June 21, 2007
It is with deep respect and gratitude that I write this testimonial letter. Last October my daughter arrived at your program as a 19-year-old alcoholic. Her world (and her family’s) had been turned upside-down. We all mourned the loss of the life we thought she would be living that year-going off to one of the several universities to which she had been accepted as a college freshman along with her twin sister. Instead she was faced with the choice of jail time or a residential treatment after getting involved with the criminal justice system following a DUI. I had looked online for programs and had called at least 15 that looked promising. Morningside had a mandatory 90-day program while many required only 30 days. Research shows that 30 days is rarely enough for the kinds of changes needed to end an addiction. It seemed that this program was committed to helping people make long-term changes. It also served many clients who were young adults. The director had several phone conversations with me and with my daughter. In the end, I chose Morningside because I just had a feeling it was the right place.
My daughter has wrestled with many demons in her inner world, but at that point was not willing to face them. Self-medicating with alcohol and marijuana was not an option anymore in a residential program, and she had to begin looking at the world with new eyes and find different tools to deal with her issues. Morningside has given her that and more. The program’s commitment to connecting clients with AA and rediscovering an awareness of spirituality has given my daughter a sense of purpose and a lifeline that she can use wherever she goes. Morningside also provides transportation, support, and tutoring for clients to take classes at the local community college. My daughter will finish her time in the program with a semester of college completed.
The Family Weekend was one of the most intense and healing two days of my life. The doctor who spoke explained the neurological basis of addiction in a clear and eloquent presentation. The therapist was masterful at helping us all open ourselves to each other with honesty and compassion. Somehow she turned a roomful of sad, angry and defensive people into a group of families who shared old and deep wounds, some for the first time, and then she put us back together again. We all walked away with more forgiveness in our hearts.
Every professional who works at Morningside has dealt with addiction issues of his or her own, and has lived the experience of healing oneself that we wished for our sons and daughters that weekend. They develop relationships with their clients based on honesty, respect, and hope. They have given my daughter the support she needed to believe in herself again, tools to maintain sobriety, and a deep and abiding reason to be hopeful about life. She and I are forever grateful.
With deepest thanks,
An Indebted Mother
