“I woke up in the hospital with a tube in my throat. I missed my brother’s funeral. In my heart, I could hear him say, ‘You got this, sis.’ I knew there was no turning back.”
‘For weeks, I was in an induced coma. Only a miracle could have saved me. After 25 years of lies, I said, ‘I’m done.’: Woman shares emotional journey of loss on path to sobriety
‘Is this it? Is this my life?’ I’d been in that jail 10+ times over 3 years. EVERYTHING I did, I did with heroin in mind.’: Former heroin addict shares his fight for sobriety
“I woke up in the ICU after an overdose. ALL that was on my mind was, ‘How am I going to convince my wife to give me money to pick up more heroin?’ 3 hours after being discharged, I was meeting my dealer.”
When It Comes To Preventing Child Sex Abuse, ‘Stranger Danger’ Education Isn’t Going To Cut It
“As children we are taught to respect our elders and be polite, but statistics report 90% of those who were sexually abused as a child knew their perpetrator.”
‘In this photo you see an aunt mid-laugh, posing with her niece on her 40th birthday. It was a good day, a really good day.’: Niece urges ‘recovery is possible’ after losing aunt to addiction
“What you don’t see is depression and addiction. You don’t see jail, and rehab, and a woman who would soon be found by a passerby trying to jump off a bridge. You don’t see a high school freshman being forced to grow up too fast, or an open casket.”
‘I prayed for a DUI when I drove to the liquor store. I wanted to quit so badly, but I physically couldn’t.’: Mom fights for sobriety after pancreatitis diagnosis
“‘Nicole, are you a daily drinker?’ Like any good alcoholic does, I lied. I was the perfect social media mom by day and a complete black-out drunk by night.”
‘HR called me in, crying. ‘Your coworkers donated sick time to you, but your employer is taking it away.’: Bilateral breast cancer survivor finds light after workplace discrimination
“She said, ‘Some things aren’t fair or right.’ I immediately packed up my desk knowing I’d never walk back in the door. This was worse than cancer. Cancer never pretended to be anything but cancer. The betrayal was too much. I started making plans to take my own life. But as it turns out, my terrible season became a launching pad.”
‘If I can do it, anyone can.’: Man who spent half his life in prison graduates with honors at 62
“His drug addiction began at the young age of 11.”
‘I awoke to three strangers standing in our living room, grave concern on their faces. ‘Their mom hasn’t been here.’ I was driven away by police car, anxious and confused.’: Former foster youth urges ‘you aren’t your circumstances’
“We finally arrived at our destination. A modest green house with a chain link fence. Standing at the sidewalk was a petite elderly woman with a white t-shirt, floral skirt, and hair pulled in a high bun. She greeted me with a smile. ‘Hi Jamerika,’ she said, as if she knew me her whole life.”
‘They both knew deep down they never stopped loving each other.’: Parents remarry in surprise wedding after 18 years divorced, dad sober 7 years
“My mom turned off the music and told everyone to sit down. ‘In order for this party to start, I am going to need a couple bridesmaids and a best man.’ My jaw dropped.”
‘A letter fell out. ‘Let’s never give up and keep pluggin.’: Anniversary note reminds wife of former addict to ‘cherish and celebrate’ their love story
“I can actually hear the sigh of relief through his words on the paper. ‘We’re still here.’ We are still defying the odds.”
