When Will The Work Start?

Abby Ettinger

“The day I graduated, I went straight to an AA meeting,” Joy Elder said. When Joy graduated from ReMerge, she refused to let her recovery journey end. ReMerge had worked and she was determined to continue pursuing the methods that helped her.

Her dedication to recovery has led her to amazing accomplishments. Joy is now 3 semesters into college where she’s studying Addiction Counseling. She’s gained multiple certifications, including her PRSS, BH, and GM. In addition to all of her accomplishments, Joy has returned to ReMerge as a staff member.

“It honestly doesn’t feel like a job. It just feels like I’m right where I belong,” Joy said when speaking about her new position as a ReMerge Care Coordinator.

Over the last year, Joy has gone from being participant in the ReMerge program, to being a graduate, to returning to ReMerge as a staff member. This transition has been more than a career change, it’s been a perspective shift.

“Being a staff member makes me appreciate my program that much more because there’s a whole lot of work that goes into it…as a participant, there’s no way you could possibly know,” Joy remarks.

Ultimately, Joy wants people in the community to know that ReMerge works. She describes ReMerge as a place of transformation and healing, not only for her, but also for her family.

“Me and my brother are closer now than we’ve ever been…for so long, I didn’t know how my being MIA was affecting him…we didn’t talk for 10-15 years…now my relationship with him is the best it’s ever been.”

While Joy is still working to build relationships with her some of her children, she recently had the opportunity to spend the week with her oldest daughter for the first time in 9 years. This moment was a healing experience for Joy. She was able to realize that all the shame and regret that she’d been holding on to could be set free as she made amends with her daughter.

“I am not my past,” Joy said.

Joy is an excellent example of resilience, and she continues to be a beacon of hope for the mother’s entering ReMerge. She moves forward in her recovery journey every day and inspires current participants to do the same.

If you would like to read more graduate stories, or learn more about what’s going on at ReMerge, click here.