After battling addiction for years and losing touch with her family, "Maria" (name changed) has finally found a new path to healing and reconnection.
“It’s been seven months since I’ve been sober. Seven months,” Maria says, proudly. “I say it out loud sometimes just to remind myself how far I’ve come.”
Maria’s struggle with addiction took a heavy toll on her life, robbing her of her health and her sense of self, and most painfully, her family. “We’d lost touch for so long that I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see them again,” she says.
But seven months ago, everything changed when Maria joined the recovery program at Siloam Mission. “I got the help I needed and began the road to recovery. It wasn’t easy, not by a long shot. There were days I thought about giving up,” she admits. “But each day sober was a victory, no matter how small.”
The hard work paid off. After months of commitment to her recovery, Maria has been reunited with her family. “I’ve been living with them for more than a month now, and I can’t tell you what it feels like to walk back into their lives, this time as the person I want to be,” she shares.
Rebuilding trust has been slow but steady, and Maria is grateful for the second chance she’s been given. “It’s like a weight has been lifted. The conversations are different now. There’s trust building again, slowly, but it’s there.”
For Maria, seven months of sobriety represents a monumental achievement. “It may not seem like much to some people, but to me, it’s everything.”
Siloam Mission’s recovery program is just one part of its holistic approach to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction in Winnipeg. Since 1987, Siloam has provided practical help, such as meals and shelter, while also addressing deeper issues like addiction recovery, mental health, and family reunification.
Help us make more stories like Maria's possible
This week, from October 8-10, we’ll be broadcasting live from Siloam Mission for the Change Happens Radiothon.
In the week leading up to Thanksgiving, it’s an opportunity for the community to support individuals like Maria on their journey to healing and sobriety.
Your donations will help make a difference in the lives of people striving for a second chance!