My Why: Lorrie Wajciechowski

My name is Rev. Lorrie Wajciechowski and I was born and raised in Henrico County, Virginia. I am married and have three adult children, and ten grandchildren. I graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Religion, and from Liberty University Baptist Seminary with a Master of Divinity. I wandered through most of my young adult life, and have enjoyed many employment opportunities, such as: lifeguard, commercial insurance agent, paralegal, office management, successful business owner, pastor/chaplain in the jails, prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, and for hospice, as well as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) as both a counselor and program director.

I do not have military experience but come from a family of military men: U.S. Marine Corp. and the Navy. I was an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for more than 20+ years.

I enjoy many outdoor activities such as playing softball, swimming, white water rafting, and skydiving. I love to take my Jeep in the mud up in the mountains, or down to Virginia Beach, Outer Banks or Myrtle Beach driving in the sand or in the dunes. I also enjoy traveling with my husband, or girlfriends (which includes my mother) for long weekend escapades down South to honkytonks for some line-dancing and two-steppin’. I love country music and having fun!

In my younger life, I had a tendency “to have too much fun,” which brought me to my knees when I could not stop “over-indulging” on alcohol and drugs. I found that God had to put me on my knees before the healing/sober living could begin. After dozens of relapses, I finally found my footing in the darkest of times by following the light. I was reminded “one day at a time,” repeatedly. Eventually, I was “clean and sober,” but only physically. For six years I lived as a dry-drunk and dry-addict. My addictive behaviors were still active, and I was a miserable human being. I spewed all that nasty poison on those I loved the most (like my precious children). When I was 38 years old, I once again found myself on my knees. I could no longer do this to myself or others – live or die, there was a choice. And when I was unable to end my life, God picked me up, brushed me off, and helped me to start over. I now have nearly 27 years of sobriety and I am happy God saved me for something special…

My Why 

I came to work with Warriors Heart to help others the way I had been helped. It is my hope that someone I have helped will one day help my children with their addiction(s). My adult children are and have been addicts since their early teenage years (and they are in their 30’s now). One daughter died in April of 2022 (from sepsis, due to an abscess from shooting dope). She was 35 years old, and was 6 months pregnant with a baby girl, who also died. My 32-year-old son is in prison for drugs (with a sentence of 20 years this time). And my oldest daughter continues to struggle with alcohol and drug issues but is currently doing well.

Warriors Healing Warriors is the only program I have seen that truly treats the whole person. We cannot do it alone; God knows I tried. This is a terrible disease, but it does not have to end in death… Join us at Warriors Heart to discover that with the right people, in the right place, doing the right things, there is love and laughter waiting for each of us. Welcome Home!