“The Greatest Birthday Gift I Could Ever Get”
Megan House ceremonies are always special occasions, but the program’s 17th graduation served as a dual celebration.
On December 21, 2016, a young woman named Christina took the next step in her recovery on the same day she turned 23, receiving what she described as “the greatest birthday gift I could ever get.”
There were many times this day didn’t seem likely, as Christina described a life on a bad downward spiral. “Every time I hit bottom, I thought that’s it. I’m done. But I couldn’t find the courage to ask for help.”
Christina managed to stay sober while carrying and giving birth to her daughter, but was back to using soon thereafter. Living out of a car with her boyfriend, she even suffered a near fatal overdose before being revived through the use of Narcan.
“There were many days I woke up thinking my daughter would be better off I were dead,” she recalled.
Eventually, Christina did find the courage to ask for help. In doing so, she also found Megan’s House, moving in on July 6th and beginning an amazing transformation.
As the young resident progressed through the comprehensive recovery program, she also enrolled in classes at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, finishing the semester with a 4.0 Grade Point Average. She has also committed to helping others through NA, Narcotics Anonymous.
“Today I have coping skills and life skills I need in the real world to live in recovery,” she told the room full of family, staff and fellow residents. “This place is beautiful, and you are saving so many lives.”
Christina’s father expressed gratitude to “everyone in this room for giving me back my daughter,” and her Aunt Dawn gushed; “this house and everyone in this room is amazing. Every community should have a place like this.”
All of us at Megan’s House agree with that sentiment. It is why we go to work every day, to help create success stories like Christina’s and to do our part to ensure every community has a place like Megan’s House.