My journey to being an Alcoholic started way back in my childhood. My mother who had extreme mental health challenges that made growing up really difficult for me. As a young child, I was subjected to emotional and psychological abuse that deeply scarred me. Often times my mother would insinuate that she hated me for looking like my father, dressing me as a boy when I was clearly a girl, and bouncing me around to many different schools. This constant instability and rejection made me feel unloved, unwanted, and worthless. I struggled to make friends or feel accepted because I had to stay with other family members so frequently. By age 10, my mother’s attempts of suicide left me feeling completely hopeless. These traumatic childhood events led me to first picking up drinking when I was just 14 years old. I would sneak alcohol to numb the pain and forget, even for just a little while. For the next 30 + years my drinking would negatively effect every aspect of my life. It damaged relationships and my health. Even my children’s lives were impacted. My son and I would eventually become each other’s enablers; him being a heroine user and me being an Alcoholic. We fed off each other’s addictions. My daughter turned to self-harming practices like cutting to deal with the chaos. Drinking was my escape, but it destroyed my life and my family. The wounds from childhood primed me for addiction at a young age, setting forth decades of hardship. My journey to alcoholism began long before I took my first drink. The year 2017 marked rock bottom for me as addiction and loss pushed me into a dark abyss of despair. It started when one of my dearest friends, who was like a brother to me, died of an overdose on March 25th. The pain of this loss cut deep, but more tragedy was to come. Just one week later, my beloved uncle, who had always been a source of warmth and wisdom to me, also passed away. Meanwhile, my son was embroiled in his own battle with addiction which led to drug convictions and jail time. Watching my child spiral out of control chipped away at my heart. By the beginning of June, I had reached my lowest point. I lost three jobs in just a few months due to my excessive drinking. I would sit alone in the dark, rocking and weeping, unable to cope with even minor aspects of daily life. I withdrew from the outside world entirely. When my son got out of jail, I tried to get him into rehab, despite being intoxicated myself during the phone call. My husband knew I was drunk and he broke down in sobs, begging me to get help before it was too late. Something shifted inside me in that moment. I knew I had to take action before addiction claimed my life. So on June 8th, 2017, I made arrangements to enter a 30-day rehab program, starting on June 10th. My son also entered rehab the next day at a different facility. That difficult period proved to be a turning point. My son has been in active recovery ever since, started a construction company, and recently got married and had a baby. As for me, rehab was the start of a journey to reclaim my life. When I walked through the gates of St. Joseph to start my 30 days of rehab on June 10th, I made a promise to myself that I would never lie or pick up a bottle again. A little over 7 years later, I have kept that promise one day at a time. I had no idea how profoundly that decision would change the course of my life! In rehab, I discovered a deep well of determination and made a solemn vow to myself to stay true to my recovery, no matter how difficult. Now, having emerged from the darkness of addiction I dedicate my ​
 life to ones still struggling through their own journeys. My sobriety has empowered me to live a life of purpose and service. For over 5 years, my husband and I owned and operated a popular restaurant in downtown Meadville, PA, where we hosted support groups like Narcotics Anonymous and Celebrate Recovery to give back to others struggling with addiction. Rob and I opened our restaurant not just as a business, but also as a refuge – a welcoming space where support groups could gather and individuals could speak openly about their battles with substance abuse and trauma. Seeing their courage reaffirmed my own journey of recovery and made my heart swell with compassion. This passion led me to create the Grace Unlimited Foundation, aiming to lift up the homeless and trauma survivors with essential resources and trauma-informed care. Our center (Opening in October) is excited to offer a variety of empowering initiatives, including recovery yoga, cooking classes, life skills training, art classes, support groups, NA/AA meetings, Celebrate Recovery meetings, and more! As the director, I will draw on my own hard-won wisdom to lead with empathy, gently guiding each person to rediscover their self-worth and potential to heal. My experience fuels an unshakable belief that recovery is possible if you have the right support. To further enhance my “toolbox” I just finished classes to become a certified peer recovery specialist and will be taking my boards in the next month or so. I am also training to become an advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, driven by the same calling – to empower those who feel powerless. I am most excited to share that we will be opening the groundbreaking ‘Morning Glories Trauma & Recovery Café” mid-September! A safe place where you’ll find comforting support staff available daily. Savor nourishing meals and gain valuable insights to transcend trauma, addiction, and recovery, all within a compassionate and understanding environment. As part of our mission to uplift the community, we will be offering free meals to the unhoused and those in need from 2-4 Monday-Friday. My journey has taught me that the most broken hearts can become the most resilient. I am honored to shine a light for others still finding their way out of the darkness. My leadership, compassion and determination stem from a place of deep understanding. I will continue reaching out my hand to lift others up, just as I was lifted.
All my love,
-Melissa Kebert
Executive Director Grace Unlimited Foundation