A mum "high 24/7" on meth and Xanax after her husband tragically died has undergone an incredible transformation after turning her life around. Natalee King, 33, suffered with depression after soldier husband John King died in a training accident in 2013, and even spent time in prison for drug-driving.
The air force vehicle operator says meeting Justin White, 31, helped her onto the straight and narrow - and they now have a beautiful family. Five years sober, Natalee, from Florida, America, said: "Not only did he help me get clean, but he allows me to grieve my late husband's death in any way I want. He lets me talk about him all the time.
"Now I spend my days raising my youngest son, and I do a lot of meditating, breathing treatments and therapy."
Natalee met her late husband on an airbase in Japan in 2011 and, later that year, Natalee became pregnant.
John James King was then born in 2012 and the family moved to Maryland but, just eight months later her husband was crushed by a truck.
She said: "I was told he was OK at first, but two hours went by and then they all showed up in blue uniform, and told me he was dead.
"It was gut-wrenching. I remember I was sitting on the couch and when I stood up, my knees gave out. I fell to the floor and started vomiting like I had the flu.
"I remember looking at my son and it was unbearable - I didn't know how I would be able to raise him alone."
John's death sent Natalee into a spiral - and it was then that she became addicted to prescription Xanax.
She said: "It made me forget what I was feeling. Every day was so painful - every morning I'd wake up and hate my life. I wished I wouldn't have to keep waking up."
But, just months later, doctors took the drugs away - so Natalee turned to buying it from street dealers on street corners.
It was then that she started taking crystal meth - and says she was "high almost 24/7".
And after having her license revoked for driving under the influence, she was jailed for getting behind the wheel illegally.
Natalee says she was then in and out of prison - and had to sign over custody of her young son over to her mum.
She said: "My mum talked me into handing over custody because she didn't think I would make it out alive.
"She'd already lost my sister to drugs, and I believed I wouldn't make it out alive either."
But then, in 2016, Natalee met Justin - who told her he wanted to help her get clean.
The couple worked together and now, in February 2023, it will be five years since she touched drugs, cigarettes or alcohol.
Natalee even managed to stay sober after her dad died in 2021 - which she feared would send her back to a dark place.
The mum-of-two also got custody of John back from her mum and she and Justin had a son of their own, Jensen Richard White, now four, in 2018.
She said: "When I hit rock bottom, I was taking methamphetamine in the day to wake me up, and Xanax at night to help me sleep.
"I had no car, no job, and I was living at my parents' house.
"But a man came into my life, Justin, and helped me get sober. It took two years to taper myself off the Xanax because of how much I was taking."
The Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact their UK team for free by calling 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or head to the website to find your nearest branch. To contact their USA team, call 1 (800) 273-TALK. You matter.
Do you have a story to share? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.
