Reunited Through Recovery: A Love Story
February 13, 2025
When Katrinka and Phil met in seventh grade, they had no way of knowing that fate would bring them back together decades later. Their story is a testament to how meaningful connections can form in the most unexpected places, even within the walls of a behavioral health support program.
RHA’s Peer Living Rooms (PLR) are a safe, comfortable, welcoming space where you can participate in activities that support your personal journey with others who are also in recovery.
Katrinka and Phil grew up together, sharing years of friendship before life took them on separate paths. Both went on to start families, losing touch over the years. But in April 2024, fate reunited them at RHA’s PLR in Asheville, NC.
Katrinka, a longtime PLR participant, noticed a man with long hair one day and mistakenly called him by another name. When Phil turned around, she instantly recognized him. They reintroduced themselves, and their connection reignited almost instantly.
Shortly after, Phil was hospitalized, and he listed Katrinka as his girlfriend so she could visit him. She did—and from that moment on, their bond only grew stronger. They spent countless hours glued to their phones. Katrinka recalled how they “mixed up their days and nights because they would spend all night talking on the phone.” Before long, they knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.
One day, while chatting in the PLR about their plans to get married, Laurie, a Team Leader in the PLR, jokingly suggested they hold the ceremony there—after all, it was the place that brought them back together. A few weeks later, they decided that was exactly what they wanted to do.
Their wedding at RHA’s PLR was a beautiful and intimate celebration. Katrinka’s daughter and neighbor attended, along with PLR and Behavioral Health Urgent Care staff who had been part of their journey. Their officiant, a Buncombe County Magistrate and friend of Phil’s, had also gone to school with them—another sign that their story had come full circle.
At RHA, we are honored to provide spaces where individuals can find support, healing, and community. Katrinka and Phil’s story is a reminder that mental health services are not just about treatment—they are about creating environments where people can thrive, reconnect, and sometimes, even find love.
We celebrate this beautiful moment and are grateful to be a part of their journey. Congratulations to Katrinka and Phil!
To learn more about RHA’s behavioral health services, visit rhahealth.org/bh
