The following is a Facebook post from a friend that I wanted to share with you with her permission. I hope you find it as inspiring a message as I did ~ Scarlett (SASSI Training Director)

“A guy my family had known for about 8 years got mixed up with the wrong group of people and fell into really rough times. Drugs, evicted from his home, arrested and then went to jail.

He wrote me a letter from jail in June of 2025 just saying he needed a friend to visit him. He didn’t ask for money, just a friend to see and talk to. I went to visit him in jail in August that year. After a short visit he thanked me over and over and said I was the only person that had visited him.

I sent a letter after my visit to check up on him, and it got returned.

I called everywhere to see if he was transferred to another place or even if he was still alive. No resolution.

The other day, I was at the pool, and a guy was walking toward me waving. I did not recognize him at first as he had gained about 30 pounds and was wearing a stylish pair of glasses. When he got closer, I could not believe this was the same guy! He is now clean and sober 11 months, has a landscaping job and a car!

He is working on his program and made a special visit to thank me for being his only “real” friend. He invited me to his rehab graduation later in the month. I will be there!

That day showed me that redemption is real, second chances are powerful, and sometimes all someone needs is one person who doesn’t give up on them. I’m proud of him and humbled to have played even a tiny part in his comeback.”

Natalie Roemer, LMT