“She had the life that I wanted,” said Starlene, a Germantown resident who calls her sister her “hero.” “She showed me what recovery was all about.”
Initially, Starlene resisted seeking recovery help, but despite her reluctance, her sister never gave up on her. “She would leave information about recovery everywhere, in my pockets, on the table, on my wallet. When I was ready and needed it, it was there for me to find.”
After a harrowing experience involving crack, alcohol, and weed, Starlene suffered a stroke that left her unable to speak or move her right side. “I woke up, people were all over me, and I couldn’t talk. I didn’t even look like me anymore. I thought I was gone.”
This event became a pivotal moment of surrender. “I said, oh my God, what have I done to myself, you gotta help me.”
The road to recovery was long and arduous. Starlene spent 365 days in a wheelchair and struggled to regain her speech. But she found strength within herself and with the help of faith.
“I needed to surrender and accept help.” She recounts a moment of triumph when she managed to walk to the bathroom on her own. “It took almost two hours to get to that bathroom. It was the longest walk of my life, but I made it.”
Starlene recognized the importance of mental health in recovery, revealing her bipolar diagnosis. “Mental health is real.” She sought therapy and worked with doctors to manage her medication. Despite initial skepticism about her therapist, she formed a strong bond with him, highlighting that “recovery is everywhere. Every color, every race, every place in the world has recovery.”
Now, with 22 years of sobriety, Starlene is dedicated to helping others struggling with substance use disorder. She shares her experiences and offers support through 12-step programs and as a Certified Peer Specialist.
She uses a memorable analogy to connect with people, referring to substance abuse as a “monkey” or “gorilla” that can turn into “King Kong.” “King Kong ain’t no joke. He’ll kill you. Do you want to die or live?”
Starlene shared some tips for Philadelphians worried about a loved one struggling with substance use. “Do what my sister did to me, give them a flyer, put it in their pocket. Don’t even let them know… because later on, when they get home, they’ll come out and they say, hey, they gave me that.”
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If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health or substance use disorder, seek help. Recovery is possible.
