Saving a marriage, family together

NORFOLK, Neb. -- It's always a good day when people are able to graduate drug court, but especially so when it's a married couple.

Jessica and Timothy Roland have been together for almost a decade.

Eventually, life's challenges took their toll and they had to live in a hotel while their children were with DHHS.

But Friday, the couple marked the completion of The Northeast Nebraska Drug Court, in Madison.

"It could have very easily went the other direction had one of us chosen to use again, it would have been a vicious spiral, but we decided to be each other's support system instead," said Jessica Roland, "to get our kids back and our lives back."

The judge noted this is the first time a couple has been through the system together in his court.

Family such as Jessica Roland's father flew in from California to share in the celebration.

"It's just a proud moment to see your daughter succeed when she was failing life. Now she has hope," Dale Wayne Fanning said. "All I can do is praise God for it."

Having overcome the difficulties of daily check-ins and rehabilitation steps, the Rolands said their biggest challenge now will be teaching patience to their kids, including their 4-year-old who's now back living with them.

"We want him to be successful because those choices could easily lead to our choices so we want him to have all the skills to choose the right path," Jessica Roland said.