To all the staff at Gray Wolf Ranch,
I would like to express to everyone at Gray Wolf Ranch how
thankful I am this Thanksgiving. God knows how thankful I am
that Nick is at such a wonderful facility. My son and all of
your clients are so fortunate that there is such a place as
Gray Wolf Ranch. You offer something that no other place I've
heard of offers. You have such a caring and devoted staff,
you offer spiritual growth, meditation and an environment that
shows each young man that life can be good, they get to see
that life is beautiful, a respect of nature and a respect of
themselves. You help them gain a healthy self-esteem, you show
them it is good to work, they find they can have fun sober,
they can go fishing, crabbing, hiking, and play healthy games
with their peers. They find that by working hard and staying
sober one day at a time life is good. Maybe some of those ways
of having healthy fun was there for some and along the way
they forgot, they got lost in their addiction and could not
find their way out of the dark hole. You offer light for those
who need guidance to find the light again (hope).
I almost lost my son to drugs, I don't expect miracles. Before
Nick started treatment approx. 7 months ago, his desire to
do anything other than drugs was not there, he wound up 82
lbs., went to the worst neighborhoods one could imagine, he
did not eat or sleep, stress, sadness and despair was on his
face. Within the last 6 months, especially the last two months,
his desire to enjoy life has drastically changed; it is increasing.
He talks about snowboarding again which last winter he did
not do, even though he always loved it. He wants to skateboard,
to ride a bike, to go crabbing, fishing and to hike. He takes
pride in his job. He's working now, he wants to save, he wants
to go to school. He takes pride in his sobriety; he talks about
going to AA meetings. His attitude is changing.
What I see and his sisters see is that Nick is beginning to
enjoy life, he cares about himself again, he seemed so lost
for so long. Nick has always been kind to others, but now he
is kind to himself. He talks about God and nature. When his
sisters visited him they saw a different person, one whose
attitude was good. He held open the doors for them; he could
converse in a positive way, he listened to what they were saying.
He has learned to sit in your groups and listen, and really
hear what is being said as well as share his feeling.
He didn't smile for a long time; he smiles now. Each day he
is at Gray Wolf is a gift from God to Nick and his family.
We all have a long way to go, but when he sees that you accept
him, his failures as well as his good days, he sees people
who he can trust who really care, and he learns there are good
people in the world.
Nick has told me how important it is for him to graduate from
your program. At first he was hoping to be home for Christmas,
but now what he hopes for the most and what he is willing to
work hard for is to stay until February so he can graduate.
I hear hope in his voice and great respect for Gray Wolf. I
too take it one day at a time and today I thank God my son
is alive and at Gray Wolf. Thank you. |
