Inspiration: Giving Hope a Chance

Since completing treatment at Hazelden Betty Ford, Victoria has become passionate about giving back and encouraging others on their recovery journeys.

“I simply want to be of service to others,” she explains. “If I can give someone hope and maybe a chance of success in recovery, then that’s my goal. To be a light to someone in the darkness.”

Victoria knows from experience that taking the first step toward change can be one of the most frightening parts. “It’s the unknown, and we’re all afraid of the unknown,” she says. “It’s hard to walk through the doors to treatment. I encourage others and remind them the journey is worth taking.”

Victoria comes from a family with a long history of alcohol use. “Drinking was everywhere, all the time,” she recalls. “I started drinking to fit in as a teenager. I just wanted to be part of the cool crowd.”

Victoria describes her 20s and 30s as turbulent years, raising young children in a stressful marriage, and then a divorce and remarriage. She turned to substances as an unhealthy way to cope through it all. 

“In the last few years, things got more out of control,” she says. “I ended up in the ER with withdrawal symptoms, but I wouldn’t admit why. Then I was pulled over driving home from a work event, and everything changed.” The police sent Victoria to detox, where she had a sudden and profound moment of clarity.

“For the first time I knew I wanted and needed help,” she says. “I called my husband, who has been a beacon of support, and asked him to call Hazelden Betty Ford and get me a bed.” Victoria says she never considered any other facility. “I knew the reputation, and my dad had been to Hazelden Betty Ford more than 30 years before and he’d been successful. I wanted the best of the best.”

Although Victoria’s relationship with her father had been “like a rollercoaster,” as part of her recovery journey Victoria made amends with him. Sadly, just a few months later they learned he had terminal cancer, and Victoria flew halfway across the country to care for him in his final weeks of life. “If I hadn’t been sober, I wouldn’t have had those special last moments with him,” she says. “I give credit to Hazelden Betty Ford for that gift.”

In addition to speaking to groups and individuals about the power of recovery, Victoria donates to Hazelden Betty Ford from her Donor Advised Fund. “Giving back is so important to me,” she says. “I want to make sure someone else has a greater chance of success on their journey, even if they don’t have the financial means or the best insurance.”

During her time in residential treatment, Victoria saw firsthand how finances could be a barrier for people getting the care they needed.

“I saw a lot of people who wanted to be there,” she says, but their insurance ended their coverage. “They didn’t have resources or family support. It was heartbreaking.” Donors like Victoria make it possible for Hazelden Betty Ford’s Patient Aid fund to help lower out-of-pocket costs for people who need financial assistance, so they can complete their treatment according to clinical recommendations.

Through her financial support and words of encouragement to fellow travelers, Victoria’s message is clear: “You can do things you never thought possible. Although nothing changes overnight, if you work at it, it’s worth it. The rewards of recovery are beyond what I ever thought possible.”