Letter From a Father

December 14, 2007

Dear Visions Staff,

I am writing to thank you for your efforts with my son, Chris. He has been home for a month now and is doing so well. When I say "doing so well" I am not just talking about getting back in school, following his treatment plan and being SO much easier to get along with, although all of these things are true. What I mean is that he is doing well and he really wants to do well. His perspective on his life and his desire to build a future of possibility based on the work of today is inspiring.

His understanding of his challenges as an addict in recovery and what that means seems deep seated; he is going to NA meetings and calling his sponsor daily, he has a home group and a service commitment in it, he attended an H&I meeting so he can help other kids once he has 6 months. He has been doing all these things without much prompting from me. He seems to accept that all of the privileges he had will come back in the fullness of time, believe me patience was not a hallmark of Chris' behavior in the past, he has not pressed me or had a fit of temper since coming home.

He started classes back at school this week, and we are, of course, still doing IOP treatment, that meant that on several days he had school from 8-3:15, IOP from 4-6 and then asked to go to a meeting from 7-8, got home and then did his homework! He has not complained (okay, maybe a little whine, but not much) he said "this is just what I have to do now, it won't last forever". He only has a few more weeks on the IOP (two hour groups, three times a week) and we will scale back to one individual session a week. The regular NA meetings we know will just become a part of a clean and sober life style.

I do not know what the future will bring, I understand that addiction can come back on us with a vengeance. My son’s life is his own now and he has a chance to meet it with a clear mind and the knowledge of his condition. He has a fighting chance. Visions delivered, I am so grateful. I am so happy to have my son back! Christmas is coming in a couple of weeks, I will not have to spend it wondering where my son is, or if he is safe; is there a better present? If there is ever anything we can do to help the continued realization of Visions' vision, please feel free to contact us.

I would be happy to talk with parents considering treatment for their children.