Dear
Pride,
Thank
you for saving my life and not giving up on me. I have
made several visits over the last 10 years and each time
I returned I was treated with kindness and dignity.
Thru the care, devotion and patience of the staff, I was
able to get my life back and am now a happy productive
member of society.
I had practically given up by the last time I arrived
into treatment in October 2006. My life was going down
the tubes and I was a mess. I had financial, legal and
emotional problems plus a very powerful drug addiction
and I thought there was no hope for me. Since this was
not my first time seeking help, I thought there was
really nothing left for me but an imminent death.
I had some major withdrawal problems and it was a very
difficult time for me. The staff helped me get thru this
period with strong encouragement and love. My family was
so grateful to Johann and Debbie for going the extra
mile to make sure they were kept fully informed as to my
condition and progress. Through the help of Craig
Benoit, I had my legal issues addressed so I could face
them once I was discharged and not have to be burdened
with them while trying to get better. I was kept
comfortable and treated well and I slowly came back to
life. The care I received was second to none.
The inpatient program helped me to get in touch with
some of my inner demons and to face my issues and deal
with them.
When I cleared up a bit I chose to follow the
suggestions that the staff presented to me in regards to
going into the intensive outpatient program and I am so
glad I did.
Today, I have gotten my life back together and things
are going well for me. The problems faced 18 months ago
have dissipated and my life is good.
Thank you for never giving up on me!
If you are struggling with addiction, I highly recommend
the Pride Institute. Going there was the best
decision I have ever made in my life.
Kevin F.
Thank you,
Pride Institute Florida, for helping me salvage
my life and for giving me the courage and tools to carry
on in my life journey. You have made the biggest
difference in my life of any experience to date.
When
I came to you in March 2007, I was at my wits end. I was
a hopeless isolationist and drunk, ready to commit
suicide, thinking I had no reason to remain on this
earth and "taking up space." For too many years, I
had lived within my own head and never really came to
grips with my sexuality - I never had a caring, loving
group to be able to discuss my needs, wants, even hopes.
As a result, I wound up isolating myself, drinking
myself into a stupor/black out each night, just to wake
up the next day and start the same old process over
again. No hope - not even family members could give me
the reasons to continue on.
At my lowest point, after I had the suicide all planned
out and had bought and positioned the tools necessary
for the job (I did a lot of research on the web), a
recent acquaintance, with whom I had discussed many
things over the phone (we had never met in person),
suggested Pride Institute might just be the place
for me to get through my depression and learn new life
skills (he had gone though the program himself and
recommended it) to help me journey back from the
precipice at which I had found myself.
I immediately called your front office and spoke with
Larry (I think it was) and explained who I was, what I
was about to do, etc., and he told me to pack my bags
and get down to your Institute and plan to stay. At that
point, I figured "What the hell. Why not." So I packed a
few things and came down.
Boy, am I glad I did. You and your crew of dedicated
professionals took me under wing and guided me, prodded
me and allowed me the opportunity to discover that I was
a worthy individual, that I really didn't want to die -
I just wanted to get over the pain of living as I had
been. Through the good efforts of people like David,
Marvin and all the others too numerous to name, as well
as the other patients in the program, I found a voice to
my pain, to my needs and to my fears. I was able
to speak of them in a safe place, free from fears
of rejection and put-downs.
Today, I am a pretty well-adjusted older gay man, living
in a community where I have established a circle of
friends and acquaintances, and where I am a valued
member of society.
I owe it all to you and the dedicated crew of
professionals at Pride Institute Florida.
Thank you.
H.D.
On
August 16th 2007
I got off a Greyhound bus from New Orleans, LA after 24
hours of traveling to check myself into Pride
Institute at Fort Lauderdale Hospital. I walked
through the doors of that hospital afraid, alone and
knowing that life as I had known it was over. Little did
I know that a life beyond my wildest dreams was about to
commence. I did 14 days Inpatient and 5 weeks of
Intensive Outpatient therapy. The staff through my whole
journey was caring, compassionate and understanding. I
later found out that many of them had traveled the same
road I was on. I came to Pride open, willing and ready
to be completely honest. I took suggestions, got a
sponsor, wrote a gratitude list, attended meetings
daily, worked the steps but most importantly over the
course of my journey the best suggestion I followed and
what has made it all come together for me was I DIDN'T
DRINK ONE DAY AT A TIME. With the help of many in the
rooms of AA and the staff at the hospital I am living
the life I was intended to live all along. Today, my
life is better then I could have ever hoped. I have a
peace, joy, happiness and a serenity I have never known.
I am grateful everyday to the staff and program at
Pride Institute. For it was with their guidance,
patience and help that I have reclaimed my life.
Sincerely,
Anthony D.
4 January
2008
Mr. Hails, CEO
Fort Lauderdale Hospital
1601 East Las Olas Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
RE: PRIDE UNIT
Mr. Hails,
Thank you for serving the community, and helping those
who have substance abuse/addictions and psychiatric
disorders. I was recently a patient in your facility. I
am writing you today to tell you how well I was treated
in the PRIDE UNIT.
There is an immense advantage of recovery when a GLBT
person can freely speak about their experiences within
their own community. I never had this comfort before
being admitted to PRIDE.
Certain staff members I found to be exceptionally
professional and kind. Chantelle, a technician, was
swift to discover I was on the wrong floor, the 4th, and
moved me immediately to the PRIDE UNIT. She
balanced kindness and authority seamlessly. It was
apparent that she enjoys her job and takes great pride
in her work.
Scott was also very compassionate and helped me move to
the PRIDE UNIT. He made sure I was comfortable
and settled me to my room. Patiently he helped me look
for some of my belongings that were left on the 4th
floor at least five times until they were found.
Considering how bombarded the Hospital was during the
Holiday Season, he made time to find my silly lipstick.
Lena was also a responsive and vivacious staff member.
She always made the patients smile and laugh which is
therapy in itself. She would make time to sit in the TV
room and talk to us when she had a moment and we all
enjoyed her company.
There are other staff members in PRIDE whose
names I forgot, but rest assured they deserve
acknowledgement for their support and good will.
Thank you again for the work that you do. I needed help,
and your facility helped me to choose a better path for
my life.
My best,
