Growing up, alcohol was a constant presence in Denise’s home. She witnessed numerous adults in her life drink heavily and regularly, making her childhood was far from easy. As she grew into an adult, pursued a career as a paralegal, and became a mom, she relied on alcohol to cope with unprocessed pain.
What started as a way to escape quickly became something she depended on. Denise would often drink so heavily that she couldn’t remember the day before, and friends and family told her she had acted violently while under the influence. Arguments with her boyfriend, Ray, became common, fueled by alcohol and anger she couldn’t manage.
She was arrested multiple times for battery and DUIs, and her nights frequently ended with her drinking until she passed out. The consequences were devastating—eventually, she even lost custody of her daughter. Reflecting on that time in her life, Denise shares, “Alcohol will take everything from you.”
Her turning point came when she agreed to enter Gateway Foundation. At first, she was hesitant to enter treatment, but almost immediately, she felt an impact. The counselors gave her a safe place to open up—something she hadn’t done in years. Slowly, she began to believe in herself again.
Denise remembers the first time she ran a mile on the treadmill during treatment, rediscovering a passion she had lost due to alcohol. “I was so excited. I was high-fiving everybody,” she recalls. That mile was the first of many victories that helped her build confidence and hope for the future.
Life after Gateway has been filled with milestones that once felt impossible. Denise and Ray recently bought a new home and has gone on to run several 5Ks since treatment. But the biggest gift has been her renewed relationship with her daughter. They run together, share long talks, paint their nails, and practice braiding hair—simple moments that carry so much meaning. “I’m glad that I’m sober now to be there for her the way she needed it all her life,” Denise says.
Her recovery has transformed not just her own life, but her daughter’s and the lives of those around her. Her daughter describes her as “a caring, loving individual with a heart bigger than it should be,” someone who refuses to let her light dim. Ray agrees, sharing that the Denise he knows today is “back to what she was when I first met her.”
Denise’s recovery has created a ripple effect that extends far beyond herself. Her healing has transformed the lives of those closest to her, bringing stability, love, and hope back into their home. As her counselor from Gateway explained, “It’s not just that her life changed—Ray’s life changed. Her daughter’s life changed. All those people around her get to enjoy the fact that she is in recovery.”
Today, Denise describes the feeling of recovery as “bursts of stardust, sun rays, and butterflies.” From a childhood surrounded by alcohol, through the pain of addiction, to the joy of living fully in recovery, her journey shows that change is always possible with the right support, compassion, and care.
