce Ellis and the people at the LeMoyne Center. I don’t know what I’d do without them,” said Ledbetter, noting her knowledge of county agencies and resources has made it easier for her to seek help and assistance than other grandparents who find themselves in the same situation.

Once they arrive home, Ledbetter makes dinner and checks homework. After baths and a snack, she tucks the children into bed and reads them a bedtime story.

For Ledbetter, it’s sometimes difficult to muster the energy required to keep up with her young and energetic grandchildren. At the same time, she worries that she will get a phone call telling her that her daughter has overdosed.

Ledbetter has gotten that call before. In November, her son, Kevin, handsome and well-liked, died of a heroin overdose, leaving behind a 10-year-old daughter. He was 30.

Of her six children, three have battled drug addiction; one has been successful and is working and attending college.

“I’ve seen drugs take the lives of my son and the lives of women I’ve helped who relapsed. To know that my daughter is actively using, it’s pretty hurtful. It’s pretty hard,” said Ledbetter. “Prayer and faith is what keeps me going. Knowing there’s a power greater than me gives me the strength to get up every day.”

Ledbetter is a certified recovery specialist who recently won a community service award from Zonta International for “excelling in their given profession to serve as an example to women in the community” for her work at Avis Arbor.

She overcame drug addiction herself, and has been drug-free for more than 17 years.

At one point during her recovery, she spent time in Avis Arbor, in a bedroom down the hallway from where she now works to help women who are trying to turn their lives around.

“I’m just grateful to be alive today to be a blessing to someone else. There were people that helped me in my life, and God wants me to help other people,” said Ledbetter. “I’m trying to give back and pay it forward to help someone else. I try to give the compassion that was given to me when I was here.”

Ledbetter’s grandchildren don’t see their parents right now, but they talk to their mother, who has been in and out of rehab, on the telephone occasionally.

“That’s painful, but it’s OK right now. She loves them. I know she loves them,” said Ledbetter. “When she was a mom, she was a great mom. But the addiction, the disease, just takes over. It can take a loving person and have them focus solely on this addiction.”

Ledbetter said she doesn’t try to take the place of her grandchildren’s mother.

“They miss their mom, they really do. I could never replace their mom,” said Ledbetter. “But they understand this is where they live, and I’m Nana, and I’m the sole provider for them. I provide them with consistency, love and support.”

Financially, Ledbetter receives a small stipend from Washington County Children and Youth Services, but her income is stretched thin. She said she teaches her grandchildren that “money’s not everything,” and she tells them they “don’t need the latest this and that.”

“But they know that Nana will buy it if she can,” said Ledbetter. “And it’s usually them before me; they know I’ll do without.”

Ledbetter said she stays hopeful that her daughter will overcome her addiction.

“It can be done. Recovery does work. It’s never too late,” said Ledbetter. “I just keep praying. That’s where my faith is. I don’t give up the belief that maybe one day, she’ll get it.”

Until that happens, Ledbetter plans to be the steady force in her grandchildren’s lives. And despite the challenges, raising her grandchildren has enriched her life, Ledbetter said.

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love those kids,” said Ledbetter. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”