Meet Janet
Janet’s journey is one of resilience and faith. A Rock Hill native, loving mother, and proud grandmother of ten, her life took a devastating turn when black mold invaded her home, leaving her hospitalized and facing the early stages of blindness. What followed was a period of unimaginable hardship, including 11 months living in a tent.
But Janet’s story doesn’t end there. Thanks to the support of Pathways Community Center and her unwavering trust in the Lord, she found hope, healing, and a community that helped her rebuild. This is Janet’s story—a testament to the power of compassion and perseverance.
It was like 1,000 needles hit me in the eye. That is when I discovered black mold.
Born and raised in Rock Hill, Janet finds solace in her family and the Lord. She is a mother of two and a very proud grandmother of 10 grandbabies. Janet’s joy in life is when her children and grandbabies are in town, and she can take them to the park. There, she relishes the laughter and memories shared amongst each other. Janet’s life took a quick, dark turn. One morning, she opened her kitchen cabinet and said, “It was like 1,000 needles hit me in the eye. That is when I discovered black mold”. She ended up in the hospital with double pneumonia, but it was too late…the early stages of blindness had already set in.
Imagine walking into your once welcoming home, now a dark, black cave. Everything familiar is now foreign - like going into a stranger’s house. Her self-esteem spiraled, and feelings of immense grief arose. Janet could no longer live independently. Picture being unable to find things easily within your home, such as going to the mailbox, paying your bills, cooking meals, getting dressed, and reading your Bible. She depended on her son, yet there was only so much he could do financially. Eventually, Janet lost her home and ended up in a tent behind Aldi on Cherry Road. She lived there for 11 months.
Luckily, a good citizen stopped to talk with Janet and introduced her to Pathways Community Center. Since being at Pathways, Bethel Day Shelter provided Janet with comfortable respite during the day, Grounds of Grace restored her confidence and re-taught her life skills, House of Agape fed both her body and soul, and the Life House Women’s Shelter provided her a warm, cozy bed. She is so grateful to everyone throughout Pathways and the community who assisted her throughout her journey. She remains faithful to the Lord and prays that He will one day restore her sight.