Frances Gordon’s Recovery Story
Frances Gordon’s journey to recovery began at her lowest point—on September 12, 1993, in a basement on the West Side of Chicago, holding a greasy jar of alcohol with a
burned cotton ball floating at the bottom. “My chest was hurting, but I couldn’t stop,” Frances recalls. Eventually, the pain forced her to drive herself to the hospital, where doctors told her she had suffered 3 to 4 small heart attacks that day.
As she lay in the hospital bed, one thought overwhelmed her: her three daughters. “All I could think about was who would take care of them if I didn’t make it,” she says. That thought became her wake-up call—the spark that ignited her journey to recovery.
Finding Hope in Recovery
During her stay in the hospital’s drug unit, Frances was introduced to the 12-step program. At first, she resisted. “I was angry, aggressive, and mentally distraught—I didn’t think I needed help from anyone,” she admits. But with time, she realized that accepting help was the only way forward. That decision changed everything. Today, after 30 years in recovery, her life is unrecognizable from what it once was.
The Power of Service and the 12 Steps
What began as a reluctant acceptance of help grew into a commitment to serving others. Frances not only embraced the 12 steps but also became a sponsor herself, guiding others on their path to recovery. “Now, I’m a helper and a sponsor, living by the 12 principles in every area of my life,” she explains. Helping others has given her purpose and a deeper appreciation for her own recovery journey.
A Message of Hope
To anyone still struggling, Frances’s message is simple but powerful: “It’s never too late to change, and change is always possible if you’re willing to work for it.” Her story proves that even in the darkest moments, there is always a way forward. “If you’re struggling, don’t give up—keep fighting, because a better life is waiting on the other side,” she says with conviction.
Frances’s journey from the brink of death to 30 years of sobriety is a testament to the power of faith, service, and the courage to change. Her story reminds us all that no matter how far you’ve fallen, recovery is possible.
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