Recovery Stories

Which Valley Hope location did you attend?

Valley Hope of Boonville

When is your sobriety birthday?

September 12, 2022

How has recovery influenced the person you are today?

Sobriety has given me the courage to face the demons from my past. Those demons I was a survivor of and the contributor of for others. I laid my past down, walked through those doors and haven't looked back since. Sobriety has changed me for the better in every single way.

What’s something meaningful you’ve started doing since getting sober that brings you joy or purpose?

Sobriety has helped me achieve a variety of personal success from adopting a child, starting a business and helping others through their recovery process. In helping others, I continue to heal also.

What goals have you achieved or are working toward because of your recovery?

Starting a business, beginning foster parenting and then ultimately adopting a child have been some of my greatest successes that weren't possible before sobriety.

Is there a passion or talent you have pursued in recovery?

I have began a woodworking business and began fostering children.

Which Valley Hope location did you attend?

Valley Hope of Parker

When is your sobriety birthday?

March 15, 2025

How has recovery influenced the person you are today?

When I arrived at Valley Hope I had completely given up on myself, on the idea of ever finding love, friendship or success. In the first six months of sobriety I have restored my relationships with my family and friends, fallen in love with my sober partner, thrived in my career and gotten plugged back in with communities I enjoyed before my addiction.

What’s something meaningful you’ve started doing since getting sober that brings you joy or purpose?

I’ve been teaching myself how to play ukulele. I’ve also gotten plugged back in with my university’s alumni association. I recently hosted an event for my university that was attended by over 100 people. My university and fellow alumni are a community I’m passionate about and it’s wonderful being able to give my time and talents freely in my sobriety.

What goals have you achieved or are working toward because of your recovery?

I’m working a 12 step program with a sponsor. In my career, I just reached a major goal in July that I set for myself before my addiction. It took me longer to reach that career goal than I thought because of my use, but celebrating with my employees was even more enjoyable because of my sobriety!

Is there a passion or talent you have pursued in recovery?

I’ve found so much more time for reading and fashion. I just bought a sewing machine and I’ve been teaching myself how to sew and I’m learning how to play the ukulele! I’ve also really improved my editing skills and my travel accounts on social media have grown a ton!

Which Valley Hope location did you attend?

Valley Hope of Atchison

When is your sobriety birthday?

January 22, 2025

How has recovery influenced the person you are today?

I am a youth group leader for eighth grade girls, and was able to participate fully in a five day summer camp. As their leader, I bunked in the same bedroom as them, ate every meal with them, supported them through their activities, and shared worship message and Small group time with them each day. Being clean and sober made this possible, and the impact I have on our young people’s lives is important to me. I’m so thankful for my time and Atchison to truly get me healed to a place where I can be useful to others.

What’s something meaningful you’ve started doing since getting sober that brings you joy or purpose?

Going to meetings and sharing my experience strength and hope with others. I was able to have my grandbabies for 2 1/2 weeks and that would not have been possible if I not gotten clean and sober.

What goals have you achieved or are working toward because of your recovery?

I applied for a new and different job, got offered a position there, and accepted it.

Which Valley Hope location did you attend?

Valley Hope of Atchison

When is your sobriety birthday?

June 12, 2024

How has recovery influenced the person you are today?

I feel like I know who I am today. I spent my life trying to please others that I didn’t know who I was. Today I feel confident in myself, not overconfident, just maybe a normal confidence that others feel.

What’s something meaningful you’ve started doing since getting sober that brings you joy or purpose?

Take meetings to detox centers, Joco corrections and come back to VH Atchison every chance I get to give back! Also sponsor a couple of guys. Being able to take care of my beautiful granddaughters!

What goals have you achieved or are working toward because of your recovery?

I’ve lost 50 lbs. by being able to go to the gym and watch my diet. Something I wouldn’t have cared about in my drinking. Volunteering for community activities and just being an asset to society.

Is there a passion or talent you have pursued in recovery?

