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Below are a very small sample of the many kind letters of Thank You that we
receive................
"I have not stopped giving thanks for you..." Dear Friends at Oasis I left my stay with you folks almost 5 years ago. You were my seventh treatment center, but the first to suggest I pray. That saved my life & started me on a happy path. Since then, I've had 8 sponsees & 4 have over a year (+1 more soon). I secretary 2 meetings. I've volunteered in a treatment center as the "AA Volunteer" for 3.5 years. Also, my wife & I have referred three folks to you. On a separate line, on May 26, my wife & I will celebrate 30 years of marriage. As I've been told by folks in my "Home Group", she's a saint. Further, on June 1, I'll celebrate my first anniversary as a non-smoker--after 38 years of addiction. The nice thing here-- not only can I breathe, the savings is paying for our June trip to England--our first trip overseas. Am I grateful? I am VERY HAPPY! Thank you for your instruction in prayer. I never had any instruction before, and my background as a Sunday school teacher (9 years), plus a church deacon & elder implied that I must know--but I didn't, and I had no idea that it was so important. Please keep up the good work. You are valued and greatly appreciated. Tom S. Dear Jim, I am sure that you receive a great many letters from people who feel truly blessed to have received the loving care that you and your staff provide. I would therefore like to describe myself, so that you may know exactly who is writing to you. You may remember me as the young man who jumped rope incessantly. I was also the person who smoked banana peels while in treatment. I also physically threatened other residents. My dad recommended that I be transferred to another center. Along with Manny, you and I spoke to my dad on the phone, and vehemently argued against this. I wound up going to the other treatment center, and I walked out a few days later. That was truly a depressing time for me. I didn't know where to turn, but I knew I still needed help. You and my mother had extensive correspondence during this time. The best offer that you were able to make was for me to return, and allow my peers to decide whether or not to accept me back. After all the stunts that I had pulled, there was no telling how they were going to respond. When I returned to Oasis, most if not all of the residents strongly expressed their desire to have me removed. I clearly remember the experience. During a special meeting to determine my fate at the center, they really let me have it. It was then that I realized for the first time how much I had affected the rest of the group. I was very sad and upset with myself. At the end of that meeting, you told the entire group that you were going to decide whether or not to readmit me into the program. You left the room for about fifteen minutes. When you returned, you said that I would be given one more chance to prove myself, and only one chance. That decision has meant more to me than you could ever know. I am writing to you so that you might have some understanding of the true appreciation that I feel. I am sitting here with tears in my eyes right now. I will always remember the care that you provided me in my time of great need. Your lovely wife Kathy, and Manny are also in my prayers for all that they did for me. Thank you for your love of the L-RD, and for encouraging prayer as strongly as you do. This is the greatest lesson of all! I still wake up, and go to my bed, after my knees touch the floor. Next month, I will be celebrating my two-year wedding anniversary with my wife Donna. We met at a Messianic Congregation a few months after I finished the program. Now I have a prayer partner to kneel with before I go to bed each night. We are now living in Michigan, as this is where most of my family lives. I have decided to pursue a degree in Social Work, so that I may be able to help others the way that you helped me. The Admissions Office at Eastern Michigan University, where I am applying, requests a personal statement for admission to their Master of Social Work (MSW) program. The instructions for writing the statement ask if there have been any life experiences that have contributed to my interest in pursuing a degree in Social Work. My entire experience at Oasis clearly comes to mind, and will definitely be included in my personal statement. You, and your staff are truly doing the L-RD's work. I feel truly blessed for the time I spent at your treatment center. Because you helped me, now I am able to help others. Sincerely, Glen B.
