Dear Eleanor,

I just wanted to let you know what a difference that you and Stepping Ahead have made in my life. The first time that I spoke with you from my treatment center in Michigan you made me feel welcomed and loved. You made my move from Michigan more comfortable and helped ease my fears.

My experience at Stepping Ahead was invaluable to the choices that were to be made in my recovery. I learned how to deal with women in recovery that came from all walks of life. Some I liked and some I didn't, but I learned a lesson from each one that crossed my path. During the 6 months that I lived there I made some very good friends that I know will last a lifetime and you are one of them. You taught me how to be strong independent women that could have anything I wanted as long as I never stopped trying. You showed me that when you get knocked down you don't have to just lay there. No matter how hard it may seem at the time, I can get myself back up and keep going.

I have been out of Stepping Ahead for almost 2 years now and am living down the road in my own place. I now also have my daughter living with me and work full time. I try to make it back to Stepping Ahead as much as possible to help out the new women that are there. Because one thing that I have learned is I can't keep what I have if I don't continue to give it back to the new comers.

God Bless J

Kristi C.

Dear Eleanor, Kathy and David:

I'm writing to thank you all for helping me to save my life. I have been sober now for one year, which is such a miracle! My life has changed in ways I never thought possible. I don't know if I could have accomplished this without my experience at Stepping Ahead.

I must admit I had my reservations about coming to Florida for your program. I went to rehab, what else did I need? I now know that rehab alone would not have kept me sober (and did not in the past)! Eleanor was so wonderful on the phone and spoke with my aunt about my immediate future after rehab. Together they made a long-term plan for me and I reluctantly agreed to come - thank God! I was so vulnerable in new sobriety, and I coudn't see clearly how desperately I needed the environment that Stepping Ahead provided.

Living and interacting with other women in my situation, excellent weekly group therapy and a staff that truly cares made all the difference. Kathy was around 24 hours a day and has the patience of a saint. Eleanor was a phone call away and always has time to lend a loving, compassionate ear - she became like a second mother to me. And David, the man behind it all, came to group meetings and gave the girls the occasional much-needed pep talk. All of you are in recovery yourselves, and I was able to benefit from the wealth of your knowledge and experience. I was encouraged to slowly get back into life, find a job, attend AA meetings with other girls, and find a sponsor. I was allowed to do this at a pace that was not threatening to me and allowed me to focus on my recovery, which became my number one priority. I stayed for eight months, five past what is required, not because I had to but because I wanted to. You let me grow as much as I needed to go out and lead a happy, productive, sober life.

I seriously don't know where I would be without Stepping Ahead, and I don't think I want to know. All of you are so wonderful and I'm deeply grateful for what you've given me. Ultimately our sobriety is our own decision, but it's amazing how having a solid foundation can set you firmly on the right road - finally.

With much gratitude and love,

Julie

Dear Stepping Ahead,

I wanted to tell you how very grateful I am to your program and what it has done for me. I know most women come to Stepping Ahead because they are desperately seeking a solution. I was one of those women. Battling alcohol and drug addiction for many year of my life , I was hopeless, desperate, and beaten. In the end I had no place else to go.

I arrived at Stepping Ahead a week before Christmas in 2001.and was greeted with much love and understanding. I moved into a house with three other women and that was when my life changed. I was happy to be safe though I knew I had a hard road ahead of me.

I learned about honesty, hope, and faith. I became “willing”, and that was the key to everything. Then, I opened my mind and my heart. I listened to the women that came before me; listened to there wisdom. I had to remember : in order to build a new life for myself I needed to crawl before I could walk. I had to have patience; lots of it. That was when I allowed myself to heal. I prayed for peace and happiness on a daily basis and discovered so many things that mattered.

I lived at Stepping Ahead for five glorious months. When it was time to go home and move on, I new I had developed the tools to keep me clean and sober on my new journey.

It has been almost three years now and because of Stepping Ahead and the wonderful, loving people there, I went to school, learned a new profession and am now working at a law firm as a Jr. Paralegal.

They told me at Stepping Ahead that I could be happy beyond my wildest dreams. Looking back at where I came from, I never imagined the joy and happiness I have today.

Janet