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Knocklee Resident.

I remember the first day I walked through the doors of Knocklee House. I was a broken man, very depressed, not knowing where I was going in life. I had lost everything to drink. I began telling my story to the staff and manager. As day by day passed by I found the help I needed was here. I began by attending AA meetings regularly. Gradually as time went by the fog began to lift and I started to feel at home there. For the first time in my life I was cooking and it made me feel great! After a few weeks my beautiful son came back into my life. Knocklee helped me so much putting that in place. I was able to have him as well as my partner and parents back. I cannot put it into words what this has meant to me. I started back playing my beloved football. The staff were instrumental in this, driving me to training sometimes twice a week. Gradually everything was falling back into place for me. But then I had an accident. My jaw was broken during a match. I felt ruined again. I feared for my bed in Knocklee as I had to go to Dublin for an operation. As soon as I returned to Tralee the manager assured me everything would be OK. Then she worked with me and my condition, even getting special food as I could not eat properly. Around this time I started to feel depressed again. I stopped talking I kept to myself and I was suffering. It wasn’t until the manager pulled me aside and talked to me it started to make sense and I needed to put myself first. I’ll never forget the feeling of relief after that. Then I was prescribed medication that I needed and it helped me and still does. Looking back I can see how far I have come. Yes, there were some blips along the way but people in Novas have always picked me up and helped to drive me on. I loved working in the garden putting up the greenhouse. What a laugh we all had! But most of all it was the help I will never forget. I have spent 6 months here now. I will soon start a new journey in my recovery but I will always carry Knocklee’s message with me. I know now I can talk about my problems and am not afraid no matter what happens in my life. To everyone who has helped – a really big ‘thank you’ for putting up with me! All I can say is it paid off!

 
At the recent publication of our Annual report the Deputy Mayor of Limerick Cllr Diarmuid Scully, Spoke of that time in the bitterly cold winter of 2000 when a number of homeless people died on the streets of Limerick. He thanked Novas for the work that is being done and for the Lives that have been saved as a result. Representing the Government Deputy Timmy Dooley said that when success is being measured in the saving of lives then something real is being achieved. Deputy Dooley wished Novas every success going forward in caring for the very vulnerable in society. Mr Tony Quilty spoke on behalf of the HSE, saying that the commitment that Novas has, is reflected in its holistic care for the Homeless. He noted the caption within the annual report ....." We start where others stop " ... and encouraged Novas to keep starting.
© 2012 Novas.ie