Alejandra W. is a woman whose story will touch your heart. Originally from South America, she was raised from a baby by her grandparents while her mother’s alcoholism derailed her family. Later, after her mother got sober through AA, Alejandra accompanied her to meetings as a little girl. But that exposure to AA was not sufficient to keep her from becoming an alcoholic, and she ended up in AA herself at 15. She stayed sober until she relapsed at 22 and then began a tragic odyssey of full-blown alcoholism, traumatic experiences, and forays in and out of the rooms of AA.

When she finally got back to Alcoholics Anonymous in 2009, she was physically, emotionally, and spiritually depleted. But, by following the Program and the guidance of her sponsor, she slowly rebuilt her life of sobriety. Today, she stays in the center of the Program by attending regular meetings, maintaining the 12 Steps, and demonstrating her recovery though selfless service work in AA.

At 11 years sober, Alejandra’s life reflects the many blessings she has received through her active involvement in AA by serving others and passing those blessings onto anyone who reaches out to AA for help.

Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and more than 50 original stories most people have never seen. If you’ve only read the Fourth Edition, these amazing stories will be brand new to you. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com

[Disclaimer: In accordance with A.A.’s traditions, my anonymous guests and I speak for ourselves only, not for Alcoholics Anonymous at large. We share only our personal experiences with A.A. recovery. We acknowledge that AA’s sole concern is the recovery and continued sobriety of those alcoholics who turn to the Fellowship for help. As members of AA, our primary purpose is to stay sober and to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. – Howard L.]