RECOVERING ADDICT RAISING FUNDS IN GRATITUDE

Marci Mobbs Thanks Community That Saved Her Life

When recovering addict Marci Mobbs and I last met in the cafe at B.C.
Women's Hospital 21 months ago, she told me she longed to fulfil one
last promise on her when-I-am-clean wish list: Reconnect with the
daughter she had sacrificed to the crack demon many years ago.

Not only is Marci's relationship with her now-20-year-old solid
today, so is her employment, schooling and commitment to providing
stability and love to partner Randy and their toddler Tyson.

And, because the 40-year-old's no couch potato, she decided to round
up friends and shop owners in her new North Vancouver 'hood willing
to help her satisfy her latest craving: To thank B.C. Women's
Hospital and community services she swears saved her life.

"For 25 years, I spent every waking movement either using or
searching to use. I used anything I could find: I smoked, injected,
swallowed," she conceded in a promotion for the tips-for-tots campaign.

"I liked them all: Cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, alcohol, pills. I
always figured I'd die high. No doubt if the miracle I was so lucky
to experience at FIR [Families In Recovery] Square had not happened,
I would be dead."

For those untouched by drug addiction -- and I'll wager there are few
of you -- FIR Square was a first-in-Canada hospital program that lets
addicted moms live with their babies and partners for 30 days while
they attempt to dry out and acquire parenting and life skills.

From there, Mobbs was transferred to one of 29 beds in Aurora
Centre, B.C.'s largest women's-only treatment facility, also run by
the hospital with funding from Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

At that point, her baby boy was handed to a foster mom. Mobbs was
told she could get him back eventually -- if she remained clean.

"It was there [Aurora] that I was given the tools to make different
choices than I had in my past. It was harder than anything I had ever
tried to do, but I did it."

Her partner also went into a rehab facility and has stayed clean as well.

A big part of their success, she said, was having access to health
and social services -- such as those offered by Sheway, a drop-in for
expectant and new moms fighting substance use -- that enabled the
couple to stay away from their drug crowd in Squamish, her hometown.

"Finally, we are a family," she said this week, the zeal and pride
for her latest craving -- to sing the praises of the addiction
outreach facilities -- illuminating her lively green eyes.

To that end, she's been knocking on doors -- even the mayor's -- to
tell them she's raised $500 but needs more: "My goal is to help . . .
reduce the needless numbers of babies in foster care and the number
of families forced back into high-risk environments. Without these
programs I would not have my family today."

So readers, on Sunday, Nov. 30, grab your friends and head to
Fatburger/Ricky's diner, 1995 Lonsdale Ave., in North Van. Mobbs and
her server co-workers will be donating all tips to Women's and Sheway.

You might even find me there.