Client Story: Lea

Lea has lived with a brain injury since she was a small child. Throughout her life, she often felt misunderstood, which added to the challenges she faced.

When she first began receiving support from Traverse Independence, she described herself as desperate and still actively using substances. She recalled a pivotal moment when Traverse Independence Intensive Case Coordinator, Dan, came to her home. At the time, she said her house was filthy, and she felt unable to carry on. Yet Dan sat with her, listened to her stories for hours, and showed compassion and grace. His willingness to be present in that moment meant a great deal to her.

Following this, Dan referred her to the Traverse Independence Day Program. In December, he sat with her during a very difficult time, and by January, she made the decision to begin working toward sobriety. She shared that having access to the Day Program was a key reason for her ability to get sober. Today, she credits the program for giving her hope and calls it “irreplaceable.”

Now, she feels she is more stable than ever. Emotionally, mentally, and physically. She is hopeful, has goals for her future, and feels the program staff have provided her with the tools needed to be successful. She emphasized that the support she received from staff through the Traverse Independence Day Program gave her a life she never thought possible.

In addition to focusing on her own growth, she now actively gives back by volunteering in various ways at the Day Program. She wants to support clients who are in the same place she once was. She shared that Traverse Independence staff made her feel supported while still giving her the independence to take ownership of her own journey.

She continues to make progress and feels proud of the direction she is heading. Her journey demonstrates resilience, growth, and the impact of compassionate, consistent support.