09/03/2026
Happy National Recovery Month 💜
When Carissa’s daughter Ariana was born, she was immediately taken to the NICU. Carissa learned that her baby would be started on morphine to manage withdrawal symptoms, something she desperately hoped to avoid. Already carrying the weight of her past, she felt judged and humiliated at a time when she needed support most.
Then she found Hushabye Nursery.
"Walking in the doors at Hushabye, they were very non-judgmental. They were very welcoming and loving, and nobody looked at me as badly as I saw myself."
Ariana spent 17 days at Hushabye receiving specialized care for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, with Carissa by her side. Today, Ariana is 11 months old and full of joy.
For Carissa, those 17 days were part of a much longer journey. She has been working toward recovery since 2015, fighting to rebuild her life and reunite her family. There were setbacks and difficult days, but she kept going.
That perseverance paid off. Carissa’s DCS case is now officially closed, and all three of her children are home with her.
"I had to earn that right to be her mom, and I did, so I cherish that. I’m very grateful to have her every day."
Carissa’s story is a reminder of what can happen when a family is met with compassion instead of judgment and when a mother is given the support and opportunity to keep fighting for the life, she wants for herself and her children.
