Personal Journeys » Theresa’s Story

Personal Journeys

Theresa’s Story

A Right Turn To the Recovery Road

This is Theresa’s story – told in her own words –a woman on a journey who is making a right turn off the road she’s traveled to the recovery road she believes will change her life for the better.

I was drinking and using for 28 years. I had six months of sobriety once, years ago. I was smoking crack until I got too high, then I would drink to pass out until the next hit of crack. I did this daily. I was drunk, and everyone where I lived would drink and use; there was always someone I didn’t know coming over to do or get drugs. Anyways, there was a woman standing on the sidewalk in front of the house next to her car. I assumed she was waiting for someone to get drugs for her. I went outside and asked her “could you please take me to the liquor store?” She replied, “No.” I asked her ‘Who are you?’ She replied, “I’m your new case manager, Beatrice.” I literally ran into the house and locked the door. Finally, she left.

The next evening, three men walked into the kitchen and asked, “Are you Theresa?” I said, “Yes.” They took the drink (whiskey) out of my hand, and took me to Desert Vista Hospital. While I was at Desert Vista, Beatrice took me to court. The Judge put me in a six month rehab, a place called New Arizona Family (NAFI).

Beatrice came and got me for doctor appointments, food stamps, state aid, and Walmart. Before going to NAFI, I had lots of “drug buddies,” but no friends. I needed to be at First Arizona and I needed a friend. Beatrice was that friend. If it wasn’t for Bea and the Judge, I probably wouldn’t be here today.

My disease talks to me every day, so I just deal with it and realize that it will always be there. Even better, my determination and happiness will be there too.”