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Heroin addict reveals how pregnancy test turned her life around

A young heroin addict who found herself begging on the streets for money has revealed how her life was saved by an unlikely pregnancy.

This time last year Azaria Faver’s health had hit rock bottom as her drug addiction progressed from heroin to the even deadlier crack cocaine.

The idea of dying didn’t scare the then 25-year-old, who would shoplift to supplement her drug addiction as she made her way from doorway to doorway in the streets of Edinburgh.

Azaria was under the impression it would be impossible for her to fall pregnant, given the sheer number of drugs she was consuming.

But when she began noticing some changes to her already deteriorating health, a home pregnancy test and subsequent trip to the doctor told her otherwise.

Azaria Faver had been living on the streets of Edinburgh. Source: Instagram/Heroin to Homemaker
Azaria Faver had been living on the streets of Edinburgh. Source: Instagram/Heroin to Homemaker

“I started feeling a bit funny, took a test and it came up positive straight away. It was the shock of my life,” she explained to BBC.

“We were living in a homeless B&B at the time. I went to the doctor – the homeless practice – and I was told my child would be taken away from me immediately and put into care.”

While previous attempts to kick her addiction had failed, this time there was no doubt in her mind, she wanted to get clean.

Social workers helped Azaria and the father of her child, Alex, get clean and move onto methadone to help kick the drugs.

“The minute Bella was born, the minute I looked at her, I knew I couldn’t go back.”

Fast-forward nearly six months and Azaria has been clean for well over a year, while her methadone dosage is being reduced to the point when she will soon be off that entirely also.

Little Bella-Caledonia has given the now 26-year-old a new lease on life, who said she wakes up every day and can’t believe it’s all real.

“She is just the love of my life, she is my world,” she added.

She has now also started a blog ‘Heroin to Homemaker’, where she openly discusses her personal battles.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

Kids Helpline 1800 551 800.