RECOVERY STORY OF THE MONTH

My name is Leah, and I’m an alcoholic. My sobriety date is July 15, 2025. It isn’t my first sobriety date. I first came through Jean Marie House in 2010, and recovery gave me a life beyond anything I could have imagined. I rebuilt everything—my career, my relationships, and my future. As time went on, I relocated out of state for a career opportunity, and in doing so I slowly separated myself from the support system that had helped save my life.

Over time, I began believing that all of the good things in my life were the result of my own efforts rather than the gifts of recovery and a Higher Power. I stopped enlarging my spiritual life and drifted away from the program. Eventually, drinking started to seem like an option again. I even questioned whether I had ever really been an alcoholic. After all, I had stayed sober for ten years and had built a successful life. Looking back, whether I was an alcoholic or not had become irrelevant. When I finally picked up a drink, it wasn’t because I had answered that question—it was because I desperately wanted relief.

I lost both my husband and my father. I did not handle the grief well.

In 2023, I lost both my husband and my father. I did not handle the grief well. My drinking became worse than it had ever been before. I isolated myself from my family, my friends, and everyone who cared about me. For the next couple of years, I couldn’t imagine returning to Alcoholics Anonymous or starting over. The idea of rebuilding my life felt impossible.

… no matter how far you’ve fallen, it’s never too late to come home.

In July 2025, I finally reached the point where I had enough. I called my best friend, who was running Jean Marie House, and said, “I’m done. I’m going to detox, and I’m coming home.” The very next day, another one of my closest friends made the decision to get sober as well. We became roommates at Jean Marie House, and for the first time in a long time, I felt safe.

Today, I am rebuilding my life once again. Recovery has given me another chance to repair relationships, rebuild my career, and strengthen my spiritual life. This experience has taught me that recovery isn’t something I achieved years ago it’s something I have to nurture every day. I’m grateful for the gift of another chance, and I hope my story reminds someone else that no matter how far you’ve fallen, it’s never too late to come home.