A Sober Way Home Client Testimonials
Dear Sandra,
Life after inpatient care was a daunting reality for our family. The counselors advised us against bringing Martha home. We are still in awe, an inpatient facility in East Texas recommending A Sober Way Home in Prescott, Arizona! Miracles never cease in recovery!
The transition into sober, independent living was critical for our daughter. You and your staff rose to the occasion and have given us our beautiful girl back! Thank you! Your direct, no-nonsense approach and ultimate trust in Martha's potential rebuilt her self-worth, reestablished her self-esteem and rekindled her spirit and zest for life.
No matter where her life choices lead her, your program has built a base and provided the tools for her to lead a sober and productive life. Every bump on her journey while in your program has been met with positive, consistent (not always pleasant) reinforcement by all of your staff, giving her the incentive to do and be her best.
We are forever grateful to you, Marilyn, Katy, Wes and all those staffers that have had a hand in her recovery process, past, present and future!
Sincerely,
Debby and Lee
Dear Sandra,
This letter is to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and caring during one of life's most difficult situations.
My daughter, Abi, has been in both your Rancho de Sanos y Salvos and Sober Way facilities.
Wes, your chronic relapse specialist, is one of the most effective counselors we have ever come across. He has an amazing capacity for relating to these kids, and motivating them to improve their lives.
We are so grateful he came into Abi's life. I've heard many conversations where other clients expressed the same. His strong character gives these clients the security they need to be able to trust again.
Michelle was a joy for Abi to work with also. She gave a different perspective to the same situation. The facility at Rancho de Sano y Salvos is one of the most serene places I have ever visited. It seemed to provide the peacefulness Abi needed to deal with some of the tough issues that were on her plate.
Jenny, from your Sober Way Program, was awesome. She brought yet another warm and caring personality to round out the overall program.
I know Abi will miss her dearly.
And last, but of course not least, you and Katie brought a foundation that makes this all possible. To be welcomed into your home and to be treated with the "realness" that your program exudes was a true pleasure. I left there thanking my God for people like you, and the program that reflects your genuineness.
Your efforts, your programs, and your excellent choice in staff will long be remembered. Thank you for giving Abi a second chance.
Sincerely,
Betty
Houston, TX
Dear Sandra,
I am so pleased to write you this letter, and to have such a positive update to share with you regarding Gina. Without your support and generosity, I can't imagine where she might be now.
After leaving your retreat on July 25th, we went to the doctor's appointment that you scheduled for Gina at the Scottsdale Treatment Institute. It was a difficult trip to make, considering Gina was still feeling so badly, and was very apprehensive. After surviving an hour on the road with no air conditioning, and getting lost, Gina met the next key people in her recovery.
The staff at the Scottsdale Treatment Institute were very compassionate and established a good rapport with Gina. It was a very laid back environment, comfortable and welcoming. After her intake, Gina went back on July 26th to being taking Suboxone. I wish you could have been there to witness the miracle that it did. Within a matter of four minutes of the first dose dissolving, Gina's whole being began to change. As she stated later, "It's like God under your tongue." You could see her tension melt away. There was a look of peace on her face. The aching in her bones and her headache were gone. There were no symptoms of withdrawal. At first she felt as if she had gotten away with something, and asked the doctors if she was high. (I checked the office walls for medial certificates. The change was so instantaneous and dramatic that I thought the doctors must be dealers in ties!) Gina told me she felt okay in her skin for the first time since she was a little girl. She finally had the feeling she had been chasing with heroin. She felt normal. She felt happy.
She almost felt like she had never done drugs at all. Gina's birthday was the next day. She had just received the best birthday present possible. The gift of life.
With the help of her dad, Gina has been able to continue the medication. Her progress has been so quick, that the doctors think she may only need it for a few more weeks. She was able to spend a week with her mother, which was very healing. She is staying with my husband and I until she is ready to be on her own, and is receiving continued support from her sister. She is attending group meetings at the Scottsdale Treatment Institute two to three days a week, and looks forward to being there. Last night she received her 30-day sobriety chip! She also got her old job back two weeks ago, and is already regaining her seniority. It is so amazing!
