Dear Debra,
I want to thank you and everyone at the Domus Retreat and rapid detox program at the Garden Grove Hospital. You saved my life, literally. After being addicted to the prescription pain pills for so long, they were literally killing me. Your kindsness and understanding that I was not a typical "drug addict" like the people at other detox centers I talked to who made me feel like a "dirt bag" and stated that "once a drug addict, always a drug addict" who almost sent me over the edge at that time in my life when I was teetering on whether life was worth it or not. If I had not finally made that last phone call to you, my life would have ended that day as the other dtox centers reinforced my feelings of worthlessness. I have worked hard all my life, made a good income, but after my accident all my doctor would give was pain pills, nothing else. You made me know there was hope after hell on earth.
Your program from the rapid detox to the after care stay at the Domus Retreat with the wonderful, beautiful, heartwarming, kind staff gave me my life back. After losing my son, daughter, and only two granddaughters in a na auto accident and then losing my husband and then finding myself addicted to prescription painkillers after my auto accident, life was too much to bare and I wanted to die, but I have a 15-year old son and a 28-year old son that I was killing slowly too and I couldn't stop it until I made that phone call to you. I owe you and your staff my life.
Jim and Efram, and Christine at the hospital were the angels that treated me like a real friend, without them making me feel like a human being again, before I even detoxed, I don't know if I would have made it. I will always have a special place in my heart for them. Jim's wonderful understanding and true caring warms my heart to this day. And he called me on Mother's Day when I was at the Retreat knowing that it was an especially hard day for me. Efram with his wonderful, uplifting personality kept me smiling, which I hadn't done for a long, long time. Christine took care of me at the hospital and made sure that everything was in order all of the time, even contacted Jim and Efram to take me outside when I wanted to smoke. They all made a very sad woman feel like living again. "There really are good people out there."
At the Retreat, although I felt so bad the first few days, I exited your Retreat after just ten days with friends and the tools I needed to begin my life anew, I had never been treated so good, my every need attended too, from the food I ate to the smallest need I had were attended to with kindness, caring, and true compassion by people I grew to love. Steve, with his attention to the smallest detail, Matt with his endearing personality, Michelle with her fun personality and exquisite meals made to my order, Mimi with her quiet understanding and kindness even when I had to call for her in the middle of the night, Margie with her quick efficiency and always smiling no matter what, Paul with his tender patience with me, the bio-feedback lady who was always so soft and kind, the masseuses who were wonderful and kind and excellent in their massages on my spasming muscles, Dr. Kern with his excellent advice, understanding, and awesome insight, and Dr. Bernstein who ended four and a half years of pain in five minutes whom I never would have met if it hadn't have been for you, Debra.
Debra, I thank you so much, efficiency, understanding, and kindness are so rare and they were just there in you and all of your staff. I look forward to being with you all again in July after my surgery to remove the excess skin after my great weight loss. I wouldn't even consider going anywhere else after being in your heaven. I never thought I would care again what i look like, but I went out and bought new makeup, new clothes made the appointmenet for my surgery, and am taking care of business and to think before entering your program, death was my only option, I thought. I cannot thank you all enough fo my life and my ability to enjoy life and my sons again. Everyone says they cannot believe the life that has come back into my sons' eyes since I hae gotten well. I thank God for all of you and I pray you will be around a long time for other people who I know are going through hell and keeping it a secret while dying inside like I was.
I love and am in awe of all of you.
Debra (I don't want to use my last name due to my occupation and I thank you so much for the privacy and protection off me and my reputation)
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