Love working with other alcoholics. Too old to pursue but usually say yes when an opportunity presents itself. Almost forgot, I’ve started scuba diving in my old age.

Which Valley Hope location did you attend?

Valley Hope of O'Neill

When is your sobriety birthday?

December 28, 2024

How has recovery influenced the person you are today?

Recovery has allowed me to be my true self without the extreme anxiety I had before. Recovery has allowed me to become outspoken about being sober and discussing it openly with friends and family without shame/humiliation. Being sober has allowed me to build trust back with my family and be more present in time. It has also allowed me to remember events, conversations, and seeing the world through open eyes.

What’s something meaningful you’ve started doing since getting sober that brings you joy or purpose?

Participating in more events with my child and husband. Being present in the moment and enjoying the activities while taking one day at a time.

What goals have you achieved or are working toward because of your recovery?

I have become more active within my career. I volunteer to help more and to step outside of my comfort zone doing things I would have never thought of when not sober. It is my goal to remain active within the community, my family/friend group and my job.

Is there a passion or talent you have pursued in recovery?

I pursued a volunteer gig six months into recovery. I volunteer read for the blind, or others with disabilities that may keep them from holding reading material, with Omaha Book Network. My passion for reading has turned into a wonderful opportunity of reading for a network that helps others. I am now two years into my volunteer work and absolutely love it! I plan to continue this infinitely.

Which Valley Hope location did you attend?

Valley Hope of Cushing

When is your sobriety birthday?

March 5, 2025

How has recovery influenced the person you are today?

My story is a long one. I became a widow at age 48 and my girl and boy twins were 15 at the time. I was married 24 years and lived in Texas. I was strong. He died in March in a small plane crash the day after he turned 50. I was in Tulsa for my parents 50th wedding anniversary. I had just talked to him at noon that day and he was going to fly with a bunch of friends on a small plane to either have barbecue or catfish. He was not the pilot, but the other three men survived and they could not get him out and he burned to death. I will say I did not grieve because I was selling my dream home in Texas to move to Tulsa so that we could be close to family. I bought a house got my kids through high school then through college and onto their new careers. My daughter owns her own business called Black Moth in Tulsa, and my son is a lighting engineer in the film industry in LA. both are very creative like their mother.

I picked up drinking heavily after my kids went to college. I felt like that was my time to have fun. However, it wasn’t fun. It was demoralizing and wrecking my health. I saw treatment at Valley Hope in 2017 and continued in and out of rehab and detoxes. My last 30 days at Valley was in December 2024. I did freelance in my home for years as a graphic designer and then I was an art teacher at Regent preparatory Christian school in Tulsa for five years. In 2022 I had a total hip replacement. 10 days after that first surgery my hip popped out the back. On the same day while sitting in the wheelchair to leave, it popped out again. They then did a adjustment through another surgery. 14 days later it popped out the front. I had a third surgery and it was another total hip replacement. All of this transpired in six weeks.

My mother passed away at age 88 after a long battle with her heart and blood pressure. That was June 4 I have been dealing with her financials, house, rehoming her for animals, which has been a long laborious and sad time because of all of my past and a new program I signed up for in February called The Path, by Annie Grace, the author of This Naked Mind. I have not thought about drinking or using alcohol to numb my grief. I am walking through the grief with my head held high.

What’s something meaningful you’ve started doing since getting sober that brings you joy or purpose?

My joy comes from living a life that I no longer want to numb. I am a tour director for Two dog travel. I was supposed to do a trip November 1, however, I am getting married November 1. I will do a lot more tours next year. I did a tour in Slovenia End of May while doing it sober. It was a great trip and I’m proud of it. I met my fiancé 10 years ago in a doctor's office. We were friends through youth group in church so I’ve known him since elementary. We’ve dated off and on for five years and he has been there by my side through my mini rehabs and detoxes and my hip surgeries. After becoming sober. And I mean real sober. I have truly fallen in love with him and can’t wait for our future together.

What goals have you achieved or are working toward because of your recovery?

