Kristy's exceptional story is one of early addiction evolving into a 5-year struggle with alcoholism in her 30’s. Though she spent only  a couple of years in that quagmire before she found AA, her descent to the bottom was both swift and severe. Trying to justify, then hide her alcoholism from her husband, kids, and employer only revealed to them how much worse Kristy’s drinking had actually become. By the time she finally ran out of excuses and began a vigorous AA program in 2018, she was physically and mentally depleted. Getting a sponsor, working the steps, and attending daily meetings drew her towards the center of the Program That early work portended two crises in her early sobriety that pulled her from the center to the outskirts of AA. First, her husband suffered a major stroke and she became his primary caregiver. Fortunately, the time she invested in meeting and getting to know others in the Program was clearly realized when  her newfound AA friends gathered around to help pull her through.

Then in early 2020, Kristy was diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer which left her without use of her legs. Complicating the already horrendous situation was a pandemic that prevented Kristy from being able to have visitors during the four months she was in the hospital undergoing intensive cancer treatment. Fortunately, she was able to connect with her home groups via Zoom. All of her fellow AAs were able to support her on a daily basis with our own experience, strength, and hope. Today, with 3½ years of sobriety, Kristy is on the mend, learning how to live life without the use of her legs. To be sure, her tragedies during early sobriety, and staying sober through them are informative, valuable, and inspirational to those she touches.

Zoom had a bad day during my interview with Kristy, so her audio is less than stellar. But her message of hope, perseverance, and commitment comes through loud and clear. So pull up a seat for the next 60 minutes and listen to inspirational words of my AA sister on today’s AA Recovery Interviews podcast, Kristy M.