07/20/2026
Recovery is so much more than abstaining from substances; it’s about who you become on the other side.
We had the privilege of working alongside Missy Kimball through the FOCUS Program at HOPE for New Hampshire Recovery, and we’ve seen firsthand the kind of leader she is. She leads with compassion, authenticity, and the lived experience that reminds people recovery is possible.
The work she does isn’t just inspiring; it saves lives.
We’re honored to have crossed paths with her and can’t wait to see the countless lives she’ll continue to impact. Congratulations, Missy. Thank you for being a powerful example of what recovery in action looks like.
We are continuing a series of positive articles about people who have told their stories to HOPE for New Hampshire Recovery
Many of our followers have said they want to hear about successful changes people have made, and this is the first in a series of stories.
Congratulations to Missy for her hard work!
Missy’s Recovery Story
Before I got sober, my life felt like it was constantly falling apart. I was deep in addiction; I had lost custody of my children, and I could not show up to a supervised visit without there being clear evidence of recent use. I wanted to stop using, I really did, but I could not. I would try again and again, and every time I failed, I felt more hopeless. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love my kids. But addiction had such a hold on me that even that love was not enough to break me out of it, until I finally hit a point where something had to change.
During that time, I was staying in rooming houses, trying to find my footing. I was going to as many meetings as I could. Someone told me about a recovery center across town, so we walked across Manchester on a really hot day to check it out. That is how I first came to Hope. I did not know what path I wanted, but they had all kinds of things, SMART Recovery, Dharma, and different types of meetings. It became my starting point.
At first, it was just somewhere safe I could go. I did not have much, but I could be around people who were not using. I started building a community. And as I kept showing up and working on myself, I began to rebuild the parts of my life I thought I had lost.
One of the biggest things I fought for was my kids. I went back to court to get my youngest daughter back and worked my way back into my oldest daughter’s life. I did not even realize most people who go up against DCYF do not win, but I did. I stayed sober, I stayed consistent, and I stayed honest. I used tools I did not even know I had. It took time, but I got them back.
Later on, while working and continuing to show up at Hope, I began helping other parents going through the same things I had. I met with them at Hope in a room we used to call the family room. Sometimes people even had visits with their kids there. For a long time, it was the only safe place some people had, and I was grateful to be a part of it.
After a few years, I went back to school and earned my associate’s degree in human services. I did two internships at Hope and eventually joined the staff. I started as a participant, then came back as a student, started working as the Operations Manager, and now I am the Deputy Director.
If someone had told me eight years ago this would be my life, I would not have believed them. But I stayed sober, I did the work, and I never gave up on the idea that I could have something better. Because I have found strength in my story, I am building a life I never imagined I could have.
