Teri and Careshia recover together at Avivo while building lifelong friendships

Recovering together as families in Avivo’s treatment program created a unique bond and lifelong friendship for Careshia and Teri. Today, their families share an apartment, they support each other’s sobriety, and they regularly spend time with other moms who graduated with them from Avivo’s treatment program.

“Friendships tend to drop off with time, but we maintained the friendship. Now we do everything together,” shares Careshia, who’s just a few months shy of achieving three years in recovery.

“Friendships tend to drop off with time, but we maintained the friendship. Now we do everything together,” shares Careshia, who’s just a few months shy of achieving three years in recovery.

Careshia, Teri, and the other moms in their friend group all entered treatment during a difficult time –summer of 2020, in the “heart” of COVID. It wasn’t possible to spend time with people outside of their treatment program which led the moms to develop close bonds with each other.

Careshia shares that the leadup to her coming to Avivo was swift and frightening. “I only used [drugs] for a total of 16 months before I got to Avivo. In that timeframe, it got really bad for me,” she shares.

Her relationship had ended, she’d lost her job and become homeless. Eventually, her daughter was taken away.

“I heard about Avivo from Child Protection Services. At that point I had nothing at all, nothing to lose. I was in a dark space. Avivo was the main place I wanted to go because I knew you can have your kids there. I could have my children come and build myself back up.”

“Avivo was the main place I wanted to go because I knew you can have your kids there. I could have my children come and build myself back up.”

For Teri, her recovery story spans nearly 20 years of addiction. She raised her children during that time while experiencing ongoing abuse and trauma. She had tried treatment, but an injury led her to return to using.

“I wanted to be sober. I didn’t want to live that way anymore,” shares Teri. “I knew I had to get myself together.”

Teri was able to bring her youngest daughter when she entered Avivo’s family treatment program.

“I friended people who really wanted to be sober, because I wanted to be sober,” shares Teri. “Now, I’m very much stabilized. I look forward to spending time with my kids and Careshia’s kids. It’s amazing how many good things happen when you’re sober.”

“I was just able to visit my family for the first time in years,” adds Careshia. “I was able to enjoy my family with a clear, sober mind and enjoy it.”

“Avivo is different,” says Careshia. “They truly care and are still involved even after the fact. Even after we’ve graduated, they’re still offering services, supporting us, and keeping us in the loop.”

Now that they’re both in recovery, Teri and Careshia want to stay roommates. They’re looking forward to continuing to support each other’s recovery.

“We’ve set a goal. The goal is to find work and move into a bigger space for our families.”