“I’m staying sober for myself, my kids, and my community.”
Vanessa came to The Haven in May 2019. She says it was scary in the beginning to be in a new environment and to be in treatment for the first time. It was also scary to be with other women who were going through the same experience.
Vanessa went through the residential program and then the intensive outpatient program (IOP). She was a valued member of the community, first acting as a community leader at residential and then as a house goddess in the IOP Recovery Housing.
Vanessa was a part of the Native Ways Program and appreciated that the program was something special just for the Indigenous women. According to Vanessa, “Native sisterhood helped me to get connected to my creator and spirit. Addiction pulls you away from the spirit and you get lost in addiction. Being pulled back in and being one with the spirit was a wonderful experience.”
Vanessa says being at The Haven was special because most of the staff members were in recovery themselves and they knew how it felt like and could relate to the women. Vanessa has fond memories especially of Nati Cano who worked as the Native Ways therapist at the time. One-time Nati came to a group, and somebody asked who she was anyway. Nati responded that she’s the mayor of The Haven.
After graduating from The Haven, Vanessa decided to stay in Tucson instead of going back to her reservation. She says she couldn’t go back to the same environment she came from. Vanessa went back to school while she was still at the IOP. She currently has two jobs working at a behavioral health organization and with adults who have special needs.
Vanessa received the charm bracelet from The Haven IOP the day she did her intake.
Vanessa is going on five years in her sobriety. She says The Haven was a huge part of her recovery, and she got so much out of the program. She is staying sober for herself, her kids, and her community and is looking forward to coming back to The Haven to share her story with the current members. “I often think of The Haven and have yet to still share and tell my story.”
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Nikole’s story
My name is Nikole, and I am a grateful, perfectly imperfect addict in recovery.
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