I had a big dream to have a studio in my home. I now have a studio upstairs in my home and it’s gorgeous. I am remodeling my home after 18 years all during this process of getting sober, buying a new car, getting married, and losing my mom. Lots of travel and true and honest connections with my family and friends.

Is there a passion or talent you have pursued in recovery?

Art, teaching, travel, fiancé, and soon to be husband. My talented girl and boy twins spending lots of time with my family. Quality time.

Which Valley Hope location did you attend?

Valley Hope of Cushing

When is your sobriety birthday?

February 23, 1994

How has recovery influenced the person you are today?

Recovery has given me the most amazing life. I was homeless during part of my active addiction. Now I own my own home...nothing fancy...but its mine. Its an oasis from the business and stresses of life. I chose to become a high school counselor to be what I needed for other young people. I love it!!!!

What’s something meaningful you’ve started doing since getting sober that brings you joy or purpose?

Tent camping and hiking with my son and dog bring me great joy. Any time spent in nature is grounding and centering. Professionally, I train school based crisis teams all over New York State and I consult with schools all over the US. It is an honor and so humbling to share my expertise with others who choose to serve our schools and communities.

What goals have you achieved or are working toward because of your recovery?

My goal at this point is focused on retiring in 7 years (I'll have 40 years of public school service at that time). I will then continue with suicide prevention and crisis team development. I also plan to serve the American Red Cross through their Disaster Mental Health teams.

Is there a passion or talent you have pursued in recovery?

Outside of my professional pursuits, I also absolutely love cooking, baking, and chocolate making. I enjoy learning from masters in the culinary field.

Which Valley Hope location did you attend?

Valley Hope of Atchison

When is your sobriety birthday?

March 29, 2019

How has recovery influenced the person you are today?

I am not the same person I was 6 1/2 years ago. I was a monster who destroyed everything I touched. During my time at Valley Hope I wrote a letter to my addiction and that helped me differentiate who I am from what my addiction is. I am much more grateful, humble, and kind now that I am sober.

What’s something meaningful you’ve started doing since getting sober that brings you joy or purpose?

I get the opportunity to speak at Valley Hope each month. It not only allows me to give back what was so freely given to me, it helps me to stay sober. I also get to be apart of my kids' lives which is the greatest gift of my recovery.

What goals have you achieved or are working toward because of your recovery?

I continue to work towards the financial goals I have set. I left Valley Hope homeless and through the gifts of recovery I have been able to build my life back. None of it is easy but it's so worth it.

Is there a passion or talent you have pursued in recovery?

I am passionate about encouraging women in recovery. We are still so stigmatized and supporting and lifting each other up helps to create that community.

Which Valley Hope location did you attend?

Valley Hope of Norton

When is your sobriety birthday?

June 26, 2020

How has recovery influenced the person you are today?

I know who that person is in the mirror! I get to do the things I love and be around loved ones without feeling anything but love!! My relationship with God is better and always getting better!

What’s something meaningful you’ve started doing since getting sober that brings you joy or purpose?

Pray and give thanks for every breathe you breath sober!

What goals have you achieved or are working toward because of your recovery?

I set so many fishing goals and obtain them! It's great!

Is there a passion or talent you have pursued in recovery?

Fishing to the fullest!!

Which Valley Hope location did you attend?

Valley Hope of Norton

When is your sobriety birthday?

January 25, 2023

How has recovery influenced the person you are today?

I’m enjoying life a lot more, my girls are coming to my place a lot more then when I was drinking all the time. I have a lot more better connection with my mom and family members.

What’s something meaningful you’ve started doing since getting sober that brings you joy or purpose?

Just seeing my girls smile a lot more that I’m not drinking. And that my mom see a huge difference in the way I been acting and my attitude.

What goals have you achieved or are working toward because of your recovery?

Well I’m working towards having my girls here next summer with me full time so they could help out around the farm.

Is there a passion or talent you have pursued in recovery?

Doing my job a whole lot better then I was before.