Testimonial

BBBS Sisters Britany and Ruth

maggie — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 18:29:45 +0000

BBBS Sisters Britany and Ruth maggie Fri, 06/03/2022 - 18:29

A Story of a Big and Little Who Made The Perfect Match

It was close to Mother’s Day when Ruth Weber and Britany Williams headed out for their first get-together as Big Sister and Little Sister. They decided to drop by the Humane Society garage sale and let 6-year-old Britany choose a gift for her mom.

After passing over a variety of Mother’s Day gift possibilities, something caught Britany’s eye.

“I found this statue. It was of, like, a sewer rat with red glowing eyes, and it was really ugly,” Britany said. “And I was like, ‘I want to get this for my mom!’”

“And it lit up,” Ruth said. “Not only did it have red eyes and it was grey and awful, but it lit up!”

“I thought I’d never hear from you ever again after your mom opened that,” Ruth said to Britany.

Far from it. Ruth would be Britany’s Big Sister for more than a decade. Now 18 years old, Britany has graduated out of Big Brothers Big Sisters, but she and Ruth continue a close relationship.

“I couldn’t imagine my life without Ruth,” Britany said.

The relationship would be eye-opening and life-changing for both of them.

Britany’s home life was very different from the family life that Ruth had known. For one thing, Britany’s father was out of the picture. “I’ve seen him probably six times throughout my whole life,” Britany said. She saw drug abuse in her home and often lacked adequate parental supervision. At one point during high school, Britany’s mother served time in prison.

Sometimes Ruth would be shocked by the happenings that Britany would describe to her. “And so we kind of had to do a rule that she couldn’t tell me things…until we got to where we were going because I just about crashed my car several times,” Ruth said.

Ruth says she wouldn’t have made it as a Big Sister to Britany if not for the BBBS staff. “I didn't understand what I was dealing with,” she said. She didn't understand why Britany sometimes didn’t have the proper clothing or why she was hungry when she came over to Ruth’s home. She just didn’t understand why things were as they were for Britany. But what Ruth did understand was that Britany needed a stable influence in her tumultuous young life. And Ruth, a finance professional who thrives on organization and consistency, could do that.

"I felt like I could just be that constant,” Ruth said. “You know, I wasn’t rollerblading with her. I wasn’t the one doing all that crazy stuff that college kids did; I was repetitive. From two to four on Saturday I keep showing up, and you’re like, ‘You always keep showing up,’ and I’d be like, ‘Yeah, I’m here. I’m here.’”

That time meant a great deal to Britany.

“I just loved being with her,” Britany said. “We could just go on the couch, sit down, and not even talk, and I would just love being in her presence. It was just nice to have an adult who would sit there and listen to me—unconditionally listen to me, like, look me in the eye and have nothing else going on but me.”

There would be lots of those conversations and lots of shared experiences.

Once, BBBS participants were invited to a Boy Scout camp. There were a number of outdoor activities offered, including the opportunity to shoot a .22 rifle. Britany took to it like a natural. “And there was a bunch of old men; they were like all 85, with .22s,” Ruth said. “And Britany gets up there and she gets her little gun and she hits the target and they’re like, ‘Have you done this before?’”

“You’re only supposed to get five bullets,” Britany said. “I think they gave me like 15. They just kept giving them to me.” That night Britany and Ruth gathered with others around the campfire.

“It was a beautiful night,” said Ruth, a nature lover. “The sun was starting to set…And I look over and there’s a deer and a fawn off in the distance.”
And Ruth said, “‘Britany, look, there’s a deer and a fawn.” Britany leaned in and said, “‘If I had my .22, I could get ‘em.’”

“And I…thought, ‘What have I done?’” Ruth said.

Through all the fun and silliness, Ruth was impacting her Little Sister’s life. Britany said Ruth “opened my eyes to a whole new world.”

“I think she gave me dignity,” Britany said. “She just always showed me that life can be better than what it was…She just gave me hope, just showed me that…you can forge your own path. You can become your own person…You have the ability to do things, and you have the ability to make your future.”

Today Britany is studying at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., majoring in biology and chemistry with a minor in psychology.

“I want to become an obstetrician, I know that for sure,” Britany said. “I’m kind of thinking about doing neonatal surgery.”

Ruth says she’s so proud of the young woman that Britany has become. And reflecting on what Ruth has done for her over the years brought Britany to tears.

“You don’t know how much of an impact you’ve had on my life,” Britany said to Ruth.

