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SERLC Quarterly Newsletter Autumn 2025
Recovery Story Spotlight
In our community, recovery is not just a personal journey. It’s a shared act of courage and connection. When people speak their truth, they challenge stigma, celebrate resilience, and light the way for others still finding their path. Each story, whether messy or triumphant, is honored as part of a collective healing process. At the SERLC, we’re rewriting the narrative: recovery is visible, powerful, and deeply human. By amplifying these journeys, we foster understanding, build bridges, and make space for every survivor’s truth to be seen and valued.
Jillian Andrade, CPS
(She/Her/Hers)
Young Adult/Transitional Age Youth Leader
Fall River Recovery Connection Center
Back in 2020 someone I loved was shot and killed in front of my eyes as we were in the car driving home. The pain was unfathomable and this severe trauma I experienced consumed me. I started to withdraw from my family and my responsibilities. The thoughts of “why him and not me?” and “what could I have done differently?” ruminated in my head. I turned to drugs to distract myself from these thoughts and numb my pain. I suffered from nightmares so badly I went weeks without sleeping, which led to paranoia. I lost touch with reality and was not in my right state of mind to take care of myself. This resulted in multiple involuntary hospitalizations where I was labeled non-compliant, where my environment was not clean, and I was forced to take medications that altered my personality. My freedom was taken. I felt trapped, misunderstood and I felt hopeless.
However, there was still an overwhelming pain in my heart, and I found myself searching for structure and stability. This led me to join a voluntary day program which focused on therapeutic groups with peers who suffer from similar struggles. These groups were a safe space and consisted of so much support. I felt comfortable being vulnerable and participating in groups. I learned I was not alone. I learned how powerful it is to relate with others, and I found some of the coping skills they shared helpful to me like practicing positive self-talk, taking deep breaths, and watching a funny movie to relieve stress. While attending this day program I had the freedom to make my own decisions, I had a say in my treatment plan and was informed of great resources I still utilize to this day in my community.
“This sense of belonging and community impacted my potential to want to be the best version of myself. I finally started to believe I could do whatever I put my mind to. I soon started achieving the goals I set for myself I never thought could be possible.”
These included being comfortable living alone, getting my license and feeling safe to drive despite my anxiety. I am grateful to have this opportunity and very eager to use my unique experiences to support others.
Even today I still practice maintaining my wellness by having a consistent routine to give myself structure. I apply my coping skills like talking to God, exercising at the gym, and utilizing positive self-talk and deep breathing techniques when I am experiencing feelings of distress.
I hope by sharing my story others can see that there is light despite of all the darkness.
Recovery Story Spotlight
Kendra Morana
(She/Her/Hers)
Volunteer Peer Facilitator
Brockton Recovery Connection Center
When I was 7 and 8 years old, I went through traumas that left deep scars—sexual abuse, a terrifying cat attack and losing my great grandmother. Those wounds followed me into adulthood, and the chaos of alcoholism only made them heavier. By 2010, I had reached my rock bottom. I was exhausted, broken, and didn’t know where to turn. That’s when I walked into my first Al-Anon meeting. It was the beginning of a new life for me. In that room, I found people who truly understood. I learned that I didn’t cause alcoholism, I couldn’t control it, and I couldn’t cure it—but I could begin to heal. Al-Anon became the foundation of my recovery. Learning Self Respect, Self Awareness, Self-esteem and most of all, Boundaries.
In 2014, I had my first major meltdown that led me to a mental hospital. While I was there, I met someone. On January 9, 2015, I found out I was pregnant, and later that year I welcomed my daughter, Jasmine. She became my greatest blessing. But when Jasmine was only a year old, her father—an alcoholic and addict—physically abused me while under the influence. In that terrifying moment, my Al-Anon program kicked in, I knew I deserved better. I called the police, and he was arrested.
“Ever since becoming a member of Al-Anon, I’ve fought hard to never go back to those dark days again. I learned to focus on myself, to understand what I do and don’t deserve from others, and my confidence grew.”
Over time, I also joined other support groups, including The RCC (Recovery Connection Center) in January 2024. All this recovery gave me the fight within myself to Keep Swimming not to give up and having the willingness to become a better person and most importantly become a better mother for my daughter. Still, Al-Anon remains the foundation of my healing and the guide for my recovery—one day at a time.