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Parents

I can never express my gratitude enough. Not only what it did for Nick, but what it did for me also.

If I simply said that New Life House changed my life and that of my son's, it would just be scratching the surface.

Nick had been through three treatment programs and he was still falling deeper into his addiction. Although I was determined not to give up, I felt like I was losing the battle as I was losing him.

From the very first contact with New Life House, I felt a stirring of hope. I didn't know then that over his stay, my son would not only get sober, but learn how he could stay that way. Nick learned responsibility, compassion, confidence, courtesy and respect. Three years later, he is still sober today.

Living out of state, I didn't get to see him on every "family Saturday" or be a part of the meetings (which I love), but I spoke to him every week. I did go out and visit every month or so, and slowly connected with the other guys in the house, their parents and the management. Everyone made me feel like I had been there every week. I felt good, relaxed and confident about my son being there. I had full trust in New Life House.

New Life House is so unique and so special. It's not only about your son. The house embraces the parents, siblings and all family. I can never express my gratitude enough. Not only for what this place did for Nick, but what it did for me also.

My wife and I now call New Life our Family.

When we brought our son to New Life House we had no idea what this would mean not just to our son, but also to our entire family. The young men form a brotherhood that takes everyone's problem as serious as their own. My son went into the house addicted to drugs, not able to tell the truth and a thief. Today this same young man has over 21 months sober, grateful for whatever he has and is an amazing young man. My wife and I spend every Saturday at New Life House even though our son graduated to continue to watch and be a part of the miracles as they unfold. Today when my son greets me it is with a hug and "I love you Pops." We know this is a one day at a time program and I thank New Life House everyday for what they have given our family. Our son now calls New Life his home. My wife and I now call New Life our family.

Reality House saved my son.

When arriving at Reality House in May 2008 I was scared and ashamed and without hope. This was not the plan I had for my son. Was I really bringing him to a recovery house at such young age? There was no other option. The House is made up of peers learning about alcoholism and drug addiction and a program for recovery. They showed my son he did not have to live with drugs and alcohol anymore. Reality House has developed a structure for living based upon the 12 Steps. With the staffs’ understanding, integrity, honesty and support my son was taught to live a fun, clean, sober and productive life. My family was given tremendous support, guidance and a safe place to learn and talk about addiction. We all received the tools needed to help us heal in process of recovery. Reality House saved my son and I am forever grateful!

An incredible support system.

I found my experience at Reality House very rewarding for myself and life saving for my son. For my son, I saw the gradual transformation from a boy racked in addiction and alcoholism; where anger, lying, stealing and manipulation was his norm, to a man where thankfulness, respect, honesty and service is now his new norm. I did not realize that as the transformation was occurring in my son that a change was occurring in me as well. I recall in one of the Saturday parent meetings being struck with the thought that I too needed to change. I did not want to be stuck in the same place I was when he came into the house; I needed to grow and learn during that time.

Early on, when we were looking at recovery houses, I would get an uncomfortable feeling about expensive short-term programs. In these programs, little time was spent on recovery before the recovering addict or alcoholic was left on his own. The Reality House approach is a long term program, not time limited, and I found myself not worrying about when my son would be moving out into the real world. Not only would he be given the tools to maintain his sobriety, but he would also have an incredible support system in the friends and family he has gained from Reality House and the other New Life Houses.

This program works because they truly care.

Our son is 21 years old and in a few months will celebrate 3 years of sobriety. This truly is a miracle because he had been in and out of 6 sober livings in the span of 1 year; he either ran or was kicked out within days because he could not stay sober. I had pretty much given up hope that he could kick this terrible addiction until we found Miracle House. Right away we knew this place was different from the others. My husband and I were introduced to our parent sponsors, a wonderful couple that had been through every emotion that we were experiencing. It is amazing to have such a support group, not only for us as parents but for our son also, who has support from the boys and staff. Miracle House not only worked with his sobriety but also his way of thinking. They taught our son how to be accountable, responsible, how to interview for a job, and how to live life on life’s terms. I am certain that this combination and support from his peer group in addition to seeing first hand that if they could make it and become sober, so could he. Once they graduate from the program they continue their brotherhood by living as roommates and remaining a support system to one another. Even today my whole family can pick up the phone and call Miracle House at any time. This program works because they truly care.

Miracle House didn't just help my son get sober, but taught him to live responsibly as a man with character.

It’s impossible to express the gratitude I have for Miracle House for saving my son’s life. Prior to my son entering Miracle House, he had been through multiple treatment programs and sober livings. It seemed like a never-ending cycle of treatment, and then relapse – hope and then despair. It was painful to see him struggling and even harder knowing that I could not help him. Both myself as a parent and my son were lost by the time we came to Miracle House.

Something was different when we walked in Miracle House though. The feeling among the house members and management was unlike any place I had been to. There was a real unity and care. The guys in the house were quick to take my son under their wing, and supported him throughout his stay in house.

Miracle House didn’t just help my son get sober, but taught him to live responsibly as a man with character. He grew up with the rest of the guys in the house and has remained involved as a graduate today. My son has remained dutifully employed and is completely independent, our relationship is great and most importantly, he is happy.

Graduates

It was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I entered the house one month after turning 18 years old. My life was a mess and I couldn’t even see that. I started to drink and get high with my friends which turned into a daily thing in just a few months. Getting loaded made it easier for me to deal with life. I ended up getting myself into a lot of trouble and into situations that I should not have been in. I was miserable. I was scared that I wasn’t going to ever feel differently about myself. I didn’t want to use drugs or drink anymore but I couldn’t stop. That’s when I entered the house.

