Choose Life
Choose Life
Finally, my employer (yes, I was still working at this point,) did an intervention on me. He told me if I didn't get help he would have to fire me. I was afraid to be found out, but also relieved because they had found a treatment center for me to look into and actually took me over there that same day. I can't tell you how much that one act of kindness did for me. I am forever grateful to my former boss and coworker who had the courage to confront me. At the time, I weighed 85 lbs. (I'm 5'7".) The treatment center was for eating disorders, but I told them that I had been using meth and had an addiction to alcohol as well. I spent the first week in the cardiac ward in the hospital hooked up to a heart monitor and IV's in my arms. I had to make the decision to choose life. It was a hard, challenging road. I don't know why I lived, but am so grateful to have a second chance! I stayed in that center for 6 weeks, then went to a chemical dependency treatment center for a month and then a half-way house for another 3 months. Once I got into recovery I went to 12-step meetings. I didn't hang out with people who drank or did drugs. I was so happy to be alive and to have a second chance at life, nothing was going to take that away from me. I divorced my husband, because he was still using. Evenually he got into treatment himself.
Years of therapy and meetings have brought me through some tough times, but I never used. I have been sober and clean for 25 years! Today my life is so blessed. Not every day is easy, but now I have the tools and courage to face life on life's terms. I went back to school and got a Bachelor's degree, I became a yoga teacher and personal trainer and live a healthy lifestyle. I got remarried to a wonderful man who doesn't drink and treats me with love and respect. I hope that this inspires someone who may be like I was 25 years ago, searching for hope. Don't give up on yourself! Life is truly worth living!
Partners for Hope raise critical funds on behalf Partnership to End Addiction – the nation’s leading organization dedicated to addiction prevention, treatment and recovery. Every dollar raised on behalf of the Partnership* will help ensure free, personalized family support resources, including our national helpline, peer-to-peer parent coaching, customized online tools and community education programs, can reach those who need them most. Please consider donating to this fundraiser and sharing this page.
*Donations made to Partnership to End Addiction are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. All contributions are fully tax-deductible, as no goods or services are provided in consideration in whole, or in part, of any contribution to this nonprofit organization. EIN: 52-1736502
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