Britany said she thinks of Ruth as a mother and told her, “When my mom left, I contemplated asking to move in with you and, like, be my mother.”

“(Ruth has) always been here for me no matter what,” Britany said. “She’s never put me down. She’s never told me I couldn’t do anything. She’s never not supported me. She’s never not pushed me to be my best.”

Britany told Ruth, “You’re probably one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”

Become a Big

Blog Category

Mentoring

Testimonial

Living in Color After PTSD

maggie — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 17:36:54 +0000

Living in Color After PTSD maggie Fri, 06/03/2022 - 17:36

The Story of Scott Finding Joy in Life Again

Scott struggled with PTSD, but didn't know what was wrong. He found help at The Village.

Scott Geiselhart should have died. The gun should have fired. Instead, when he aimed his revolver at himself and pulled the trigger, it just clicked. Nothing more. Scott slammed the gun on the desk at his mechanic shop in Frazee, MN. He was stunned and shaking.

A long, painful path led Scott to this moment. He had been a volunteer firefighter for 20 years. It was something he was proud of. He helped build the Frazee Fire Department’s extrication unit. “Got the truck together and all of a sudden, we got a bad run of some car accidents. Lot of fatalities,” he said. “Even without the extrication (vehicle), we ran across a lot of ice water rescue, lost a lot of people.”

Sometimes they were people he knew. He pushed the things he saw and heard to the back of his mind. But they weren’t gone. “You come home from a car accident where you pull a kid out of a car, you know, and he’s dead, and a half an hour later you’re supposed to be playing ball with your kid,” he said. “I couldn’t do it anymore.”

One accident was particularly hard to take. A young person had crashed into icy waters. They got him to Fargo, and things were looking good. It felt like a win for the good guys, but a few weeks after, he died. “And I started blaming myself for that,” Scott said. “And I started blaming myself for every other one before that.”

Scott had flashbacks and horrible nightmares. He’d dream that his children were on fire and falling into water or that they were being taken from his home while he watched, unable to help. He would go into fits of rage at home and at work. “Just uncontrollable,” Scott said. “Wasn’t really sure where it was coming from. Wasn’t really sure who it was. It was like Jekyll and Hyde.”

His emotions numbed. He developed a massive meth habit that grew to the point that he was doing “a line an hour, minimum,” he said. That kept him awake where the nightmares couldn’t plague him. “I know I didn’t sleep probably for about a year and a half, two years,” he said. “I mean, I’d lay down for a few hours every few days, but never really went to sleep.”

He knew he couldn’t go on like this forever. “For five years I figured my life was done,” he said. “I just kind of prepared myself for death. And I pulled away from everybody.” He didn’t understand what was going on inside him, and he was ashamed.

“I didn’t think there was any help,” he said. “I mean, I was embarrassed about it.”

One day, he decided he needed to get himself “out of the picture,” and quit hurting the people he loved. He pulled out a revolver he knew was reliable, “the one that I knew would do the job,” he said. “I mean, it was supposed to be fail-proof.”

But it did fail. “There’s only one reason that gun didn’t go off. It’s a perfect gun. It works fine. The only explanation is God,” Scott said. “There’s no other way that that gun did not go off.” After he dumped the shells out of the gun, he started searching the internet, and “PTSD lit the screen up.”

He ended up on the Mayo Clinic website learning about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “I mean, every single symptom down that list—it’s like every one of them was like looking in a mirror,” he said. He was surprised, but thrilled to finally begin understanding.

“I was so happy because I found out what was wrong with me and I wasn’t crazy,” he said. The National Volunteer Fire Council’s “Share the Load” program directed Scott to The Village Family Service Center in Fargo and the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy available there. EMDR involves using stimulation (through vision, sound, or touch) to influence or interrupt how a client processes information. During this process they reflect on their trauma, allowing the individual to develop new thought patterns for dealing with painful memories.

“After I started counseling, the nightmares disappeared just almost immediately,” he said. He began to move from a world of dark shadows and despair to joy and color.

“It just felt like I could breathe again and see again,” he said. “I could see color.”

His attitude began turning positive, and the anger subsided. “I started talking to my pastor, and, wow, that was incredible too,” Scott said. “That was a huge part of it also – my faith.” He wasn’t afraid to sleep anymore. And, he says, with that inner turmoil calmed, with divine help, he was able to walk away from his meth habit. He threw away his stash of drugs and quit. It’s been over a year and a half since he did his last line, and he says he doesn’t even struggle with cravings.

