I GOT A LIFE!

Editor, The Star:

I am a single mother with two children and the life I had made for us
came crashing down after I developed a serve addiction to
methamphetamine, pain killers, and marijuana.

We had suffered the loss of my fiancee' in a motorcycle accident,
that I witnessed, just before Christmas in 2003 and my inability to
confront our loss fueled my drug use and subsequent addiction.

After I started using on a daily basis it didn't take long for me to
lose everything, most importantly, my children and our home, my job,
my vehicles and all communication with my family.

I was using and using and finally began selling the drugs to maintain
my habit. After being arrested many times and facing the loss of my
freedom I thought that rehabilitation was a waste of time and that I
would never be able to live a life without those drugs to help me
function. The truth is I was not functioning with the drugs only I
didn't know it.

My family came to me very gently and pleaded with me to get some help
because they were in constant fear for my safety. When my family said
to me that they did not want to visit me in one of three places,
living on the streets, in prison, or at the cemetery, I knew that it
was time to let them help me help myself. My oldest brother located
this program for me on the internet and even though I was very
resistant to rehabilitation I agreed to try it.

I came to the program in September 2004 with no hope of ever being
clean. It wasn't long after I entered the program that I realized I
really had a problem, I needed help and that these people cared about
my ability to be successful.

My family's unconditional love for me, the brilliant processes of
this program, and amazing staff saved my life.

I now work here and have dedicated my life to helping others put the
pieces of their shattered lives back together. The pride I see in my
children's eyes has been worth every ounce of struggle I faced.

This program has given back the child my parents so desperately
missed and the mother my children so desperately needed.

HOLLY C. Program Graduate and Staff Member