My husband and I were married in 1975. I had two miscarriages and then my first son was born in 1978. Within one week of his birth I was in a psychiatric hospital, suffering from a nervous breakdown. The first year of his life I spent in and out of hospital, on twelve tablets a day, many sessions of ECT that did not work at all. All in all I was in a mess.

I felt full of despair, helpless, hopeless and hapless. I went on like this for three years with very few good days. During all this time I was either very depressed or very elated. The depression was bad for me, with only one thought in mind all the time – suicide. I wanted so badly to end all the pain.

My second son was born in 1982, with a repeat of further depression, elation and more trips to hospital. This went on for ten years with very few good days. I would never have survived all this only for the help of my husband and two sisters, who practically reared our two boys. In 1988 I was introduced to GROW and I went reluctantly to my first meeting hoping I would not know anybody. I had mixed feelings about the meeting but decided I really would give it a try.

It is without a shadow of a doubt because of the GROW Program and its many helpful members that I have completely recovered from depression. I can now live one day at a time, not worrying about the past or the future. I have learned a better way of life, and physically, mentally and spiritually I have been helped along by GROW and the people in it. I never miss my weekly meeting and never miss helping somebody if I can. Thank God for GROW and its members and my family.