Experience the Difference

"Theresa, Jim, Mark, Shannon, Renata, AlL the people at St. Judes: I did not realize how much of an influence you all have had on my life until I have run into situations where I feel nothing is going right. In the each situation I have learned "from you" to look at the positive, in everything however small it may seem. Wow what a difference it makes focusing on the positive part of everything instead of the negative. I could give you numerous examples but they would be too lengthy to mention. Thank you again for teaching and coaching me to always look at the positive part of everything even if it only a small part of the total picture!"

"It Just a big thank you and God bless you! St. Jude saved my daughters life (Joanne) 4 years ago. She has been sober from crystal meth and xanax for 4 years now after being addicted for 3 years. We were just both talking about her anniversary at St.Judes. She was 18 years old when she went in and she is now 22 and very sober. We are both very thankful for St Judes."

"From the first moment that I walked into the St. Jude Retreat House, I knew this place was different. I felt a sense of comfort and belonging immediately. The ideas and concepts were new to me. There were no counselors or psychiatrists diagnosing me. There was no substituting one drug for another. There were no group therapy sessions. And there was no blaming others for my life's failures. Yes, I learned that much of my life was my fault, but I learned that this was truly good news, because that meant I could fix it. And I was shown exactly how to do just that. The Saint Jude Program has changed my life completely. I have found a new sense of peace in my life. I am so grateful that I have decided to stay and help others to gain the freedom and happiness that I now enjoy."

"I visited St Judes in June of 2008 and since then, this past year has been the best year I've had in a decade!!! I had been using drugs for nearly a decade and have been dealing with an eating disorder since I was 12. The two were my life. I was so consumed in my efforts to be skinny that I lost focus of everything and everyone around me. Before arriving at St Judes I had been to two 12 step treatment programs and several out patient treatments without success. The Mountain Retreat House was nothing I had ever experienced before. The atmosphere, the program was exactly what I needed. I felt relaxed, the staff was remarkable, and genuinely cared about each house guest! For me, it was difficult to see that I could love myself, but thanks to Jen, Bobby, Gwen, Sheryl and my instructor, Jim, I have found that to be happy is truly within you. I now have more respect for myself and my body which in turn has given me the self-confidence I need. I still struggle with my weight from day to day but I do not resort to anything that will take me back. I am happy where I'm at and that I made the choice to change. I can not thank you enough!! I have been working full-time since August 2008 as an administrator for a Recruiting Engineering Firm and faced my fears of failing by enrolling in an insurance course which I passed with a grade of over 80%! I will soon be continuing on with my studies to achieve my goal of a career in the insurance field. I recently ran and completed a 10km run in 60mins. I have entered this run in the past several times, to either not finish, or only walk because I was so weak. I play on a baseball team, volunteer when possible, and in the near future there is a possibility of me mentoring children/young adults in similar situations that I went through. Most importantly, I have a relationship with my parents, brother, and my best friends again! I made the choice to change, St. Jude showed me how. I continue to use the knowledge I learned everyday...to think positive, think of others first, and to be happy. Thank you St. Jude! I appreciate you all very much!"

"Coming to the Saint Jude Retreats was a defining moment in my life. I am forever grateful for the respect and dignity the staff has shown; and more importantly the confidence they have instilled in me."

"I was 25 years old when I came to the Saint Jude Retreats. I was resistant at first because I was in and out of rehabs since I was 18. After about a week I warmed up to everyone in the house. The teachers were absolutely wonderful people. They took me as like their own. I thought I was never going to get better and I was going to be an addict for the rest of my life. The Saint Jude Program is truly the best program in the world. It opened my eyes a lot. The Program taught me that I make my own choices and I wasn't diseased. During the program, I received my GED. When I got home, I attended and graduated college. The Saint Jude Retreats saved my life. I would recommend this program to anybody."

"I was drinking for about 10 years until my wife decided that she was going to leave me if I didn't do anything about it. I found the Saint Jude Retreats. From the moment that I had talked to someone on the phone, I knew that that is where I am going to start my new life. I have 3 beautiful girls; all of which are married with families. All I wanted was to be a good father that I hadn't been and now a grandfather. Coming to Saint Jude Retreats has changed my life. I finally went on a family vacation with my wife, daughters, their husbands, and children. I had a great time and I owe it all the wonderful staff at the Saint Jude Retreats and the Saint Jude Program. My girls love me more than ever and they aren't scared anymore to leave their children, my grandchildren with me anymore. It is truly a blessing."

"My mom had found the St. Jude Retreats on the internet in December of 2002. She noticed that it was different from all the other information she had read. It offered a solution not a disease. I was not convinced that I would be successful but I had become willing to try anything and this was definitely different. During my stay at the Retreat House, I got brutally honest with myself and applied the program in all areas of my life. I began to see things much more clearly and take responsibility for myself and my choices. I began to change my whole way of thinking. I realized everything in my life had been a choice. I had made so many bad decisions in my life that I had become pretty good at it. Now it was time to learn how to make the right decisions. I made a commitment to get well and with the help of the Saint Jude Program I was able to make positive life-enhancing changes in my life. With continuous hard work, I have made several amazing breakthroughs and experienced serious growth mentally and spiritually. The Saint Jude Program taught me the skills to truly recover. Today I live a happy, successful, drug-free life. My life has changed 100%. My motives and outlook on life have flipped from where they were selfish and destructive, to now giving, helpful and positive. My dreams are coming true and my anger has subsided. My relationship with my family has been restored and I have made life-long friends. I am happy to be able to say, Life is good..."