Dear
Jim, Kathy, This is Kent S. ... I don't know if you immediately remember me, but I was at Oasis in November, 2001 and again in the first part of 2002. I was the guy who was massively addicted to prescription painkillers and who relapsed again in March of 2002 (which resulted in my termination from Oasis). Well, I thought I would give you a quick update: In April, 2002 I went back in front of my Judge who was none-too-happy that I was terminated from treatment. To summarize a long story, in the end I was sentenced to 17 months in prison. For a year of those 17 months, I was at a "Treatment" Prison and I went through the treatment programs offered there (not nearly as good as Oasis, of course). More importantly I had NO access to drugs for a very long time. Well, as I am sure you can imagine, prison was NOT a pleasant experience, but it finally got me clean. So in a way, it was the worst thing and the best thing to happen to me. Kind of strange, isn't it. I was finally released from incarceration around the end of September, 2003. And at the time I moved back home with my wife who was still with me after all that I put her through. The next challenge was finding a good job. I certainly have some good job skills and am a pretty intelligent person, but I faced four serious obstacles: (1) I am a convicted felon, (2) I was fired from my only job I have had as a adult (Not a real good job reference there), (3) I had been out of the work force for over two years, and (4) I had to declare personal bankruptcy. Throughout October, I searched very hard but was getting very frustrated. I had been told flat out on multiple occasions that there was NO WAY I was going to get a job in my fields (accounting and computer programming) because I had a criminal record and my computer skills were very outdated (two years is a LONG time in the computer industry). I was getting ready to give up and just find some minimum job delivering pizza or something (yet more consequences of my actions). But I worked very hard to stay positive and continue to have faith that things were somehow going to work out. these were life skills that were taught to me at Oasis and that I practiced over and over when I was in prison. And... Through a series of weird events I landed the best possible job I ever could. In November I started working for a small trucking company here in Akron (OH) as their accountant and computer guy. And I absolutely love it. I am grateful every single day that I have such an awesome job to go to considering my situation. And my life has continued to get better and better. I am also grateful that my wife, family, and friends stuck with me through everything. I was given so much love and support that helped me to survive some VERY difficult, stressful times. And now I am able to give back my love and support to them. And, finally, I wanted to say that I am grateful that I spent time out there at Oasis. Even though it had a bad ending and it took going to prison for me to finally get my act together (I guess I have a very deep "bottom") I learned a tremendous amount at Oasis, and I have many life skills as a result that will help me be a happy, healthy person the rest of my life. So I just wanted to say "thank you". And please feel free to use my letter for anything you want. Maybe hearing my story might help someone else... With love and gratitude.... Kent S.
Jim & Kathy, I sincerely want to thank you for your dedication to helping people. The Oasis saved my life again. I was totally lost and without hope when I arrived and really wanted to die. Your Love kept me going until GOD could do his work for me. I prayed for a miracle and I received it from you. I know thinks like Williams death do not seem to make sense, but GOD gained another servant in me. Some where in all that chaos I had a spiritual experience which changed my thinking. I will stay sober! My purpose in life is clear now. Thank you so very much for giving me a chance to allow GOD to work in my life. Hopefully you understand why I must return to Georgia now with my family. It is very important to me that you know I am doing what I know GOD would have me do. I will walk with GOD through my fears and stay sober. I will stay connected to Oasis and AA. I see how discouraging dealing with this disease must be at your level of involvement. I really respect how you confront it in all of us. You are very courageous and greatly appreciated. Your dedication will always be with me. I love you both very much. Mike L.
Dear Friends,
January 12,2002 was my 3rd
Birthday. Although I couldn’t be with
you - - I’m currently at an AA spiritual retreat, and fondly remembered you - - my
first spiritual retreat and the place that saved my life.
I have been blessed since leaving you
for home in early June, 1999. For over 2
years now, I’ve been an AA volunteer at a local hospital treatment center - - I give
a step 1 lead at their weekly meeting for new patients (as you were my 7th
treatment, this place was one of my 6 failures - - but I’m trying to help their
program.).
My home group (over 45 years old)
also asked me to secretary one of their meetings - - a beginner step study. I also have 3 sponsees.
The reason you succeeded, where the
others failed - - was you were the only place that suggested I pray, and you even taught
me to pray. It is only through the grace of
our higher, loving power that we can be saved.
I pass on the prayer tools you taught
me to sponsees - - my sponsee brothers - - and others.
It doesn’t always take - - for some, their low self image is so poor,
they think GOD is irrelevant or doesn’t care about them. But, as taught about the 12th step, it
doesn’t matter that we always succeed, but that we tried.
