September 14, 2025 Is National Sober Day: My Story
Joining the U.S. Navy was both the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done. It gave me purpose and direction, and I’m proud to have served my nation.
In 2003, while serving, I was pulled over for a DUI, which led to an early discharge in 2004 — six months before my official separation date. At the time, I thought my life was over. Looking back, it was the turning point that saved me.
Six years later, I asked for help and walked into rehab. Through a 12-step program, I learned acceptance, surrender, and how to rebuild my life one day at a time. Someone once said to me during that season, “Remember what your name means – Hope.” That advice became my guiding light.
God gave me a second chance. I became a bedside nurse, then obtained my Masters as a Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, serving patients in trauma and open-heart surgery in the ICU at the Mayo Clinic, as well as in the Trauma Neurosurgery ICU at one of the nation’s top stroke and trauma centers in New Mexico. I’ve been blessed with 20 years of marriage, a family rooted in faith, and a purpose to serve.
September 14 is recognized as National Sober Day. This observance encourages people to celebrate sobriety and raise awareness about addiction. It’s a reminder of the strength and resilience required to maintain sobriety, and it offers an opportunity to support those in recovery. About 29.3 million U.S. adults roughly 11% of the adult population report they are sober.
National Sober Day reminds us recovery is possible and worth celebrating. It’s a day of hope, healing, and breaking stigma.
Every morning, I’m grateful for another sober breath. I remain active in a 12-step program, sponsor women, and witness lives transformed—mine included. My past didn’t define me; it refined me.
As Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” That promise has carried me through every step of my journey.
Today, I’m running for U.S. Congress, not for a title, but to serve … humbled by grace and committed to helping others.
If you’re struggling, you’re not alone. Acceptance brings peace. Surrender brings freedom. With faith and perseverance, you can build a future beyond anything you ever imagined.
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]