Sarasota News Leader

02/21/2014

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said one. The other added, "It is a hard program." "If it wasn't for Mothers and Infants, I wouldn't be here," Tiffany said. An addict for seven years, she was in jail and pregnant when her lawyer found help for her at First Step and she was accepted into the program. Today her daughter is 14 months old, she is engaged and she has a home. As she told the audience, "Today I'm a mom. … I am so happy." Lisa has been sober for almost three years. "My life is just amazing now," she said. She is employed, has a car and is "working on a Habitat [for Humanity] house." She is "still using the tools [Mothers and Infants] gave me … not just to be sober, but to use in my life." This is "a day of celebration," David J. Beesley, president/chief executive officer of First Step, announced, noting the 326th healthy baby had been born the previous night. As that equaled the number of attendees, he took "it as a sign some awesome power is at work." He continued, "Many consider [addiction] the number one problem" in the United States. People come to First Step in ambulances, in handcuffs and by court order. "Recovery is a Silent auction items await bids. Photo by Vicki Chatley Sarasota News Leader February 21, 2014 Page 74

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