Meeting Brokenness with Compassion

How did your journey with White Horse begin?

I started working at White Horse in 2022, right after I moved to Littleton. I was in sober living and came to the center as a client. I took parenting classes and found support through a recovery-friendly workplace called Ten Foot. They helped me through the process of getting my son back. One day, Kate from White Horse mentioned they were hiring. I applied, got the job, and I’ve been here ever since.

What made White Horse such an important place for you in early recovery?

It was a safe space—not just for meetings, but to hang out and connect with people. Many of the people I was surrounding myself with were also coming here. It became a core part of my support system.

Can you share a bit about your background and how substance use became part of your story?

I moved here from Laconia and come from a large family with a history of substance use disorder. My parents were both severe alcoholics and separated when I was young. My childhood was full of partying and chaos. I had my first child at 16 and tried hard to be different from my parents. I managed for a while, but at 21, when I could legally drink, everything started to spiral. I went to rehab at 24, but lost custody of my first son, Caleb. That was the start of a long and painful journey.

What were some of the key moments in your recovery and relapse journey?

After losing custody of Caleb, I had a second child and used throughout the pregnancy. He was born with substances in his system. I served jail time and my aunt and uncle took him in. I kept using, got pregnant a third time, and finally got on Suboxone. I stayed clean for seven years, but I wasn’t in true recovery—I was just medicated. When my father died, I relapsed again—this time much worse, with meth, heroin, fentanyl, and IV use. I ended up in a shelter, and DCYF got involved again.

What finally helped you turn things around?

When I relapsed again and lost my son, it became nearly impossible to get into rehab. But I eventually made it to Littleton and started again. I worked really hard to get my son back. My partner and I stayed together, and I’ve now been clean for over three years. I became the manager of the center and a recovery coach. I’m