The optimism in Ashley Egglestonâs smile is heartbreaking.
Sheâs grinning for a Facebook selfie she tagged with a vote of confidence on April 30: âMoving Forward (with) the occasion(al) slip-ups & remaining focused. Mind over matter.ââ
A vibrant young woman who loved making crafts, Eggleston of Bassett, Va., had tried over and over since 2018 to kick painkillers and heroin.
In December, she posted to Facebook a photo of herself sitting in the Emergency Department waiting room of Martinsvilleâs Sovah Health hospital. The 24-year-old former cheerleaderâs friends responded, congratulating her for being there and trying to get clean. One friend even recommended a suboxone program that had helped her find sobriety.