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Dear Coast to Coast,
It's two weeks now since
you flew to Boston to guide us through an intervention
for our daughter/niece, Nikki. As we recall that extraordinary
experience, we are still somewhat disbelieving that
it actually achieved the goal of persuading Nikki to
choose to go - that afternoon - all the way across the
continent for treatment of her oxycontin addiction!
But, of course, upon
reflection we are able to discern many factors that
helped her take the first step towards recovery. Foremost
is the atmosphere of trust in this process and in ourselves
that you created through your honesty and sincerity.
Your encouragement to both express our loving support
and yet be firm about our decision not to continue our
enabling patterns of behavior gave us clarity of intention
we so much needed not only for the intervention but
for ongoing choices of how we can best help Nikki.
More specifically, we
valued your emphasis on teamwork, your allowing the
process to flow without needing to control it which
greatly reduced our own nervousness and provided the
space for us to feel and speak from our hearts. We also
sensed that Nikki was very quickly comfortable with
you; your sharing your own life experiences clearly
resonated with her. We believe that your flexibility
in not insisting on an agenda or timetable (insofar
as you were willing to change air flights and even stay
an extra day if necessary) made the event much more
a matter of choice rather than coercion. Finally we
must add that, intervention aside, we enjoyed our brief
acquaintance with you - whether meeting the night before
or sitting on the floor of the air terminal waiting
for your flight - planning, talking, sharing, advising,
it was all easeful and relaxed which counts for a lot
to a family under stress.
We also cannot adequately
express our appreciation for your continued involvement
with Nikki's treatment. Your frequent calls and complete
availability to address any and all of our concerns
have made these two weeks so much more manageable. Because
we've met and have a connection, we feel a high degree
of confidence in your ability to advocate for both Nikki
and for us.
You've proven to be
a reliable and good friend. Thank you from our hearts,
Robert Marder, Philip
Lam, Vicky I, Lucy Leu
Nikki's Intervention
Team (father/uncle/aunts)
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