White Horse client, Heather, working on diamond art
“I’d been in and out of sobriety for a long time,” she shared.
The loss of her child in 2004 devastated her — and even as she welcomed a daughter in 2006 and a son in 2012, the pain lingered, which made recovery feel out of reach.
Things began to change, however, after her father passed away in February of 2025, a turning point that seemed to open a new chapter. Noting that this time, sobriety felt different, Heather credits much of her progress to the support she found at White Horse Recovery in Ossipee, a place she discovered after leaving jail when her daughter was just four.
“They used to do family nights—I’d bring my kids, and we really enjoyed it,“ she recalled. “There were holiday parties and Santa would come. I developed a really strong relationship with the Recovery Coaches there, too.”
Even when she struggled, she said White Horse was a constant presence and always welcomed her back. A big part of her healing has also come through arts and crafts, specifically diamond art.
“Diamond art got me through rehab,” she said. “I’ve been doing them all the time, every day for five months at night when I’m watching TV. It’s my thing.”
Now, she shares this passion with others, leading diamond art classes at White Horse and connecting with clients through creativity and conversation.
“I’ve never really had a career,” she noted. “I dropped out of school and always found myself in mischief. I kind of feel like I have a purpose in life. All my pain and struggles—I can help somebody else.”
Relationships that were once strained have started to mend. Citing “a great relationship with [her] mom today—she describes her as her number one fan — Heather said relations have also improved with her daughter (age 20), who is currently attending school for criminal justice and lives on a farm. “I think she trusts me more now than ever,” she added.
The path to reconnecting with her 13-year-old son, who lives with his grandmother, has admittedly been tougher, but Heather said she is working with his family and his counselor to be part of his life again. “I get to see him now and I get to talk to him on Fridays,” she explained.
Her support system extends beyond her immediate family, as she says her dad’s side of the family are mostly “really supportive and encourage” her. She said her dad, who passed away, would “be so proud.” “He always wanted me to get sober and I never could,” she said. “It’s kind of crazy that I am now.”
Despite numerous successes in her life, Heather acknowledges that she does face challenges, as legal issues and probation are still part of her life. However, she said she meets these challenges with dreams and hopes.
“I want to be a recovery coach,” said Heather, who says her Recovery Coach at White Horse, Joy, has helped her set and achieve a variety of goals. “I just can’t say enough about Joy.”
In reflecting on her experience at White Horse, she said she has come to believe that her lived experience will allow her to support others in a way that only someone who has “been there” truly can. She credits White Horse as helping instill this belief in her.
“It didn’t matter how many times I messed up,” she said. “I knew the door was always open for me, and they would always help me. I feel like part of a family. They have always made me feel welcome.”
Founded in Center Ossipee, New Hampshire, White Horse Recovery has grown from a small organization into a leading nonprofit with 28 employees across four locations, providing both mental health and substance use disorder services.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. White Horse Recovery offers services for those ready to start their journey to recovery. For more information, call 603-651-1441, Ext. 1.