Testimonials

Emily K

Spiritual Yoga Teacher & Sobriety Coach

My road to recovery has not been a straight shot. The journey has been a windy road just like it is for many of us who attempt to get sober.

I would say the most pivotal moment on this path was when I was granted a treatment scholarship from the Recovery Foundation so that I could attend outpatient treatment at Connections Counseling. I was so thankful for this scholarship because I had at that time used up my parents money multiple times for treatment but failed and the job that I had at that time didn’t offer insurance and also didn’t provide me enough money to pay for treatment. I knew that there was an amazing sober life waiting for me and I had the resilience to keep trying.  At Connections I learned how to have FUN in sobriety, how to start LIVING a sober life and made REAL lifelong health-minded friends. 

I have deep gratitude for everyone who donates to The Recovery Foundation and for the foundation itself. I am now living happy, sober and free and have made this my life’s mission to support others to find their way to recovery.

I am sending this letter with immense gratitude to the Recovery Foundation for their support during my battle with addiction.  In February 2019, I lost my brother Jon to heart failure.  Jon had been sober for more than 9 years when he passed.  Our family made the decision to carry on his legacy by asking that friends and family make donations to the Recovery Foundation in lieu of flowers. He would have been so happy with this decision. Little did I know at the time that I would need the help of this gracious organization.

In March, 2019 I hit an incredible low in my life dealing with the death of my brother and being unemployed.  My own battle with alcohol re-appeared and my life was truly unmanageable.  I wanted to quit but was hesitant to seek proper assistance because I was not in a financial position to do so.  I applied for help with the Recovery Foundation to enter Intense Outpatient Therapy at Connections Counseling.  By the grace of God, I was granted assistance. 

I have been fortunate to utilize this support over the past 18 months.  My counselors have been by my side.  The backing from the Recovery Foundation is so important to people like me.  I am so grateful to Connections Counseling and the Recovery Foundation for supporting my personal recovery and staying with me during difficult times.

With the continued support of the recovery foundation, I have been able to learn and grow from my mistakes. The recovery foundation has provided a constant rock for me to fall back on when waves have pulled me off the path to success.

The waves are represented by going in and out of recovery, in and out of school, in and out of institutions. These were my struggles through the foster care system, aging out of foster care and navigating college for the first time resulting in getting into legal trouble and suspension then ultimately facing homelessness.

Because of this support, I was able to stay on course to success.

I have been in school for the past few years consecutively. Some of the successes were being the youngest mentor at connections years ago, graduating high school, completing a pre-college program, attending college, longer periods of sobriety, most recently, completing a research internship through the McNair Scholars program despite having lost my brother to overdose.

Now, I am finishing up the requirements of my physics degree and mathematics minor here at UW Oshkosh and transferring to UW Madison college of engineering for an additional degree in electrical engineering next year.

As a result of receiving financial support from the Recovery Foundation, I have now completed IOP, aftercare and I am hoping to become a Mentor so that I can help others on their path to recovery.

For the first time in my life, I am not alone. I met other women in recovery and have a mentor that I call when I am having cravings or feel lonely. 

The greatest gift Recovery Foundation and treatment has given me is a belief in myself and I now know I am worth it. I am almost 6 months sober, I have a part time job and am living an honest and hopeful life. I used to think life would be boring but now, everyday, I am able to feel some gratitude. 

Thank-you to the Recovery Foundation!