What recovery Means To Me - Kerry Manley

When you meet Kerry, you instantly realise what a gentle, loving person she is. It is also evident that what she went through with her son impacted on her greatly. Here she talks about a happier topic, that of ‘What Recovery Means To Me’.

Feel free to comment and share your experiences and views with us.

My personal story

The story of my life is interwoven with my son's, Kevin, but this is it from my perspective. It was quite emotional going over it all again, but it has a happy ending, and it may help the families of those going through the trauma of addiction at the moment to understand it all a little better. That is the main reason I have done this story, to try to give others hope.

This is my personal story.

Introducing myself

Hello, my name is Kerry and I'm 55 (nearly 56!) years old. I've been married to John for 35 years. We have 2 grown up children who have also settled down in Cardiff, and 4 fabulous grandchildren, aged between 2 & 9.

I live with John and our 10 year old dog called Paddy, in a house that has many happy memories of our children growing up. I work full-time (shift-work) in a large hospital in Cardiff as an administrator, which doesn't leave me too much spare time. Lately I've been trying to live a healthier lifestyle - better diet, exercise etc but I have to say I'm failing miserably at present!

I started to volunteer for Wired In after my son, Kevin, had got involved with them during his recovery from drug addiction. I have made some good friends from the ranks of Wired In, and really enjoy spending time with them, both professionally and socially.

Interests : 

My Grandchildren, card making, reading, aqua aerobics, walking

Favourite movies : 

Mayerling, Billy Elliot, Castaway

Favourite music : 

Fleetwood Mac (original line-up!), B B King, Otis Reading, Bob Marley, Matt Redman (worship), Puccini (espeicially Tosca!)

Favourite books : 

Papillon, The Bible, The Kite runner, Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Favourite quotes : 

 Martin Luther King - "With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope"                         

Mother Teresa of Calcutta - "If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive"