RECOVERY STORY OF THE MONTH

My name is Molly and I’m an alcoholic. My sobriety date is August 17, 2013. I am the second-oldest of four children. My parents have been married for 43 years. Childhood for me was happy. I was provided with all of my needs and most of my wants. Being selfish and self centered was a part of me long before I ever took my first drink. 

We moved to Cleveland before my junior year of high school. I was very involved in the Catholic Church. I was following the path that I believed god intended for me. 

I went to a party right before my senior year to be the DD (designated driver). That night I had my first drink. Once that drink entered me all my cares melted away. I had no fear. Instead of being the DD, I had to be driven home that night and couldn’t wait to do it again. 

Drinking became my entire life and the only thing I cared about.

It took me several years before I turned into a full blown alcoholic. I attempted to go to college several times and to do different jobs that could have been careers, but I had no ambition to do any better. I started working in restaurants, and that’s when I felt like I had arrived. There was always someone to party and go out with. Drinking became my entire life and the only thing I cared about. I always had a warrant out for my arrest, never paying traffic tickets or taking care of anything. I was living in my parents basement, and they were always there to help me out of any jackpot. 

November of 2011 I had a warrant for my arrest, and my plates were expiring because of my birthday. A couple days before my birthday, my car broke down. I pushed it behind a save a lot and just left it there. Never went back for it since I didn’t have the money to fix it or plate it. That was the beginning of the end for me. On Christmas Eve the same year, my parents kicked me out of their house, and the only thing I could think about was drinking. I lost my job the beginning of 2012 and ended up homeless by March of 2012. I went to Norma Herr, the women’s homeless shelter in downtown Cleveland.  I ended up at Lutheran hospital where I said for the first time to someone, I’m an alcoholic and I don’t know what to do. The woman checking me in said I’m an alcoholic too and have been sober for 6 years. If I can do it. You can do it too. It was the first glimmer of hope I had in a long time. 

I remember calling my mom and crying that I didn’t have any shower shoes, and after that phone call a pair was sitting on my bed.

After detox, I ended up at the Jean Marie house. Walking in there, people were helping me carry my stuff and making sure there wasn’t anything I needed. I remember calling my mom and crying that I didn’t have any shower shoes, and after that phone call a pair was sitting on my bed. There I learned how to do basic things again, and women of AA came and ran groups and showed me hope of what happens if I stayed sober.

Since walking into the house that day, the Keating center has completely changed my life for the better. It has show me a new way of life. It gave me a safe place to stay with a warm bed, food to eat, and a hot shower. It continues to help so many men and women. Over the years I have helped with the fundraisers and continue to do group. I know I could never repay all the help they have given me. I have material things, such as a house and car, but the relationships I have gained are what is most important to me. I am a daughter, sister, aunt, friend, mother. I continue to help when asked because there have been so many that have helped me. My life is all owed  to AA and the Ed Keating Center.