365 Gold Stars: Dave’s One Year of Sobriety With UF Health’s Florida Recovery Center

On Aug. 26, Dave Romrell placed a gold sticker in his personal planner — a small token he bought to remind himself to keep pushing forward as he began his journey to sobriety.

This gold star, in particular, held a special meaning. Preceded by exactly 364 others, it marked a milestone Dave once could only look toward: one year of sobriety. The star represented his true north for recovery, one day at a time.

For Dave, the achievement was a moment to reflect on his own humility and commitment to recovery — something he says would not have been possible without the unwavering care and support he received through the UF Health Florida Recovery Center, or FRC.

Dave’s journey to sobriety, and ultimately to the person he is today, began when he walked through the doors of the UF Health Psychiatric Hospital seeking help after struggling with depression and anxiety.

At the time, Dave hadn’t realized that alcohol would become an important part of the journey he needed to confront. He knew that something in his life needed to change.

That reality became clear soon after he arrived, when he blew a 0.314 on a breathalyzer. This exceptionally high blood alcohol concentration revealed just how serious his struggle with alcohol had become. Florida’s legal breath-alcohol level is 0.08.

The test result prompted Dave to be taken to the emergency room before he ultimately was admitted to the detox unit at UF Health Psychiatric Hospital, where he spent the next eight days.

For nearly nine months leading up to that moment, alcohol had increasingly taken over Dave’s daily life.

“It got to the point, near the end of my addiction, that I was starting to drink in the morning because I was having shakes, and I was keeping it going throughout the day,” he said. “I would get to the point at night where I would just drink straight from the bottles. That was the routine for probably nine months before I went to recovery.”

Despite the severity of his drinking, Dave had not yet admitted to himself that he had developed an alcohol use disorder. That began to change on his second day at the UF Health Psychiatric Hospital, where he was offered the opportunity to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

At first, Dave decided to go simply for a change of scenery. That changed as he sat among the other attendees and listened as they introduced themselves by their first names and candidly shared what had brought them to the meeting. Something resonated deeply within Dave. It touched something that caused him to reflect on what brought him to this low point.

“They get to me, and I was struggling with what to say because I hadn’t yet admitted that I was an alcoholic,” he said. “Regardless, I said, ‘Dave, alcoholic’ anyway. I remember for the first time feeling this audible sigh of relief, kind of like a weight off my shoulders.”

For Dave, the meeting gave him more than an opportunity to confront his addiction. As he heard the story of another person in recovery who had found long-term sobriety, he began to see that overcoming his addiction was possible.

That newfound hope ultimately led Dave to the UF Health Florida Recovery Center, Florida’s premier addiction treatment facility. After opening its new campus last year, the FRC builds on a history of successfully providing a range of personalized treatment options designed to meet each patient’s needs and set them on their own path to recovery.

“From the moment I walked in, I felt I was in the right place,” Dave said. “From the support staff I met at the very beginning to the therapists, physicians and fellow patients along the way, I knew I was meant to be there.”

After considering which treatment option was right for him, Dave continued his treatment as an inpatient at the FRC. Desperate for recovery, he agreed to stay at the facility for the next 90 days, officially beginning his road to recovery.

Though the transition wasn’t easy, Dave persevered. With a structured schedule tailored to provide the resources, tools and support he needed, the darkness that had once consumed his life slowly began to fade. In its place, Dave began to see the light of hope. He began to feel emotions he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

“Near the end of my active addiction, I had just gotten to the point that I drank to not feel anything,” he said. “These people, these classes and these schedules of programming helped me understand what emotions were again.”

Day by day, Dave immersed himself in the program, confronting his struggles and learning the tools he needed to overcome them. One day of sobriety became one month, then three months. By the time he completed the program, he had begun building a new life in recovery.

“What I learned in the facility was not only how to manage my addiction, but how to carry those tools with me so that when I left the FRC, I could continue my journey of sobriety and build the recovery I have today.”

Now, one year later, those days have added up to 365 days of sobriety. It’s a milestone Dave once thought he would never reach, and one he hopes will remind others that recovery is possible for them, too.

“For me, it’s still one day at a time, one gold star at a time,” he said.

To this day, Dave continues to keep his journal, placing a gold star for each day of sobriety, even after reaching his one-year milestone.

“One gold star at a time began as a simple way for me to recognize each sober day,” Dave said. “A gold star marked each day that I chose recovery. Later, red stars began marking the memories that recovery made possible.

“What started as a personal practice grew into this journal — a place to see, one page at a time, that recovery isn’t just about the life we leave behind. It’s about the life we get back.”

As Dave has found strength in recovery, he has also found purpose in sharing his story. In honor of National Recovery Month and every month, he hopes his journey encourages others to believe recovery is possible and, when they are ready, to share their own stories.

That mission was reinforced recently when his fiancée sent him a photo of a bumper sticker that deeply resonated with him: “Recover loudly, so others don’t die in silence.” The phrase has become a personal touchstone, reminding Dave why speaking openly about recovery matters and why he continues to tell his story: to offer hope, break the stigma and help others find their way to healing.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use disorder, help is available. Call (352) 265-4372 to speak with the UF Health Florida Recovery Center and take the first step toward recovery.