The emotional numbness left, too. “I could love,” he said. “I could taste the air…I’d stand outside in the rain and just look up and – feel things.” He worried that it might all vanish. But it hasn’t. "That’s something that I just can’t get over – how every day is better than the last,” Scott said. “I think I could cure cancer with whatever this is, you know. It’s pretty awesome.”

Scott has a passion for helping others and has already begun speaking out publicly about his situation, in hopes of educating emergency workers and others about the dangers of PTSD and the hope for recovery. “I can’t shut up about it,” he said.

In short, Scott is loving life. “It’s awesome being alive. It’s the best drug I’ve ever had,” Scott said. “I feel sometimes as if I’m overdosing on life!”

Blog Category

Testimonial

How Becoming a Mentor Can Change Your Life

maggie — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 03:57:03 +0000

How Becoming a Mentor Can Change Your Life maggie Fri, 06/03/2022 - 03:57

Volunteer BBBS Mentor Sees Difference A Perfect Match Can Make

02/03/2021

Framed photos decorate Char Laney’s tidy desk at JDP Electric, Inc., in Fargo. Among pictures of family members and pets is a small silver frame. It shows Char with her “youngest friend,” on their first outing to West Acres mall.

Since 2014, Char has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of The Village as a mentor. It started with a simple commitment: to meet with her young mentee once a week at a nearby elementary school over her lunch break.

“The first day, I just knew we clicked,” Char says. “I have no problem making conversation. Neither does she.”

Char Laney would spend one lunch hour a week volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters by being a mentor to a Little in the Fargo-Moorhead community.

They talk about any old thing. They play board games – Connect Four is a favorite – or hang out on the playground. “As a volunteer Big your job is just to have fun,” Char says. “It’s my happy hour.”

After a couple years, Char started to mentor her Little outside of school. They now get together at least twice a month. Char worried they’d have trouble finding things to do, but that hasn’t been the case. BBBS shares suggestions, organizes parties, and sometimes provides tickets to events.

“She’s my youngest friend, and that’s a good thing,” Char says. “It keeps me young. I love that girl.”

During their time together, Char says she’s seen a weight lift off her Little’s shoulders.

“I tell her all the time she can do anything,” Char says.

This story of a a great friendship is thanks, in part, to a perfect match.

To learn more about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, visit www.TheVillageFamily.org/BeABig

Blog Category

Mentoring

Testimonial

Apollo's Family Found Help at The Village

maggie — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 03:48:56 +0000

Apollo's Family Found Help at The Village maggie Fri, 06/03/2022 - 03:48

The Story of a Great Kid Who Just Needed a Little Help with His Mental Health

03/02/2021

Apollo is a smart little guy, but was struggling at daycare. His parents didn't understand what was going on. Then, they found help at The Village in St. Cloud.

Apollo was diagnosed with sensory perception disorder, and his parents are learning how to help him.

This is their story:

If you're concerned about your child's behavior or mental health, please contact The Village. You can call the office nearest you, or request an appointment online.

Blog Category

Testimonial

Parenting

In-Home Family Therapy Offers Strength

maggie — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 03:34:55 +0000

In-Home Family Therapy Offers Strength maggie Fri, 06/03/2022 - 03:34

How In-Home Family Therapy Helped a Family Cope After a Series of Difficult Events

07/16/2020

Eleven-year-old Colton stood next to his estranged father’s gravesite with his mom and younger brother, and read aloud the letter he’d written to him at the suggestion of his Village family therapy counselor.

Colton, his brother, Drake, and mom, Shannon* received in-home family therapy from The Village after a series of events – including divorce, termination of dad’s parental rights, and medical issues – threw the family into chaos.

Shannon says with The Village's help, she’s learned better ways to deal with her sons’ behaviors, set boundaries with her parents, and strengthen her family’s bonds.

Therapy "helped me to see I’m stronger than I think I am most days,” Shannon says.

Shannon and her husband separated in 2010, when the boys were 4 and 2. Their divorce was finalized in 2012, and for a while, her ex had visitation rights. But those visits often didn’t go well, and the boys’ behaviors would worsen when they returned home. A couple years later, their father petitioned to have his parental rights terminated. Shannon decided it was best not to contest it, and that she would raise and support her sons.

