Transformations

A PRECIOUS GIFT OF GREAT VALUE, BECAUSE OF BEING RARE, EXPENSIVE OR IMPORTANT.

My name is David Green Thompson. I first came to Lulama in the early months of 2021. I completed the three-week program with no issues, renovations were just getting started at this point. A new director, a new face, Lulama had a new outlook to rehabilitation. Unfortunately, I did not understand or was not ready at this point in my life to commit to my sobriety, my new life. After 6 months of abstinence, I relapsed a painful 6 months later, I hit rock bottom, serious health issues. I had become danger to myself, feeling ashamed, depressed and very sick. I decided that I needed help, I understood that I could not do this alone. I knew this lady from my previous stay with SANCA, but I didn’t feel as close to her as there were 27 patients and 3 counsellors. It was still very valuable to me in terms of learning about addiction and coping skill to deal with life, my second stay at Lulama just seemed more personal. We were a smaller group of 10. We all had same counsellor to teach us what I valued the most in my program-> coping skills. The core values and lessons, I have conditioned, my mind to understand and practice was delivered with such grace.

No person that is admitted to Lulama is ok. It blows my mind that in such a short time, that the team at Lulama, bottom to the top, could have such an impact on making me believe that I can turn my life around. Thank you but one lady stole the show. She had such a humble, almost empathetic approach during lessons or discussions, one on one, or in a group setting. Turning negative to positive in just few sentences. I will never forget when she told us, the only gift we could ever give her, is to stay sober. The dedication that is required from an individual, to be there for people at their most vulnerable and painful moments is truly remarkable. The confidence, I have gained from her words made me believe in myself, made me realize, that if I dont love myself first, how can I love anything else. God bless the valuable staff at Lulama for bringing me through these gates, but the most valuable prayer for me was my counsellor, for making me want to be a better version of myself, through the ups and downs, one day at a time. Her name is precious and she is truly precious to me.

David green thompson

‘‘Letter of gratitude (small thank you to my new family / brothers / sisterhood)’’

Coming to Lulama made me feel like I have a place where I belong and I am understood as they have staff members who are well equipped with the ‘know how’ to help an addict like me stay sober and enjoy my sobriety. I didn’t know coming here would restore my faith, purpose and restore my positive mind-set that I was born with. I found NA/AA members who shared their life story with us, and I, along with other addicts, hope that we can also go for years being sober. The Holy Spirit is really alive in this place, this place has become so special to my heart, from the cleaning staff, doctors and nurses, even the security guards have a big role they play in my recovery. When I wake up, I just thank God for this opportunity.

Coming to Lulama really saved my life along with my mother’s and younger sibling. There has been so much understanding, love, kindness and newfound joy at Lulama.

Mfundo Mgoduka

MY TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH SANCA

It was not an easy thing because I had not accepted that I was an alcoholic. With a boarding school background, I did not know the type of treatment I was going to receive, I did not know what activities nor kind of people I was going to be exposed or interact with. Lulama made me accept that I was an alcoholic. It made me understand the type and seriousness of my disease. It equipped me with tools for controlling my chronic disease. It made me live my life normally, knowing that I am sick and there is no cure for my disease and helped to make peace with myself. The aftercare gives me hope in hopeless situations. I get to offload all my weekly challenges at the aftercare. I get solutions and suggestions. It has made me regain my self-esteem.

Sandile Xaba

Since my in-patient treatment I have never felt the same, nor regretted the decision to seek help at the LULAMA TREATMENT CENTRE. To your team of DEDICATED SPECIALISTS, thank you for instilling and equipping me with the tools to survive the wrath of my addiction. Moreover, thanks for the much-needed aftercare, which continually reinforces the DISCIPLINE which you have taught me.

Anonymous

What LULAMA meant to me? While I was here at Lulama, everything was different, the sleeping, eating, the complete routine. After I left after my three weeks, I was a totally new person, it was as if I was born again and I was given a second chance in life. Thanks to the staff at Lulama for helping me find the true person I am, because without the treatment, I don’t know where I would have been.

Anonymous

15 Years…15 years of alcohol abuse. During the course of these 15 years, I lost myself and thought that the person I always wanted to be, needed alcohol to build up my self-esteem. I can honestly say that in the year of 2022, I have hit my ‘rock bottom’. I was on the verge of losing my husband, my work and my own self-respect. The guilt of what my drinking was causing and knowing that I am the one responsible for what is going on around me, caused me also to go into a severe depression. I constantly found myself crying (in Afrikaans we call it ‘dronkverdriet’), living in the past and blaming everyone around me for the situation I was in (complete denial).

Fortunately for me, with a lot of support and prayers from people very close to me, I got the opportunity to go to the Lulama. As much as it was a very though decision to make with regards to being away from my husband and kids for 3 weeks, it was one of the most important decisions I had to make for the sake of my wellbeing and for my family. From the first day of being at Lulama Centre, I felt so much at home. I was really at home away from home. The nurses, social workers, kitchen staff and even the cleaners made me feel so welcome. I received the life and social skills needed for the journey to maintain my sobriety. Learning that I am not alone in being an addict and to have so much in common with the fellow patients that I met was such a blessing.

In conclusion, I am truly grateful for a place like Lulama. Through the amazing staff and a lot of self-reflection, I can say with confidence that I have found the Charné that I knew I always was without the alcohol. One day at a time I will maintain my sobriety. Thank you Lulama!

Charne Bezuidenhout

When I arrived at Lulama it was the 8th of Dec 2021, I hated everything about myself but when I got there after speaking to Zizile who gave me so much hope and faith that I will pull through, that fear quickly disappeared I was like at least someone is believing in me.

Then the days went by I started attending classes which taught me that I had a disease of addiction and that when I begin to understand that all I needed to do in order to conquer in this journey is to be true and loyal to myself but always apply what is being taught in class and my notes still helps me because I still do go back and follow till today where I come across some hiccup’s in my journey of recovery.

Today I’m 9 months sober but I believe I am only able to do it this far because of attending after care, my online meetings and also chatting to my social worker at all time where I encounter some challenges since this is a life time disease which has no cure but to stay clean who has done an amazing work in my life and is keen to walk with me, and I feel grateful at all times because if its wasn’t for being at Lulama I would have failed in this journey. Now things are starting to be clearer than it was. I’ve learned to love myself, my family again and would like to give praise to the man above for giving me another chance in life.

Once again, I would like to thank each and every one at Lulama for your great effort in me.

Thanks for allowing me to share.

Nomfundo Zulu