Victoria started drinking early to deal with the strife of abuse she suffered as a child and the trauma she experienced at 15 witnessing the aftermath of a bloody massacre in the Philippines. Living with the shock and horror were more than enough propel her alcohol-dominated life for the next 20 years. Then she found AA.

Victoria is the first guest on AA Recovery Interviews whose spouse, Wes H., shared his story on an earlier podcast. They got sober together within days of each other over 30 years ago. Hearing both their stories provides unique context to their journeys before and after getting sober. Victoria’s story stands very much on its own. Raised in a military home by a mother with bi-polar disorder and a physically abusive father, her life as the oldest of 3 children was further complicated by frequent moves around world. The alcohol she found early helped ease the madness and numb the traumatic events she experienced along the way. Access to alcohol by hook or crook on military bases fueled self-destructive behavior that followed her into adulthood. By the time she found AA sobriety in 1992, alcoholism had taken a huge toll on her body, exacerbating medical conditions that required 31 surgeries over the years. Through it all, Victoria’s unceasing involvement in AA, and working with others, helped her survive death’s numerous importunities. One of her last surgeries during the past year was literally do or die. She credits Wes and her AA family for pulling her through with prayers and the collective healing energy of love.

My interview with Victoria on today’s AA Recovery Interviews podcast runs a little longer than others, but flies by as her story unfolds. It’s a story that helps further define the phrase “Experience, strength, and hope.” So grab a cuppa and become engrossed for the next hour and ten minutes in the story of my friend and AA sister, Victoria H.

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 cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com

[Disclaimer: In strict adherence to 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.]