My Nonprofit Reviews

Our family had pretty well hit bottom as we watched our daughter struggle with the disease of addiction and as she reached her own bottom. As her mom, I had begged and pleaded with local professionals, law enforcement, community mental health to force a change that would affect my daughter enough that she would choose wellness. But to no avail. Finally she agreed to attend a 90-day rehab where she had about a month's success, but then the relapses started and she was in and out of detox and the disease continued to control her. It was in Michigan that her very kind psychiatrist told me that she could not return to the local rehab facility and that we should get her out of the state within 24 hours. It was that bad. And that difficult. He gave me the names and numbers of three reputable and impressive rehab facilities to call to see if she could get in one immediately. I called one in another midwestern state, which seemed ok, but I wasn't somehow drawn in--and then I called MARR. I spoke to the kindest, most incredible man in the world there who inspired me with the most hope that I had had in two or three years. He told me that our daughter could get well and he shared his own personal experiences with the disease. He seemed to really understand all my pain and fears in a way that no other person at that point had seemed to be able to relate. I was sold on MARR. I didn't care at that point how we would do it. I just told my husband there was no choice, and he agreed, it was something we had to do. Fortunately, for me, my sisters were extremely supportive too and as a family, we were able to pull off the financial arrangements, etc. We made our flight arrangements, packed our daughter up with just a few necessities and flew with her to Atlanta to drop her off. Scared? Yes. Other choices? No. That was the Thursday before Mother's Day (2008) that we dropped off our very sick daughter at MARR (women's recovery) in Lawrenceville and to this day we have never regretted it. MARR has the professionals, the programs, the approaches, and the skills to help our friends and families who struggle with alcoholism/addiction. MARR staff is commited and gifted as it perseveres, challenges, encourages, supports, and educates not only the alcoholic/addict, but also other family members. In time, through this program, everyone afflicted or inflicted with the disease begins to achieve a similar commitment and new found hope as we slowly untangle the many webs and knock down the barriers to regain our health. Because we specifically were an out-of-state family, we felt particularly lucky that there was a family counseling service offered by MARR, which helped us understand our fears and face our general sadness about just missing our daughter. Those phone calls with a MARR counselor were so meaningful as we worked our own 12-step Al-Anon program in Michigan. As part of the MARR treatment plan, staff was able to recognize and help us with our emotional pain. Eventually, perhaps sometimes slowly, the fog lifted and we were able to have realistic hope about our daughter's success in recovery and we began to live again. Now we just try to make regular trips to Atlanta to visit. Our daughter is working in the Atlanta area, plans to go to school, and she is about to have her first child. Thank you MARR. We are forever truly grateful to you as an organization and to your staff both as people and skilled professionals. It's so much easier to deal with life on life's terms when we're all thinking clearly. MARR has given us clarity, truth, and happiness. Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

More Feedback