In 2015, their father was diagnosed with colon cancer, and a year later, he passed away. That news created a whole new round of grief, anger, and confusion for the boys.

In the midst of all that, Drake had surgery to repair a damaged kidney, and since has started having seizures. “He’s just a little boy, and that’s a lot of stuff to go through,” Shannon says.

Both Colton and Drake have ADHD and oppositional tendencies. Shannon had previously tried different counselors and types of counseling, but says she never felt like they made progress and that “people thought I was crazy or exaggerating or not parenting well,” she says.

To have a therapist come into their home and see their daily struggles affirmed for Shannon that her family’s issues weren’t her fault.

Now Shannon knows how to help Colton cope with his anger or frustration. She has games she can play with the boys to get them to open up. She’s establishing herself as the leader of their household, and not leaning too much on her parents.

Thanks to The Village, Shannon says she doesn’t feel so alone.

“We really truly appreciate everything,” she adds. “I don’t know how we would have managed.”

*Names changed to protect clients’ identity

About In-Home Family Therapy

Blog Category

Testimonial

First Step Recovery's Family Program

maggie — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 02:59:13 +0000

First Step Recovery's Family Program maggie Fri, 06/03/2022 - 02:59

How a Mother and Son Found Healing through Recovery and Comfort in the Right Place

09/07/2021

For years Nancy lived in fear. In silence. Worry-filled days and sleepless nights were her reality. Her son, Trevor*, was an alcoholic.

He’d turned to alcohol to self-medicate his anxiety, only for things to get worse. Nancy tried to help. She pleaded and bartered with Trevor, but she couldn’t fix it.

Nancy had read that alcoholics have to hit rock bottom before they become serious about recovery. Rock bottom happened, and in a desperate Sunday morning phone call, Trevor asked for help.

A friend had told Nancy about First Step Recovery. Trevor made the call, and Nancy drove him. She asked if she should come inside with him. “Yes, please,” Trevor said.

As Trevor was led down the hallway of First Step’s Fargo office, Nancy stood silently.

“It’s all right, Mom,” said Judy, First Step’s receptionist, as she wrapped her arms around Nancy. “He is in the right place.”

Trevor got the help he needed from First Step, and so did Nancy. She took part in the First Step Family Program, offered free of charge to loved ones of those in treatment at First Step. There, Nancy encountered people from all walks of life; alcoholism doesn’t discriminate, she realized.

Through the Family Program, Nancy learned Trevor’s alcoholism was not her fault. She also learned that she could not control or cure it. She was given tools to take care of herself.

“I began to realize how important it was to find healing for me,” Nancy says. “Letting go and letting God” is now her daily reminder as she processes Trevor’s disease and heals.

Today, Trevor is sober, and works hard every day to stay sober through outpatient treatment and AA meetings. Nancy attends family counseling and volunteers at this very special place.

“First Step Recovery cares deeply for families,” Nancy says. “Our family recognizes the gift we have received through First Step. Our region is fortunate to have this resource.”

About First Step Recovery

* Name changed to protect identity

Blog Category

Addiction

Testimonial

Karl and Ervin Have a Brotherly Connection

maggie — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 00:22:51 +0000

Karl and Ervin Have a Brotherly Connection maggie Fri, 06/03/2022 - 00:22

A Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Story of Growing Together

Ervin didn’t like reading. So every week, his Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor, Karl would come to his school, sit with him, and help him with the words.

That’s what a Big Brother does. He shows up. Every time.

Six years later, Karl still shows up for Ervin.

“He’s helped me get through the hard times, and he’s always been there for me when I need him,” Ervin says. “He’s one of my best friends. He’s like a real brother to me.”

Karl and Ervin have been matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters of The Village since Ervin was in second grade. He’ll finish junior high this spring. Then it’s off to high school.

And Karl will still show up.

“It’s one of those things you don’t want to stop,” Karl says. “You want to see him grow and see him go.”

So Karl takes Ervin to the movies or out to dinner. He offers words of encouragement and advice when it’s needed.

“He’s gotten me to have more friends, because I’m more nice to everybody,” Ervin says. “There’s just a lot of things I like about him. There’s a lot of good stuff about him.”

Karl feels the same about Ervin.

“He says I’m there for him. Well, he’s there for me, too,” Karl says. “It kind of goes both ways. He’s just a really special kid, and I’m glad I’m able to be part of his life.”

The sky’s the limit for this kid, Karl says. Thanks to the match support provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ervin has big potential. And it started with something little.

