Cynthia
My name is Cynthia and I am an addict. My drug of choice was cocaine. I am 32 years old and was pregnant when I came to Hitchcock. I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and was able to keep her and bring her back to treatment with me. This was my first time in treatment and I am a first-time mom, so this has all been a heck of a process for me. I completed treatment and chose to stay in Hitchcock's Family Transitional Housing suites with my daughter, to help build my foundation in recovery. I am so grateful because I was struggling with many issues when I first came to Hitchcock. I felt hopeless and helpless, like I was lost, so much so that I considered giving my daughter up for adoption in the beginning because I didn't see my life getting ant better. I thought how could I give love to a child when I had none for myself. Since I came to Hitchcock so much about me and my outlook on my life has changed. Yes, I'm still working on myself and my issues, but I'm not repeating the cycle of dysfunction and negativity that I had lived with for so long. Learning about my disease and what I can do about it has opened my eyes to a whole new world. I do not have to use and destroy myself anymore, or ever again. It's never too late to change my attitude, thoughts, or behavior for the better and that's what I've been doing. My daughter has the reputation of being such a "happy baby" and she smiles a lot, which in turn makes me smile, not jus on the outside, but on the inside, too. I may be powerless over my addiction, but I am not so powerless that I can't change and grow. I will respect and admire and be forever thankful to the Hitchcock Center for Women and all of the staff here for caring for, loving and helping a lost addict like me.

Patricia
My name's Patricia. I am and addict/alcoholic. My drug was crack. I need to let you know I am the youngest of six. I was born in Alabama, but was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I am thirty-eight years of age, I have ten children, seven boys and three girls. My youngest three are in foster care and I haven't seen them. I couldn't tell you what they look like. My children were taken from me by my using of drugs, but maybe in the future I will be given the chance to my children once again. Treatment has been an experience for me I had never been in one before. I had no knowledge that I even had a disease. I learned of powerlessness and unmanageability while in treatment. I also learned about tools I needed to treat my disease. The disease I have is also cunning, baffling and powerful, it also works through people, places and things. I have learned that behavior and attitude must change in this process. Because if nothing changes, nothing changes. So I must take suggestions from others where needed. What it is like for me in Transitional, I can honestly say a few twenty-four hours ago I really didn't want to be here, but after spending some time I come to find out that it works. I really need it for myself and my recovery. Also I would to say that Hitchcock has given me an opportunity to have a better way of life. I can honestly say today that I am proud to be a product of Hitchcock Center for Women. So I have also learned to take it one day at a time. The staff here is loving and caring about myself and all my other sisters in recovery. The program really works if you want it. And, today this something I really want. I don't need drugs and alcohol to a part of my life. I would just like to say "Thank you for Hitchcock". Deborah I'm an addict names

Deborah
I am 46 yrs. old, single parent of one adult child who is in prison. I came from a large family of 11 in a single parent home. I have used drugs in one form or another for over 33 years of my life. Drugs and alcohol became my everything that I thought life was about. I lied, cheated, stole, sold my body, mind and soul. I became emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually bankrupt. I did not care about nobody including my child and especially myself. I used to live and lived to use no matter what my consequences or outcome were. Jails, institutions and damn near death on a many occasion and I still continued to use. I have been in several treatment centers, inpatient and outpatient, never had over 9 months sober. Even when I was in prison at ORW and Northeast Pre-release for Women 22 months. I am currently a client here at Hitchcock Center for Women. I have been on a 30 year binge, crack cocaine and alcohol became my drug of choice, but I have used marijuana, LDS, PCP, Heroin, Pills, Acid and Cocaine. Upon arriving at Hitchcock, my body deteriorated so small I could barely walk, I was so dirty I looked as if I had just climbed out of a barrel of diesel grease, raggedy as a bowl of sauerkraut, smelled like three years of get back. Hitchcock accepted me. I needed someone's help to learn hot to stay stopped. Learn who I am from the inside out and I have been told and have witnessed any addict can stop using and find this new way of life, freedom from addiction one day at a time. My road or journey to recovering had not been easy, I've had my days upon coming out of residential treatment for over 4 months, was placed in Transitional Housing (3/4 way) because I was homeless and needed to continue on this journey for Aftercare and Intensive treatment to build a foundation and learn how to live without any mind and mood altering chemicals. I have been here 11 1/2 months and what a blessing. It is a miracle. I would recommend Hitchcock Center for Women and children to any suffering women you couldn't find a better place in the world. The staff and counselors know what they know and I thank God daily for the staff here not just for self but for all sisters here. If you really, really want to come to Hitchcock you and your life will change daily.

Diane
It was a process to even qualify for admission to Hitchcock Center for Women. But once I realized I was in residential treatment my life became a mixture of "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly". I found myself surrounded, confronted, encouraged, challenged and taught by a staff that never stops giving of themselves. Having been in treatment before I thought I new a lot, certainly enough, but soon realized my knowledge and putting the information to work were entirely different. The catch phrases "trust the process" and "one day at a time" have taken on a new meaning as does "it works if you work it". After residential treatment I was accepted for the Transitional program. I consider my place there a privilege and may live there up to twenty-four months if I choose. My past eleven months here a Hitchcock have been priceless for me and my gifts keep multiplying. My self-esteem is greatly improved, feelings of self-empowerment are growing. I live in a clean and sober environment, I have the opportunity to attend a local college so I'm more self-sufficient when I leave. There are community volunteer hours I must fulfill as a requirement of the program but even those are my pleasure as a way of giving back just a little for all I have received. We are also encourage to continue to develop and expand our support groups at this facility and spend time with family if possible, to help heal relationships. This is truly an exceptional program with a staff to match, and I'm way grateful to a part of the process.