Addiction Treatment Program Alumni Letters

Letters of Hope and Recovery

I wanted to share with you how Starlite has affected my life.

I last attended Starlite in April. I had been attending A.A. for 2 years prior to that. However for most of that time I didn't get a sponsor and I wasn't working the steps. I am proof that just sitting in the rooms of AA isn't enough. When I came to rehab, I was desperate to be sober. I spent every spare moment reading the Big Book, working the steps and reconnecting with God.

I had a strong relationship with God since I was a teenager, but when my life spiraled out of control with alcohol, I pushed him away. When I returned home from Starlite in May I found a wonderful sponsor who was tough on me when I needed it but loved me through my weak periods.

I have a debilitating, chronic pain disorder (Fibromyalgia) and go through times when I can't make daily meetings due to pain and spasms. The one think that I know is that my God knows this won't expect more of me than I can do. I spend a lot of time reading the Big Book and keep in touch with my sponsor by phone. God has used me many times to share about my alcoholism and the program of recovery through A.A. with non-alcoholics that I come in contact with. I guess it's no surprise, but so many people still don't understand alcoholism as a disease and some have negative ideas about A.A.

God has helped me through the process of repairing my badly deteriorated marriage. Even three years after rehab, this is still an on-going process. But my husband doe now understand the disease concept. I will never forget the time he told someone at an A.A. meeting (he loves birthday nights) that he couldn't understand why I didn't stop drinking because he had asked me to stop. It is truly a miracle that we are still together and in May we celebrated 34 years of marriage.

I have been blessed to see all of the promises of A.A. program fulfilled in my life. I thank God daily for the program and for the work He did in my life through Starlite Recovery.

Thank you,
Gaye

To everyone at Starlite

I cannot thank you enough for the difference you have made in the life of our family. My husband returned home December 4th a new man. Life has been a roller coaster since he got home but the highs and lows are definitely leveling out. He has celebrated 6 months of sobriety. I am deeply grateful to you all and so is John.

I was impressed with each and every person on staff that we came in contact with, starting with the person who checked John in. I know she has gone through the drill with hundreds, maybe thousands of people but I sensed her genuine concern for us. Everyone was so gracious. When I came for family weekend, my confidence in the staff just grew even more. I knew that John was in the best of hands. We were in crisis that weekend but Eddie got everything back on track. I was extremely impressed by everyone who taught us that weekend. It was obvious that their expertise came from experience and not from a book.

I am also very proud of my husband. He worked hard while he was there. He gutted out the 4th Step with extreme difficulty. He experienced a miracle wit the person that went through the 5th Step with him. He was physically, emotionally and spiritually healed by releasing his anger in the letter he burned and left there. When he called me the next day I KNEW. For the first time, I could tell he was changed, permanently. I could hear it in his voice. Until that moment I only hoped.

As you all could probably expect, we still had a hard road ahead when he got home. I realized he wasn't perfect. And he realized he wasn't perfect. One day at a time we have worked through our challenges and grown closer.

When John decided to go to Rehab, my biggest question was "But will it work for HIM?". Thankfully my prayers were answered.

Thank you Pat, Eddie, and everyone else. I am sorry I don't remember everyone's name. Believe me I remember each of your hearts.

Gratefully,
Lana

Howdy everyone,

I was thinking about something to write regarding my recovery and it dawned on me that I was thinking. That in itself is progress for me. Since I left "Starlite Rehab", life has been trying, yet each day I awaken and I can feel. I feel love, pain, joy and sadness and its' such a wonderful change in payer, readings, or whatever. My emotional and intellectual growth have sky rocketed since I left. I'm back in college and should be heading back to Texas A&M University, in College Station, to complete my junior year as a Pre-Med student after one last semester at Navarro College. Starlite has made me the person I am today, and that person I love!

Natalie