It started with Karl showing up.

“He’s a person I can rely on,” Ervin says. “He’s like a brother.”

"He’s helped me get through the hard times, and he’s always been there for me when I need him." – Ervin, Little Brother

Donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters of The Village allows the volunteer program to match more mentors with at-risk youth, creating more “Little Beginnings” that lead to “BIG Potential.” Please consider making a gift online.

Blog Category

Mentoring

Testimonial

Holly's Recovery Journey

maggie — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 23:12:35 +0000

Holly's Recovery Journey maggie Thu, 06/02/2022 - 23:12

The Story of a First Step Client Getting Her Life Back

08/13/2020

Sept. 22, 2015, marked the beginning of Holly Heiser's recovery journey. "I can't believe my life has gone the direction it has. I have been given a huge gift, I got my life back!" she says.

In 2018, Holly shared her story in an article for It's Her Brand magazine. An updated version of that story is below:

No one would have guessed Holly Heiser was a closet alcoholic. The Moorhead mom kept her house neat and clean. Her son always looked cute and took part in lots of organized activities.

But it was all part of the lie, a way to cover up her drinking. By this point, Holly had told so many lies – to her husband, family and employers. She lied to the detox center staff after her second DUI offense, and to the admissions counselor at a local treatment center.

She drank at home and tried to hide it. She bought liquor in square-shaped plastic bottles; glass ones made too much noise when she opened the drawer. Holly knew which liquor stores to stop at on which days, so she didn’t visit any of them too often. She’d get cash back at the grocery store so she wouldn’t have too many ATM withdrawals.

Every now and then she’d quit for a few days, just enough to get people off her back, but would always start again.

“I never drank because I liked how it tasted,” Holly says. “I just drank because I like how it felt.”

Eventually, Holly was drinking vodka straight from the bottles hidden around her tidy home.

They say an alcoholic has to hit rock bottom before they can be helped. Holly hit hers on a Friday. The police were called. Her family convinced her to go to the emergency room that night. The doctor there told her about First Step Recovery.

The next week, nervous and overwhelmed, Holly sat in an office at First Step and sobbed. “For the first time, I spilled my guts, all the lies I told, like I was on fast forward. I couldn’t get everything out fast enough,” she says. “That day I felt like I lost 500 pounds.”

Holly started treatment, and hasn’t looked back. She’s nearing three years sober. She credits First Step with helping her face her addiction.

“Besides the people, there’s something about that place. I felt so comfortable and safe there,” Holly says. “They understand exactly what’s going on and why you’re doing the things you’re doing.”

First Step Recovery is a nonprofit addiction center providing outpatient treatment for adults. It was founded in 2000, and became part of The Village Family Service Center in 2011.

First Step takes an individualized, holistic approach to treatment, incorporating each person’s physical, emotional, and mental health. For example, early in her recovery, Holly says the thoughts in her head tempting her to drink were overwhelming. Her nurse at First Step helped her get on the right medication. “It made everything more clear in my head,” she says.

People often think of addiction treatment as being inpatient or residential. While this is appropriate for some, First Step allows its clients to stay in their lives while they’re getting help. First Step offers daytime and evening programming so patients can continue working while attending treatment.

The cost for treatment is like any other health issue. It’s covered under most health insurance plans. First Step is an approved provider for North Dakota Substance Use Disorder (SUD) vouchers, and payment plans are available.

The recovery journey begins with acceptance, and understanding that this is a chronic disease. Clients learn coping skills, like stress management, boundaries and how to say no. They begin to build a support system of friends, family, and other sober people who can help them make healthy choices.

First Step is also a proponent of treating the whole family. It is the only treatment center in the region to offer a standalone Family Program at no charge.

Addiction affects family members emotionally, physically, and spiritually as much as it does the person with the substance use disorder. It tends to put wedges between relationships. It thrives on secrecy. But when people come to treatment, they find out very quickly they are not alone.

That’s what it was like for Holly’s husband. As other family members shared about their loved one, he told Holly it was like they were talking about her.

“They made him see it is a disease, and it’s going to be one day at a time for the rest of my life,” Holly says about the Family Program.

Holly is glad to see more attention being paid to addiction, so more people can understand it’s not something you can just stop.

“I would have stopped in two seconds if I could have,” she says.

She hopes her story will encourage others to seek help from a place like First Step.

“I don’t want anybody to go through what I went through,” Holly says. “The help is out there. Recovery is possible.”

