City of Philadelphia
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When Amber Moon woke up from a coma at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania two years ago, she had no idea what had happened. Moon had been homeless, was deep in addiction and had had untreated medical complications.
“Finally, I guess I collapsed,” Moon said. “A stranger brought me to the hospital. I would love to thank that person, because whoever it was saved my life.”
Moon had to have two surgeries to repair a damaged heart valve and a third surgery to remove a cyst from her spine. Now, Moon is healthy and in long-term recovery. She has two jobs working as a certified recovery specialist and as a peer recovery specialist and is about to move into her own apartment.
Moon largely credits her progress to the help of a respite bed that was waiting for her at Project HOME’s Sacred Heart Recovery Residence in Hunting Park when she was discharged from the hospital. There, Moon received ongoing medical care and transportation to follow-up appointments, as well as case management for housing, employment and other resources. Perhaps, most importantly, she found stability and community.
“Once you get in, it’s like a family,” Moon said about Sacred Heart. “Everybody cares about each other. Nobody goes without.”