A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Kayla Swanson

Kayla Swanson is thriving today. A wife, a mother, fully employed – you’d never know that years ago she never imagined the life she has now, yet alone being alive.

“It’s been a rocky road, but like I say, ‘I do everything on His strength,’” she said. “I guess I can say I’m a miracle, almost.”

Growing up, Swanson battled Tourette syndrome, which is marked by uncontrollable tics, including quick, sudden movements that often mirror twitches and jerks. Swanson’s tics became so debilitating that her parents pulled her from La Porte High School to be home schooled.

“I couldn’t hold down a job because my tics were so bad,” Swanson said.

It was even a struggle to complete daily tasks like tying her shoes, brushing her teeth, and showering. Many times her parents had to help.

Early in high school, fueled mainly by peer pressure, Swanson began experimenting with drugs. As time went on, the drug abuse and her addiction grew in parallel.

“I ended up getting involved with the wrong crowd,” Swanson said. “I went through a very hard, devastating substance abuse disorder, and I was in and out of rehab and detoxes.”

Swanson struggled with substance abuse through most of her 20s. Eventually, she discovered Mission Team, a faith-based organization focused on walking with victims of substance abuse. Working with the Mission Team is what instilled a great faith in Swanson.

“It fully relies on God,” she said “The Bible – that’s where I came to know Jesus and God. That’s where I got my strong faith.”

At 22, still in the midst of her substance abuse and after trying multiple therapies and seeing many doctors, Swanson traveled to Mayo Clinic for deep brain stimulation for her Tourette’s. The surgery, which requires about a two-week recovery time, involves implanting a pacemaker-like device designed specifically for the brain. The device sends neurostimulators to specific areas of the brain.

In time, after her battle with Tourette’s and substance abuse, Swanson met her husband Larry. Their daughter Lilliana, whom they fondly call Lilly, is almost 3 years old.

“I honestly didn’t think that I would be around to reach 30 and get married and have a child,” Swanson said. “My strength comes absolutely from God. While I’m not always perfect and life gets busy with work or my family, I try to pray every day.”

Swanson has inspired her own family through her story of growth and faith.

“I planted that little seed in them and just watched it grow,” Swanson said.

As Lilly grows up, Swanson and her husband are focused on giving her the tools to make the right decisions.

“I don’t want her to get involved in the wrong things,” Swanson said. “I want her to be able to hear my story and know that she can always come to us for advice or questions, including when she’s being peer pressured.”

Swanson’s story of overcoming odds has touched so many, and she hopes it will have that same impact on Lilly as well.