- Alcohol
Deanna came to Leiper’s Fork, TN to support her husband as he ran the Heroes in Recovery 6K. Both have 26 years of continuous sobriety. Six years ago, they were blessed with their daughter and decided to get active to keep up with her. Deanna’s husband Tom started running in his 50s. It was hard at the beginning, but now he can do a race and is proud of his progress.
Deanna and Tom met in 1988 in their recovery support group. They moved from Boston to Nashville in 2001. Tom found a good job at a recovery and treatment company and is happy that he can do something so valuable and important in his life.
Deanna misses the ocean and some close girlfriends, but she doesn’t miss northern winters and loves the people in Nashville. She believes Nashville is a great place to live in sobriety and to raise a family.
Deanna began her life in sobriety at a treatment center. She wanted to stop but didn’t think that she could. She went for just two weeks, but that was enough to give her the tools she needed at that time. The minute she got out, she got a sponsor, went to meetings, worked with other women and got busy in the 12-step fellowship. She followed her first sponsor around like a little duckling. She found that help is available if you just ask for it. Tom and Deanna still have friends from their first support group, and they visit each other and keep in touch.
“Never give up,” is Deanna’s most important advice for people in recovery. “There is another way to live. There is a beautiful way of life just one step away. Just walk into a meeting to get the process started.”
Deanna asked for help in the beginning and was connected to her first sponsor. She mentions, that she followed her like a little duckling around. She found out, that help is available, if you just ask for it.