Gina faces each day with everything she's got. She realizes how fortunate she is to have been given this chance to recover. She is excited about being sober and about life. She has talked about helping other people in her situation, and The Scottsdale Treatment Institute has invited her back at a year's sobriety to join their recovery team! With her intelligence, perception, and loving nature, she will surely be an asset.
It has been so rewarding to be a part of this journey and to have a role in Gina's recovery. I have gained a sister, and we have established a very special bond. I can understand your passion and dedication for helping others. It is definitely the most valuable thing a person can do. There is no doubt in my mind that God led me to you, so you could lead the way for us. Thank you for taking the time to open your heart and your home, and for putting things into motion. You have been the catalyst in saving Gina's life, and I will be eternally grateful to you.
I will continue to stay in touch, and let you know how Gina is doing.
I am sure she would not mind if you shared her story, if it would touch the life of another.
I wish you the continued success with your personal journey, and those of others who will benefit from knowing you.
Very sincerely,
Tanya
My dearest Sandra,
Where in the hell would we be without you?!? You must have been sent to us from God - I found myself and our family in a hopeless situation - and then I was guided to you!! Sandra, you and your program are awesome. Your interest & care in each individual is so apparent. Thank you so much for loving my son & being such an important part of his recovery. I hope he can be with you for a very long time. I also thank you for a wonderful Thanksgiving. It really is the best I've had. It was so moving to see all of the people working so hard to achieve the same goal. Sober & Happy! I also enjoyed having Philip for the 2 1/2 days -thank you for allowing that. The meal was wonderful & the accommodations outstanding!!
I thank God for you & Sober Way daily!
Gwen
Dear Matt and Debbie,
Happy New Year to the two of you! I hope your Christmas was all you hoped for-ours certainly was. We really were happy to see Philip looking so well and got enjoy him for 2 1/2 days. We attended an AA meeting at 6:00 a.m. Christmas morning and he was tagged to speak. He mentioned he was very glad to have his parents with him, but he was just as glad to be with his "family," meaning the AA group. Paul and I felt such relief knowing he can feel this close to his favorite meeting people. I am just so thankful for Sober Way and all of the staff and even all of the clients. Philip has learned so much from all the people who surround him, he has a whole new way of looking at and accessing life these days. There are so many people to thank for that.
The main reason for this letter is to let you know I spent one whole day crying last week, and I hold you two responsible!!! (haha) Philip sent the CD's and written words to the music program home with me to copy and return to him. I spent the morning listening, reading, and, as I said, crying. This was absolutely awesome the way it was all put together. I want to thank you for this, every parent (or spouse,
etc.) should have access to this. It gave me yet more understanding of Phillip's disease - his addiction. Before, I could only see a couple of sides of it - the destruction, the harm, the evil, the coldness, the "illegalness," etc... I have now realized there is so much more. I didn't know how lonely it was for him, how desperate, how dark, how self-depreciating, and most of all, how sad he was inside. Your music opened up all of that for me. It broke my heart to finally realize the rest of what he was suffering, how very lonely he really was, and can understand better why it is so hard to "come back" or get well. I really feel Prescott is the best place he could be, with people who understand him and care for his recovery. I now know why he is so comfortable there, no one is really judging his past, he doesn't have to "hide stuff" in his life. He can be honest with himself and others, without being judged. I feel better knowing this.
Matt and Debbie, I appreciate your efforts in the music program. I know Philip was knocked over with it, thought it was "the best." You two gave the group a true gift from the heart, and probably more therapy than even you realize. For this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
With love and appreciation,
Gwen
Dear Sandra,
Paul & I loved the Thanksgiving Dinner and family program. Thank you for making this possible for our family. Suzanne found her life when she found Sober Way Home.
Thank you from our hearts. Happy holidays to you and your family.
Very kind regards,
Sarah and Paul
