Robin’s Hope Peer Recovery Specialists (PRS)

Victoria (Tori) Walk, PRS I was born in raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia during the cold war. I am the youngest of 3 children, a baby born later in life as my siblings are 7 and 10 years older than myself. Growing up I experienced many early childhood traumas that would have a negative effect on me all my life and impact my mental health. In 1996 my son and I moved to Virginia where I married my husband of 25 years. We had a daughter together and with his children and mine we had a total of 5 kids. I was a public-school bus driver and bus driver trainer from 1999- 2005, this allowed me a schedule to be home with the children. After that I became an EMT Enhanced with the plan to go on to be a paramedic. Fate stepped in and in July of 2015 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a double mastectomy for the cancer that thankfully so far has not recurred. The chemo and radiation treatments did however leave me with side effects, especially in my spine and I have so far had 3 surgeries to stabilize the degeneration caused by the treatments. I was placed out on disability by the state, and this ended my career as an EMT. Needing to do something to give back I started volunteering with a hospice organization in a program called peaceful passing. This program addressed comfort and compassion for those who are imminent in facing death. I assisted the family but most importantly the people themselves. I have a firm belief that no one should die alone – conscious or not. This work to me was as fulling as the EMS work. Fate and Covid came and simultaneously my husband began to decline in his health. After 2 years of suffering poor health my husband passed away in December of 2021. It was then that my world fell apart. My children had moved out on their own and I found myself financially devastated. It was then that my past started to catch up to me. After 2 back-to-back hospitalizations I was diagnosed with severe chronic reoccurring depression. I was told after the second to find a trauma support group. It was then I found Robin’s Hope. This is where I mark the beginning of my journey on the path of recovery. I started as a participant in July of 2022. I was amazed (and still am) at what I learned there. There were words about what I was going through and what had happened to me. That I could freely express my sexuality without judgement. That there are skills to use to cope with what life throws at you. Most importantly I found a community that is so accepting and supporting. My gratitude to Robin’s Hope is beyond compare and I set out to become one of the biggest cheerleaders for mental health recovery because of Robin’s Hope. In September 0f 2023 I completed PRS training and now am proud to be a PRS intern with Robin’s Hope. I feel this will be my most important contribution in my life.