08/16/2026
Still Shining: A Story of Recovery, Resilience, and Family Triumph
True success is not measured by how far we fall, but by how high we rise to reclaim our lives and our families. For Carly Chambers and Milissa Brickous, the journey of recovery has been a profound transformation.
Today, Carly celebrates over four years of continuous sobriety, while Milissa marks an incredible milestone of three years and five months clean and sober. Individually, their accomplishments are worthy of the highest praise. Together, they have written a powerful new chapter of community, shared victory, and family triumph.
Healing from the Ground Up
Their paths began in a place of vulnerability and determination. Both women entered the continuum of care through the Evolve Life Centers Treatment Program before transitioning to Opportunity Ministries (OM) at the Margate Ladies Recovery Housing. In those early, critical days, Carly and Milissa took on the difficult but necessary work of healing themselves, temporarily separated from their children to build a stable foundation for the future.The turning point came through a vital, collaborative partnership between Opportunity Ministries and the Anne Arundel County Strengthening Families in Recovery (SFIR) Program. Recognizing their dedication and growth, both mothers qualified for the prestigious Mary’s Lamb Women with Children Program—a rigorous one-year recovery initiative. It was here that Carly was joyfully reunited with her two daughters, Maddie and Ellie, and Milissa welcomed home her daughter, Sasha.
Under the roof of Mary’s Lamb, they learned to navigate the beautiful complexities of parenting in recovery, ultimately graduating from the program with dignity and hope.
Overcoming Roadblocks Together
Throughout their entire recovery journey, financial independence and work ethic were central to their progress. Carly built a strong professional reputation as an Assistant Manager at a local 7-Eleven, while Milissa dedicated herself to helping others through her work at HomeInstead Adult Care. For over two and a half years, both women worked tirelessly—repaying debts, rebuilding their credit scores, and managing budgets with the help of OM’s Financial Literacy Training. Yet, despite their steady employment and financial diligence, the realities of the modern housing market meant neither woman could qualify for an independent apartment on a single income as their graduation date approached.
Rather than allowing this systemic barrier to compromise their progress, Carly and Milissa chose innovation over isolation. They chose to team up.
A New Horizon in Glen Burnie
By combining their resources, credit profiles, and shared values, they successfully qualified for a beautiful three-bedroom apartment in Glen Burnie, officially moving in together on December 1, 2025. This apartment is a sanctuary where three young girls are being raised in a loving, safe, and supportive environment by two mothers who refused to give up.
Carly and Milissa stand as shining examples of what is possible when resilience meets opportunity. Their lives offer a profound return on investment for the dedicated teams at Opportunity Ministries, Evolve Life Centers, and Anne Arundel County’s SFIR Program.
Most importantly, they prove that no matter how dark the past may have been, the future remains bright—and they are still shining.🌟✨️☀️
