x
Breaking News
More () »

From darkness to life

The teen sister of a former heroin addict is raising awareness, helping the homeless, and pushing for change.
Credit: WXIA

15-year-old Isabella Miller is not your typical teenage girl.

“I just like helping people,” Isabella said.

Three years ago, she started an outreach program called From Darkness To Life, after watching her older brother Drake struggle with a heroin addiction.

“It's a nightmare for families and their children, and it just takes one time to be instantly addicted or die,” Connie Miller, Isabella’s mom, said. “I was totally expecting to have the police show up at the door and tell me my son was dead.”

Drake was in and out of jail for a few years, then finally decided to get clean and stay clean in 2015. Isabella has been documenting his sobriety, while also starting programs to help others. And her efforts have not gone unnoticed.

“I have over 1,500 service hours, I have four presidential awards, I have four nominations for youth activist awards. I also started an ambassador program for a pageant,” Isabella said. “I just want to make a difference in people's lives, because my family struggled with addiction for so long. My next goal is I want to discuss with the Senate putting qualified drug addiction counselors in high schools and middle schools.”

“It's amazing that she's taken this little idea that she wanted to help people and come up with all these ideas and it's flourished,” Connie said. “She never says ‘no, I don't want to do it, I want to hang out with my friends.’ Never. When there's a time to step up, she's always willing and ready, and I'm very proud of her.”

Want more Cumming news? Follow us on Facebook.

Before You Leave, Check This Out