Lufkin couple Savannah Francis and Twitch Herrera rebuild life after harrowing addiction: ‘Sometimes there’s purpose in the pain’

A Texas couple who struggled with addiction for years is now sharing their journey toward recovery, they said.

Savannah Francis and her boyfriend, known to many in Lufkin as Twitch Herrera, both hold ties to the city, they said.

The pair decided to share their story in hopes of reaching someone who may still be struggling, they said.

Francis said her addiction began when she was just 13 years old. Over the years, she experienced homelessness, incarceration and the loss of custody of her son, she said.

Herrera also struggled with addiction before the couple eventually entered rehab together, according to the pair.

While in rehab, the couple learned they were expecting a baby, they said.

That news became part of a new chapter in their lives. The pair subsequently moved five hours away, according to the couple.

The couple then became involved in Alcoholics Anonymous and church, they said.

Following the move, the pair began prioritizing their sobriety and family, according to their account.

Their recovery date is July 28, 2025, according to the couple.

Today, more than a year into recovery, the couple said they have a home, a vehicle and a new baby boy. Herrera has steady employment, while Francis is attending college with the goal of becoming a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, they said.

The pair has also been able to reconnect with their older children, according to the couple.

Francis said their faith and commitment to sobriety have become the foundation of their lives.

“Without sobriety we wouldn’t have our family’s, and the stability and goals we have today,” she shared.

Sharing their story is about more than celebrating how far they have come, with the pair wanting others facing addiction to know recovery is possible, they said.

“Sometimes there’s purpose in the pain and God will use your test as a testimony,” they said.