Mark R. was living in a flophouse and drinking himself to death. At this point in his life, his sister showed up and told him he was going to treatment. He was beaten down enough to agree. Initially, he thought he could learn how to drink like a gentleman. However, he soon learned that he had a disease. The structure of treatment, the camaraderie with the other clients, and the care provided by his counselors were invaluable as he grew in early recovery. But life still had its struggles after treatment. He faced a long, tough road for several years with a job that paid him barely enough to survive. However, through a strong relationship with his sponsor and the tools of recovery, he was able to hold on to hope.