Without the 12-Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous, Eve and I would never have met. Now, how much fun would that have been? Thanks, Eve, for sharing the past 12 years with me as we “trudge the road of happy destiny.”
In addition, I have relied on the feedback of friends and experts while writing this book. Thank you, Valerie Samuelson and Peggy Savides, R.N., for your invaluable input at every stage of this book. Special thanks to Kevin Beuret, who edited the final manuscript.
My gratitude extends to my commentators and cheerleaders, including: Fran Holdren, Jennifer Berns, Gloria Muczynski, Chrissy Shults, Jean Handel-Bailey, Fran Corn, Karen Piwowarski, Patricia Fanella-DeVito, Gina Ward, Thea Jarvis, Cathy Causby, Paul Savides, Neil O'Shea, Deborah Fleck, Tania Seymour, Sara Sgarlat, Mark Knoblauch, Carol Morgan, Ph.D., and Sue Powers, R.N.
I am also forever grateful for the support of my friends Merle, the late (great) Roger Ketelsen, and Patricia Moeller, who lost her battle with cancer a year ago. I miss Roger and Pat very much. There are many others who helped Eve and me on the road to recovery in many different ways. They include: Yolanda, Ginny, Arlene and Jim Smith, Penny and Ron Latko, Alex and Lynn, Carlie Koss, Chuck Kaleta, Norm and Doris, Jim Berns, Eileen, G. J., Greg, Dan Rubino, Carolyn Halenza, Laura, Marion, Mary, Auntie Simone, Tony Costanza, Bruce Shivley, Alice Grippe, Carol Stevenson, Peg, Laurie, Diana, Kathy White, and Nikki Welch, M.D. We thank you.
We are indebted to the health professionals who went beyond their professional calling to help Eve and to support me.
Special thanks to Max Ots, M.D.; Tracy Bielinski, R.N.; Mary Vietzke, R.N.; Sharon Prosser, B.S.W.; Julie Feld, M.S.W.; Patti Seeman, C.O.T.A.; Leo Grieben, M.D.; Karen Butler, M.D.; and Bonnie Davis. Many others were there with kind acts or encouraging words when we needed them. If I had known I was going to write a book, I would have recorded all their names. You know who you are. We thank you, one and all. May God bless you.