
Sober Sunrise - AA Speaker Podcast I Was 18 and Already Dying From Alcoholism - Kellie L. - Athens, GA
Mar 6, 2026
55:22
At eighteen years old, Kellie L. walked into Alcoholics Anonymous broken, homeless, and convinced she had no future — and discovered a life she never imagined possible.
Kellie L. from Chicago, IL speaking at the Georgia State Convention in Athens, GA - 25 Oct 2002
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Kellie L. shares a remarkable journey from a chaotic childhood in a Florida trailer park to finding sobriety at just eighteen years old through Alcoholics Anonymous. Raised by a mother struggling with addiction, she spent her teenage years living alone, dropping out of school, committing felonies, and spiraling deeper into drugs and alcohol while chasing relief from a constant feeling of being restless, irritable, and discontent. After arriving in Chicago sick, malnourished, and spiritually empty, a group of AA members who met regularly at the restaurant where she worked reached out and invited her to a meeting. Though she continued drinking for several weeks, their persistence and kindness kept her coming back long enough to hear a simple suggestion: pray for help in the morning and say thank you at night. From that moment forward she began building a new life through sponsorship, service work, and the Twelve Steps, eventually helping start a thriving home group and dedicating herself to carrying the message of recovery. Kelly’s story is a powerful reminder that Alcoholics Anonymous can transform even the most hopeless circumstances into a life of purpose, connection, and gratitude.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu
