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Our Stories
Andrea Giba
Walker, MI
My 1st drink at 18 began 31 years of use and abuse; most of the time blacked out. I progressed to cocaine, acid and everything in between. When I got pregnant, I still didn't stop, even though I hated myself for it. I was on a downward spiral of alcohol, drugs, and depression. I was committed to a mental hospital when my son was 4-months old for severe depression and anxiety. When I was there, I learned that I was an alcoholic; but instead of quitting, I set up parameters to let me know when my alcoholism had progressed too far… if I put my son in danger, or if I drank and drove again (I'd already been to jail for that), or if I didn't go back to work at lunch, or if I couldn't have just one.
I woke up in bed December 21, 1985, after thinking I had gone to lunch and had just one. It was 3am, and I remembered NOTHING. I met all my parameters except one, drinking and driving – my car was still at work; and I was at my wits end. I cried out to "whoever was out there" to help me stop drinking. I went back to sleep, and when I woke up the next morning, I had no desire to ever drink again!
I made the same desperate plea two more times the following December. Once for my drug use and then again for my addiction to tobacco; both time my pleas were answered. I have been clean and sober since.
In April of 1987, all clean now, God was able to get ahold of my life; and now I serve Him, instead of my addictions.
Unfortunately, my son did suffer from my drug use while I was pregnant. His ADHD was so severe he was expelled from 1 st grade! However, with consistency and a lot of determination, he grew up to graduate with honors from ASU. I have a deeper relationship with my two boys. Not having to get my baby up in the middle of the night to go with me to get some more booze was a big bonus to my sobriety. I’m home at night and don’t wake up in unfamiliar places anymore, not knowing how I got there.
In addition, I never would have experienced the joy of playing my saxophone again. I’m even featured on a CD on an original song written specifically to highlight me playing the saxophone – something that brings me great delight. I am also now a member of the Musicians Union and play with their band for the 4 th of July, and I am taking graduate classes to obtain a Masters of Mental Health Counseling so that I can help others.
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