About First Step Recovery

Blog Category

Addiction

Testimonial

Learning to Walk Down the Road to Recovery

maggie — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 20:40:57 +0000

Learning to Walk Down the Road to Recovery maggie Thu, 06/02/2022 - 20:40

John Was Struggling and First Step Helped Him Walk on His Own

09/02/2021

September is Recovery Month, a time to celebrate recovery and raise awareness that addiction is a treatable disease. John's story demonstrates that recovering from addiction is possible!

John was struggling mightily. He had started drinking every day. He was at risk of losing his family, his business, his sense of self. His physical and emotional well-being were all going downhill. His wife, Aaste, told him he needed to go to treatment. She gave him a list, and suggested he call First Step Recovery.

Walking through the doors of First Step was scary, John says, but not as scary as where his addiction had led him.

“First Step helped me keep myself accountable in my recovery, in my care, and just supported me in my goals,” John says. “These people were in it for me, to help me succeed and walk on my own.”

John says he wanted to be a good father, a quality husband and a standout employee – the best version of him. “That’s what First Step helped me gain,” he says.

Thanks to the support of First Step’s treatment and family programs, John and Aaste came together. Their family moved forward. Today, John is living in recovery.

“It is a disease. It’s something we work on daily, I work on daily, and that’s lifelong.”

Donate to First Step

Your support means those struggling with addiction can find hope and healing. Please give generously.

Blog Category

Addiction

Testimonial

Better Way of Living: A Personal Story of Recovery

maggie — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 20:27:43 +0000

Better Way of Living: A Personal Story of Recovery maggie Thu, 06/02/2022 - 20:27

A Thankful Letter From a Client of First Step Recovery

09/08/2020

During Recovery Month, observed nationally every September, we remember the lives lost to the disease of addiction and celebrate with those who found the treatment they needed to get well. Here is one of those stories, as told by an alumnus of First Step Recovery of The Village:

It was May 2015, and I was scared. My health was suffering with several short hospital stays for pancreatitis (too much alcohol for too long) and ketoacidosis (high blood sugars for too long). My career was in stress and legal problems had been the reason for several job offers being pulled. In short, I knew I was in trouble and was not sure where to turn. My cousins had sat me down and expressed grave family concern. My doctor had asked me, “Why do you want to hurt yourself?” My girlfriend was urging me to look the problem in the face, and my children were sick and tired of my intemperance. I opened the phone book and picked First Step Recovery to call.

I scheduled an alcohol evaluation and found some comfort in the fact that I had taken this small action. I met with a licensed addiction counselor and told no lies. Again, this small action of honesty for an hour felt good. I was asked to return the next day for an official evaluation and be completely sober this time. During the discussion it was clear I needed help with alcohol withdrawal and the First Step nurse called my doctor so I could proceed more safely and with less suffering. Their watchful eye and help was a godsend! I returned several days later and we discussed the recommendations and options.

I opted to travel out of state for an inpatient residential recovery center. After 37 days of healing and working to understand my disease, I returned to Fargo. I immediately called to get enrolled in First Step's intensive outpatient (IOP) group therapy. I found the fmmeetinglist.org website and began my 90 AA meetings in 90 days adventure. I was all in and feeling better than I had in a decade.

My family and friends rallied around me with support. The recovery community in Fargo-Moorhead was amazing, and I continued through the First Step groups, ending my relapse prevention work on January 1, 2016. The First Step Alumni Group was just beginning to form more formally and this opportunity to help myself, help my new friends in recovery, and help First Step seemed like a logical continuation. The alumni work continues today, and we focus on raising funds for the Family Program at First Step, which allows families to heal at no cost!

To this day my recovery continues and I am forever grateful that I learned so much in such a short time. I have an inner peace today that I never knew existed in this world. I will continue to count my blessings, do the next right thing, and pray daily to “be relieved from the bondage of self.” First Step Recovery has taught me that all of the pain is in the resistance, and I won’t look back!

The counselors, nurses, staff, and entire organization of First Step Recovery has helped me improve my life. My boys are healthy and I am helping them daily to live up to their potential. My career and finances are in a place that I never dreamed of a short time ago. I can’t begin to thank everyone enough for their patience, knowledge, and ability to show me a better way of living. Thank you, Village!

If you are seeking a better way of living, take the First Step. Call 701-451-4900 or request an appointment online.

Blog Category

Addiction

Testimonial