My name is Cassandra Julian; I’m a mother, daughter, grandmother, aunt, wife and friend today. I never believed I could be any of those things because of the lifestyle I chose for myself at an early age. I gave my daughter to my mother for her to continue caring for her, since I was incapable of doing so. I got married to my first husband in my disease. While married I had two sons who eventually I lost to the system. When they say the disease progresses believe me it does, things didn’t get better for me it got worse. I had so many stipulations on me to get my life right or else. My mother was not going to continue taking care of my children, the courts where going to adopt them out making me in jeopardy of losing my parental rights.
I entered into Free at Last Women’s Residential program March 11, 1998 with a CPS worker and limited visitations. I was able to be trusted enough to be allowed not one, but both of my sons, to enter the program with me learning how to be a mother at the same time as learning how to live life drug free. I owe Free at Last so much, I got my life back. I became the mother that I knew I could be to the boys I never gave a chance to and the daughter I had forgotten about. I also became the daughter that my mother prayed for every night, the grandmother that shows nothing but goodness to her grand-daughter, an aunt that can be called on for advice who buys gifts for all special occasions, a wife that knows how to love her man and a friend who is there through anything, without any motives or expectations. I made a promise to myself in which I am proud that I kept it; that was to successfully graduate from this program, stay clean long enough to be considered for a job and give back to another addict just like me. To help another suffering mother get her children back and become productive in society. I made a promise to always have an open heart, be open minded to any and all things that crosses my path, I made a promise to remain honest no matter what the outcome may be, I made a promise to always make Free at Last a priority, I truly believe that if it wasn’t for Free at Last I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Thank you to Free at Last and everyone that crossed my path helping me and believing in me, to be me... 
My name is Cassandra and I’m a recovering addict and if I can do it so can you.