Where Do I Start? | A New Life House Mother’s Beautiful Story
It’s hard to know where to start because I feel a great sense of gratitude and hope, but a slight lingering sense of anxiety. Naturally, no one expected that their lives would be impacted by addiction, but it would also have been difficult to envision that a program like New Life would have such a profound positive impact on our son, and on my-self.
Our son’s struggles with addiction started in high school and continued to escalate his first year after high school, when he was living on his own going to a community college. We watched helplessly as his usage interfered with all aspects of his life including alienating his family and friends, being fired from a job, getting into legal troubles and being placed on academic probation. Drugs and alcohol had taken over his life and ours. Because I couldn’t control his actions I tried all the harder.
In thinking about it, I was addicted to my addict. I was absolutely consumed with fear and terror for his safety, his health, and his life and tried hard to fix what I couldn’t. I worked in a building across from the hospital and when an ambulance would go by with sirens blaring, my heart would drop, wondering if it was my son. His use increased and eventually led to a major binge which thankfully resulted in Charlie realizing for the first time that’s he needed help.
Charlie spent 30 days in inpatient rehab in Illinois where he stuck it out, but didn’t entirely embrace it. The facility researched options for sober living and we were miraculously led to New Life House where for the first time we felt gratitude and hope. We have watched Charlie grow and develop as a person since he came to the house almost a year and a half ago. He has worked very hard on his character defects and developing life skills. He has had good times and tough times but he has persevered. We have also grown and have been learning to “stay in our own lane” and realize that we cannot control our son or his actions. We also realize we did not create his issues and he is solely responsible for himself. He is now an in-house graduate and is preparing to move out with other guys in the not so far future. I feel that he owes his life to NLH. We feel immense gratitude for what New Life House has given our family….our son who is now a respectful, kind, helpful,
He is now an in-house graduate and is preparing to move out with other guys in the not so far future. I feel that he owes his life to NLH. We feel immense gratitude for what New Life House has given our family….our son who is now a respectful, kind, helpful, law-abiding and contributing member of society. We have great hope for Charlie and his future and there is not a day that passes that we don’t feel immense gratitude for NLH.
Melissa H.
Last Updated on May 24, 2022