It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I finally was in a place where people understood what I was going through and have had the same experience. The house saved my life and changed me from the inside out. I have been taught to suit up and show up for life and how to be a man. I am 20 years old and have a little over 2 years of sobriety. I pay my bills on time and show up for my job promptly.

I have true friends today, most of which have gone through the house. Together we stay sober and have fun experiencing a new way of life. I am grateful for the beautiful life I have today.

I learned the tools to get through life's everyday challenges.

My name is Ben C. and I am now 31 years old. I reluctantly was sent to New Life House in 1999. I was 18 years old with no hope left as I had failed to get sober at five different programs before I came here. Like most addicts, I “lived to use, and used to live”, while only caring about myself and how I was going to get my next “fix.” I had no life skills, no communication skills, no accountability, no self worth, and no awareness of others, no confidence, no truth, no integrity, and no future.

New Life House was different. It was the magic of my peers that were pushing me to grow as a person. They were willing to tell me the truth about my character defects, my shortcomings, and most importantly, they held me accountable. I learned the tools to get through life’s everyday challenges.

I now have over 13 years of sobriety, and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t use the tools I gained while being a member of the house. I went back to college, and I am now succeeding at working hand in hand with my father. I am achieving all of the things that were unachievable for a guy like me before I entered the house. I am eternally grateful that I did not get my way over 13 years ago, and that I got the opportunity so few get!

Reality House gave me a new sense of freedom.

I entered Reality House when I was 20 years old. By this time I had been through my fair share of treatment centers and other programs. I had court issues over my head and a long record at this point. I had burned almost every bridge I had and thrown away all the opportunities that people and life had presented me. Life got harder and I was starting to give up on the idea that I might ever be able to get out of the insanity I was living. It didn’t always look like this though.

I come from a loving and supportive family that gave me everything I needed to succeed. The gratitude I have for what Reality House did for my family and I cannot be summed up in words but what I can say is that it gave me my life back. It gave my parent’s their son back and my sister her brother back. This house was not a program. It was a family. I came into a house with all young adults my age and they gave me peer motivation that was attractive to me and that I could relate to. From money and time managing skills to learning how to interact with people, they showed me how to live a healthy life style on a daily basis. They gave me a foundation in Alcoholics Anonymous. Reality House gave me a new sense of freedom. Reality House gave me a new perception and outlook on life with character building skills that instilled in me the willingness to face anything in my life and the tools to experience the beautiful life I have today.

Reality House has given me many gifts that I am forever grateful for.

When I came into Reality House on November 3rd 2008, I was broken down and had to admit to myself that I had no other option other than to try and get sober. I had got sober before, it was staying sober that was the hard part for me.

During my first few days at Reality House, I couldn't really comprehend what was going on. I looked around me and saw people my age smiling, laughing, and having a good time. I thought that there was no way they could be this happy without drugs or alcohol.  I had never seen anything like it before. For so long I was under the impression that drugs and alcohol were my problem. Reality House taught me that my problem was me, my thinking, and the way I looked and acted towards the world. As I started to learn about integrity and building character through doing things to the best of my ability, I got to finally feel better about myself.

Going through Reality House and practicing the principles that I was taught in the house has saved my life. As a graduate of Reality House, I try to continue to practice these principles and to pass on my experiences to another suffering like I once was. Reality House has given me many gifts that I am forever grateful for. With almost 4 years of sobriety, my life today is something that I only dreamed about while I was drinking and using. With my family's support and with the love and care of the people around me, I am able to continue to walk this road and know that Reality House allowed me to build the foundation I needed to live a happy and sober life.

The structure and the discipline was exactly what I needed.

My name is Lincoln, my sobriety date is July 13th, 2007. My life was in a small Michigan town on the bar stool and drunk behind the wheel. I had given up on life and had turned my back on God and my family. The phrase “wasted potential” was constantly used to describe me. What it came down to was that I was afraid to face life.

My sister organized an intervention on me with my family. She showed me what real courage was. I first went through a wilderness program. It gave me a foundation and introduced me to recovery and the 12 Steps. While I was at the program the staff suggested I go to one of the New Life Houses.

I came into the house on September 4th, 2007 and it has been a rollercoaster of a ride ever since. The structure and the discipline was exactly what I needed to kick me in the butt to rebuild my life from the ground up. The house has shown me that living a sober life is challenging and exciting. Through working the 12 Steps, attending regular AA meetings and living in a house full of real friends, I have been able to live a life full of gratitude and service. I am back in school and on the Dean’s honor list. I will always be grateful and want to be a part of this house in some way for showing me that I can live a different way than what I was.

I've rebuilt a life that I can be proud of.

When I entered the house, I was at the end of my rope. I had no more answers. I had no solutions to my ever-increasing problems. My life was filled with an intangible sense of dread.

After meeting with the managers, I entered the House on April 26th, 2004.The house helped me regain what I had lost when I was out there making all the wrong decisions. The staff and the program taught me how to suit up and show up for life. With their help I’ve rebuilt a life that I can be proud of. A life filled with honesty, integrity, willingness, open-mindedness, forgiveness, tolerance, unity, recovery, and most importantly LOVE!

Today I can look people in the eye and not worry about looking over my shoulder. Today I’m a better person…one day at a time! Today, there is no sense of dread…only optimism and hope. Today I walk a spiritual path with others who have been where I’ve been and who understand where I’ve come from. Today, I give back what was so freely given to me. Today, I’m still involved with the House and devote any time I have to help others going through the program. Today I’m proud to say that I’m a graduate! One day at a time!