I started drinking when I was just 11 years old. Most of my friends were much older than me. At 15, I was hanging out with people in their late teens and twenties. For us, “hanging out” meant drinking and smoking weed. It didn’t help that my stepdad and mom were both struggling with pill addictions and not properly supervising me. At 13, I had a curfew of 1 a.m., and at 17, I hit the club scene, where ecstasy, GHB, and acid became part of my life.
When I moved to Florida at 19, my drinking escalated, and the years passed in a blur. But at 25, something shifted. I met my boyfriend, and for the first time, health and happiness became my priorities. I got into fitness, yoga, and scuba diving, and for a while, alcohol faded into the background.
Somewhere during this period, I decided to stop drinking altogether and managed to stay sober for 14 months. Unfortunately, when my relationship ended, I began drowning my heartbreak and pain in alcohol to cope. I spiraled and started drinking around the clock. That continued for years—until I hit rock bottom. At only 37, I was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver.
While shocking and sad, the diagnosis saved my life. I checked myself into rehab. The road to sustained recovery wasn’t easy. After a few relapses, I committed to a six-month program. The decision to participate in longer-term treatment changed everything.
It’s been over a year that I have been able to maintain my sobriety. However, as my body and mind began to heal, I faced a new fear: rebuilding my life. I hadn’t worked in years. My self-confidence and self-esteem were at an all-time low. That’s when my substance abuse counselor told me about Her 2nd Chance, a workplace designed to support women in recovery.
I was terrified, but I applied for a position. After my interview, I was in awe when an email came from H2C saying they were hiring me! A place like this existed—a job where there was no judgment, just support and understanding? It felt too good to be true.
Once I started, things began to change for the better. Her 2nd Chance didn’t just give me a job; it gave me a community of supportive women dealing with many of the same issues I face. With H2C as a foundation, I found the courage to get a second job. Now, I have an apartment lease, a vehicle, and, most importantly, a happy, sober life.
Her 2nd Chance has been my lifeline, and I am forever grateful for the opportunities they’ve given me. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Thank you for helping me rebuild my life—I couldn’t have done it without you.