One special blessing of the program
is my relationship with my wife. Before
returning home from the Oasis, we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in
California, and although we recognized our marriage was spiritually dead, as suggested in
the program we gave it a year. It worked
& we have a lovely spiritual relationship - - and will celebrate 28 years this coming
May, 2002.
Tom S. February 26, 2002 St. Jude Medical Center 101 E. Valencia Mesa Drive Fullerton, CA. 92835-3809 St. Jude Administration Leigh S. Dear Jim,
Dearest Dear of the Dears,
“Each act of kindness weaves throughout life’s endless
tapestry…
January 2, 2002
Dearest Jim, Kathy, and Oasis Staff:
Dear Jim and Kathy, I just wanted to send you this note to tell you thank you again for what you have done not only for Dustin, but also for our "whole family." You and your center have been a magical place for us since the day we stepped foot in the door. To be able to still come there on special occasions and even just on the Tuesday nights that we attend the family codependency meeting means so much to us. Kathy, I’m sure you don’t remember with all the hundreds of people that pass through your doors over the years, but yours was the first smiling face that I saw when I brought my son in. You were also the one who comforted me when I "lost it" as I was leaving that night. I will always be grateful to you for that. I know we haven’t gotten to know each other "real" well over the years, but I think of you as an angel walking around in human form. You are truly a special person and you and yours are always in my thoughts and prayers when I think of all he things I am grateful for today. No one can ever tell me that God wasn’t leading me when I was frantically trying to find a place for my son to go to that day. I literally opened the Yellow Pages and picked the first place that I laid my fingers on. Thank God it was The Oasis. I don’t even want to think about what "might have been" if we had ended up somewhere else. You and Jim have completely changed our whole family. With God’s help and the fellowship of AA, our grandsons will not be going through what their mother, uncle and grandparents have gone through. It was so beautiful to be able to include them in last night’s events. Thank you again, and you will be in our hearts forever. Love, Rebecca and Dan F.
Dear Jim A. and Family, January 12, 2001, was my second birthday (not bad for a 52 year old man), and I met it with joy and gratefulness. I’ve thought of you many times and I look forward to my next visit. Oasis was my seventh center and last hope. Starting my prayer life there not only saved my life, it started me on a life of "Happy, Joyous and Free." I remember one Fireside meeting where Jim confessed he primarily remembered his "problem residents," not the quiet ones. I, a quiet one, immediately asked for an appointment to meet with him privately. It was important to me that he remember me-as I was already extremely grateful for Oasis. He asked how my last treatment compared to Oasis. My last program, which kept me dry for 3 months was more expensive, had better food, and a heavy concentration on the first 5 steps-it had no prayer. Not even a suggestion and little opportunity for it. I am no longer bitter about my last program. I’ve learned much in retrospect from that experience. However, Oasis will always have a special place in my heart. I especially loved the prayer learning sessions, and I’ve been able to share those thoughts with others in my AA volunteer work at another hospital treatment center in my hometown-one of my 7. I never mentioned this while I was at Oasis, but while there I was a serving, active (ordained) Presbyterian Elder and Deacon. Yet, until Oasis, it had never occurred to me to pray-and I really never knew how. I do now! Your Friend Forever, Tom S.
Dear Kathleen and Jim, Although you haven’t heard from me lately, it is not from a lack of gratitude. My work is demanding as you might imagine. But enough is enough. You need to know how profoundly grateful I am to both of you and to Oasis Treatment Center for literally saving my son’s life. You have given him his self-worth as a man, a spiritual basis for living and a community that cares about his life. Last summer in the depths of his illness, I really felt little hope that my son would ever get well again. You cannot imagine how it touches my soul to hear my son’s laughter and to witness him working, supporting himself and being a responsible young adult. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And bless you both for devoting your lives to saving the lives of others, the highest of all callings. Sincerely, Denise D.
