Written Stories Archives

Willamina’s Recovery Story

Today’s recovery story comes from Willamina from Hooper Bay. The journey of Willamina’s recovery can be listened to and followed in the proceeding audio link.

Heidi’s Recovery Story

My Name is Heidi and this is my Recovery Story My name is Heidi Christensen. I live in Eagle River, AK with my husband and 2 children. I am Alutiiq and Athabascan. I am from Old Harbor, Alaska a village of 200 people on Kodiak Island. I have been sober since June 22, 2015, 5 Amazing years. What inspired me

Maria’s Recovery Story

Name: Maria Stappenbeck Where are you from: Bethel, Alaska How long have you been sober? My sobriety date is October 20, 2018 What inspired you to find recovery? What inspired me to find recovery was a very long and painful battle against my inability to control my alcohol abuse. I wanted to be a sober person for years and never

Sam’s Journey to Recovery

Name: Sam Garcia Where are you from: Anchorage, Alaska How long have you been sober? No mind-altering substances since April 8th 2016 What inspired you to find recovery? The feeling of waking up in prison and not recognizing the man I saw in the mirror anymore. I was a shell of the person I once was. My addiction had robbed me

Britney’s Journey to Recovery

Name: Britney Maureen Baier Where are you from: Nikiski, Alaska How long have you been sober? Almost 6 years my sobriety date is 12-22-14 What inspired you to find recovery? I hit my bottom, got my kids taken away by OCS and got to that point of desperation. I found myself being trafficked in California and lost it all. I

Ralph Sara’s Recovery Journey

Name: Ralph Clement Sara Where are you from: Born and raised in Bethel Alaska. How long have you been sober? Since 01/18/2020. What inspired you to find recovery? At first it was me being selfish. I was so tired of this revolving door of alcoholism I was in. I was only thinking of myself. Then while I was in the

The teacher who returned to the rural Alaska village where she was abused is not staying silent

A few years ago, Marie Sakar moved to the village of Chuathbaluk in Western Alaska to teach at the tiny village school. It meant returning to the place she’d been running away from for her entire adult life. Sakar grew up in the fish camp-turned-village on the banks of the Kuskokwim River, enduring years of sexual abuse. She’d left as

My Two Cents

I was binge drinking because I felt/knew that I could be more than I believed I was. I simply could not access my core worth and value and even my dignity. Over 30 years ago, I had been on a weekend binge that included a trip to Sitka, AK for a meeting. I barely remember the flights, but when I

I Found a New Peace

Shirley Gover of Nikolai shares her story of alcohol misuse and recovery. Unhappy with her life and worried about her health, she gives her life over to God and begins again. In recovery, she works to re-establish broken relationships with her children, parents, and family. By forgiving herself, she is able to find a new peace. See the video.