CLEVELAND — It's a tough journey for anyone to go through: getting and staying sober. But it can be even more difficult for pregnant mothers. But, Cleveland's MetroHealth System just opened a first-of-it's-kind sobriety house to give expectant mothers the help and support they need.
'The Moms House' is a confidential home for mothers as they continue on the path to recovery from opiate use disorder and other substance use disorders. It will offer up to three pregnant women a place to stay during their pregnancy and after they’ve given birth. Moms and soon-to-be moms living in the house will be given access to medical staff from MetroHealth to help them remain healthy.
"To my knowledge, this is the first facility that's connected to a medical center," said Jessica Pippen, an OBGYN with MetroHealth. "Pregnancy in itself, given some of the major physical changes and major emotional changes, can place a woman in recovery at risk for relapse."
Pippen said their goal is to have these moms come into recovery and then work to support other moms in recovery.
Kimberly Glover was chosen to serve as a resident supervisor or House Mom. Glover said she is thrilled for the opportunity and believes destiny brought this house into her life.
"This is something I really feel like, I really feel like I'm meant to do," Glover said. "The two things I love the most in the universe are recovery and motherhood."
Glover is a recovering addict. She described her journey with alcoholism.
"With alcoholism, I was powerless," she said. "It was like I was showing everybody an outside, not being able to be honest about myself on the inside, and falling apart. Where I would be helping my children, the only thing I would be thinking about was, a next glass of wine."
Glover will provide women living in the house support and love along their journey to sobriety.
"When you have the opportunity to have a brand new relationship with someone that is amazing, and babies are brand new relationships and mothers will do anything for their children," Glover said. "I'm just grateful to be a part of someone's new beginning."
MetroHealth said funding for the house was made possible thanks to Jacke and Eric Wiedemer. The couple donated money to the hospital after Eric's father, Rick Wiedemer, received care from Metro's Neurocritical Care Unit. The pair said they had to find a way to give back to MetroHealth.
If you would like to donate to The Moms House, visit https://www.metrohealth.org/foundation/donate, click “Other" in the drop-down menu, and indicate that the donation is for the Mother & Child Dependency Sober Housing.
