In Summer’s Words: A Mother’s Journey from Addiction to Advocacy
Each year at the Celebrating Mothers Luncheon, a graduate of Epiphany Center courageously shares her journey through addiction, recovery, and healing. These deeply personal stories are a powerful reminder of why this work matters—not only for the women we serve, but for their children, families, and futures. This year, Summer, a remarkable mother, stood before a room of supporters and shared a story rooted in survival, resilience, and transformation. From childhood trauma and addiction to recovery, higher education, and advocacy, her journey reflects the life-changing impact that compassionate support and opportunity can make possible. Her words are both heartbreaking and hopeful, and a testament to what can happen when women are given the resources, care, and community they deserve. We invite you to read excerpts from her inspiring remarks below.
“My name is Summer, and I am a proud single mother of three beautiful children. I grew up in severe abuse and neglect, in a home filled with violence, fear, and chaos. From a very young age, I was exposed to violence, drugs, abuse, and constant instability. [...]
I lived in fear every single day, and what hurt just as much as the abuse was that no one truly saved me. I learned to stay silent, even when teachers noticed and CPS came, because I was terrified of what would happen if I told the truth.
As I got older, that pain turned into anger. I was sexually abused by a family member, severely bullied, and abused by the one person who was supposed to protect me. So I decided that if I was going to be hurt, I wasn’t going to be weak anymore.
I joined a gang, ended up in juvenile hall, and became deeply involved in that lifestyle. Behind that tough image was still a hurt child who never felt safe or loved.
I became a teen mom and tried to change, but I was still surrounded by violence and survival mode. I loved my daughter deeply, but love alone doesn’t teach you how to parent. I didn’t know what healthy love looked like. […]
At one point, I was homeless again, struggling with addiction, pregnant, and facing serious felony charges. I remember sitting in a jail cell during COVID, pregnant, terrified, and completely broken. I felt like a failure as a mother, and I couldn’t stop thinking about my daughter crying for me.
That moment changed something in me. For the first time, I knew I needed real help or I was going to lose everything.
That chance led me to Epiphany Center.
I arrived pregnant with my son, carrying my 6-month-old baby, and separated from my older daughter. I was scared, I didn’t trust people, and I didn’t know how to heal.
But something about Epiphany was different.
For the first time, I wasn’t treated like my past. I was treated like a mother, like someone who mattered.
And it was the people who made that difference. Staff who showed up every single day with compassion and care. People like Dr. Linda Perez.
“Six years ago, I thought my life was over. Today, I stand here sober, healing, and determined to give back and help others.”
Dr. Linda helped me understand both my daughter and myself. She taught me that behavior is communication and helped me recognize how my own trauma was affecting my parenting. Instead of making me feel ashamed, she guided me with compassion.
At Epiphany, I learned how to build a secure, loving relationship with my children. For the first time, I felt confident as a parent.
As time passed, I watched other mothers struggle to navigate recovery while trying to keep custody of their children. Seeing that lit a fire in me.
I made a promise to myself: when I left Epiphany, I was going to school, and I was going to help families like ours.
And that’s exactly what I did.
I completed the program, enrolled in community college, and became a single mother of three navigating everything on my own. There were moments I felt defeated, but I refused to give up.
I passed all my classes with A’s. Every semester, I made the Dean’s List.
Eventually, I returned to Epiphany Center, not as a client, but as a parenting intern. To go from being a mother in the program trying to survive, to coming back and supporting other mothers in that same position, was one of the most powerful experiences of my life.
Outside of school, I volunteered with programs serving unhoused families and spent time in San Francisco’s homeless community bringing meals, clothing, blankets, and conversation to people who felt forgotten.
Because I know what it feels like to believe you are nothing. And I made a decision that I was never going to become what I came from.
Eventually, I graduated with highest honors, earned multiple degrees, and was chosen to be the commencement speaker. I applied to 13 universities and was accepted into every single one.
“For the first time, I wasn’t treated like my past. I wasn’t judged, I wasn’t labeled, I was treated like a mother, like someone who mattered.”
Today, I am a full-time student at Stanford University studying public policy.
My children and I are no longer living in poverty. We are stable, safe, and thriving. I broke the cycles of abuse, addiction, and survival that once defined my life.
I am also now a Student Parent Advocate with Generation Hope, helping support student parents like me through advocacy and policy work.
None of this would have been possible without Epiphany Center.
Six years ago, I thought my life was over. Today, I stand here sober, healing, and determined to give back and help others.
Because of this program, I didn’t just survive, I finally started living. Thank you.”
-Summer
Epiphany Center Graduate
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