In Episode 44, Darlene talks about how blessed she has been as a mother, living a life beyond her wildest dreams especially after having to endure tragedy. She believes her son Chris keeps her sane, strong and wanting to push to be the best mother and person she can be.

American Addiction Centers (AAC) presents “Far From Finished,” a weekly podcast that shares the real-life stories of people who survived substance use to thrive in recovery. In Episode 44, Darlene talks about how in 1988, she got married and a year later she had a baby boy. By the end of the year, her world would be shattered when both passed away due to cancer. Her son was four and a half months old and her husband was 28. During her grief, she fell into addiction and at one point consumed several sleeping pills and went to sleep. She would wake up from a coma on January 18, 1990, with her family and friends around here. Darlene’s cycle of addiction was filled with resentment, pain and prison time. Sentenced to a treatment center in Las Vegas, Darlene began the process of recovery and learning how to live a different, better life. Her sobriety date is February 13, 2004.

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