Dear Jim and the Team at Oasis, Please know that my gratitude and appreciation is extended to all of you for working so hard to help my daughter. Her set back, although painful and disappointing, only reminds me that each of us must rise and fall in sequence with what we have inside and this, no matter how firmly and squarely supported, can only be as it is, regardless of the love and guidance given. I know you all did everything you could to point my daughter in the right direction, as I did. I know it truly lies where it probably has always been, between herself and God. Please think of her and pray that her connection with God gives her the strength she needs each day.
May God Bless and I Thank You All! Kathy and Mike F.
Dear Oasis, Thank you for taking care of the cake for our son. We are so proud and thankful for his first year of sobriety. The staff at Oasis made it possible. Your program is a shining example of what love and concern can accomplish. Thank heaven we found Ed and Ed told us about Oasis. Give my best to everyone. What a wonderful group of people. Love, Winnie R.
Dear Jim A., Bobbie and I would like to express our sincerest appreciation and gratitude for you and your rehab program. Our daughter celebrated her 3rd year of sobriety this past June. Three years ago, she was in such desperation. We, too, were suffering under extreme pressure and exasperation. Reluctantly, she was convinced to participate in your program. Having enrolled her in other programs without lasting results. We were not expecting the best of success from yours. However, today, we can say we are extremely pleased with the results of your program. She is doing extremely well. She is now a very lovely, caring person, exhibiting all the necessary qualities of self-assurance, responsibility, dependability and personal drive required to take control of her life. A very heavy burden has been lifted from her as well as us. For that, we cannot thank you enough. We wish you continued success for your program and extend our heartfelt thanks for your ongoing personal concern for the welfare of our daughter. Keep up the excellent work!!
Sincerely, Warren and Bobbie J.
Dear Jim, What a wonderful and illuminating visit we had last weekend at Oasis! It was a privilege to watch "the magic" at work. You really have cultivated a unique set of values that is infectious to everyone. I was particularly impressed with the following:
I know our son is in the right place. And that God has truly blessed us with the Oasis. I’ve been on my knees more than a few times since my return and have no intention of stopping! Thanks! Love, James S.
…A world of gratitude for a ton of love and sunshine you have brought to our lives. Your program encourages much success with this dreaded disease and sadly for my precious son, he wasn’t ready to complete the hard work and courage to allow yours and God’s strength to guide him. Thank you for a peek at magic, serenity, and miracles. They are all there and alive at Oasis and thank God for you all!! Sandy
…The Oasis Treatment Center has made a profound change in our whole family’s lives. My brother did not want to go at first, but on the recommendations of others, he admitted himself. He promised he would stay for one week, then it turned into two, then thirty days, then sixty. Each increase in time was what he chose to do. The changes in his attitude and behavior have been remarkable. He is a different person. The thing that really made an impression on me was the insistence that our whole family be involved in therapy and his treatment. Everyone on the staff was and is available to family members when we need them. It may sound somewhat corny, but there is a lot of love practiced at this place. Stephanie J.
…My son just called and told me he received his two-year chip last night. I want you to know how much we appreciate the positive changes we have seen in our son these past two years. I believe we have our real son back and we thank you and the center for this wonderful gift! Jackie and Bob N.
…Looking back at this past year, I can honestly say that I have been blessed with many blessings. The number one blessing that comes to mind is I am still sober and sane. So, once again, I thought I should take a few minutes to thank the wonderful folks that made this possible. I never knew there was happiness to be found in a sunrise and a sunset, the breeze on my face or the kiss on my cheek from my daughters. I just wanted to let you know the work you do makes a difference! Hawley
Dear Jim and Kathy, After two and a half days with our son at the Oasis and seeing how many positive things you are doing and making possible for so many, we came home feeling totally blessed. We are so very grateful God directed us your way. You have so much influence and they admire you so very much. We all learned so many things over the weekend, but the one feeling that is shared by all is a "special love." God Bless you both and may He give you the energy and strength to continue for many years. Love, Barbara and John H.
To All the Staff, We wish to express our thanks to dedicated staff and volunteers at Oasis Center. We were pleasantly surprised to meet you all and how friendly you were and helpful to us. You have made such a difference in our son’s life, by giving him help and structure and how to deal with his problem. May the Lord bless you all and guide you in your daily work in the future. With deep appreciation and love. Ugo L.
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