My journey began in May 2019 when I went on a trip to Romania to reconnect with family. On my journey, even on vacation, I sought out an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting for support. The meeting I found took place within the walls of a psychiatric hospital, and the chairperson leading the meeting was a compassionate psychologist. This psychologist (Andreea Comaniciu), had established this meeting (The Owl Group) for her clients to come back to after treatment, providing them with a safe and free space for their continued recovery.
During this meeting, I discovered a significant gap in resources – Andreea was using a Xerox copy of the Romanian Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. It was then that I became aware of the scarcity of addiction education, as well as the unique challenges posed by the government's perspective on addiction as a disease. Despite the stigma surrounding her choices, Andreea has devoted significant time and effort to helping alcoholics and addicts through her studies. This dedication makes her truly unique and special.
Returning to America with newfound determination, I shared my experiences with my home groups. Driven by a desire to make a impact, I started the collection of recovery books and literature to be sent to the Romanian hospital. The first shipment of books took place in June 2019, marking the beginning of a beautiful mission. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which closed her group meetings and my shipments, our commitment endured. Throughout the lockdown, I continued collecting resources.
Fast forward to May 2022, after a two-year delay in travel plans due to the pandemic—I returned to Romania, this time armed with a suitcase filled not only with books and literature but also with monetary contributions generously donated by local groups in America. These resources were distributed to local groups across Romania, supporting their individual visions for recovery.
On November 18th, 2022, the Romania Recovery Project was officially established as a nonprofit organization. Dedicated to growth, the project strives to continually expand its resources and extend a helping hand to communities throughout Romania. However, I wanted to do more.
In May 2023, I decided to move to Romania for 14 months to see the project through personally. During each visit, reuniting with Andreea has been a significant support and influence on my plans. It's remarkable how one person can profoundly impact your life. Her dedication continues to inspire me. To think this all began with a psychologist, a Xerox copy of the Romanian Big Book, and a willingness to be of service.
Over the past 14 months, I have accomplished goals that I once believed were beyond my reach. The progress we've made has been remarkable and has gone above all our expectations. Our achievements have shown that with dedication and teamwork, anything is possible, and I am inspired to dream even bigger as we move forward.
My goal is to open a treatment center in Romania in 2026 for women and children. This ambitious dream requires a lot of hard work, but having supportive people like Andreea by my side gives me confidence. With her assistance, and the support of others I've met along the way, I believe we can achieve remarkable things together.
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