As a childhood cancer survivor, Suzie Casarona still remembers the moment her world shifted with the diagnosis of a Wilms tumor that would ultimately claim one of her kidneys. Growing up as the middle child of nine, Suzie’s early years were defined by chaos and instability—an environment that eventually led her into the foster care system. Between the trauma of her health battles and the abuse she endured from grade school through junior high, Suzie’s path was marked by pain long before she reached adulthood. By 16, she had dropped out of school and turned to illicit substances to mask her reality. While her grandfather fought to keep her on track, Suzie found herself "running and going," spiraling into an addiction to methamphetamine and crack alongside a mother who felt more like a party companion than a parent. She was a young woman searching for a place to belong yet finding only dysfunctional and abusive relationships. Even the birth of her first child at the age of 19, and the immense love that followed, could not immediately break the cycle of addiction. During her time in residential treatment, Suzie faced her lowest point: losing custody of her children. It was then that the recovery community stepped in, pouring love into her when she felt most unlovable. Today, the trajectory of Suzie’s life has changed once again. She is no longer running; she is leading. Suzie, we are so happy you’ve found your place. We are honored to have you on the Mirror team, bringing hope and recovery to others.

Send a text