OWNING IT ALL IN ORDER TO HEAL

 

First of all I am an adult child of alcoholics. My husband and I never had alcoholic beverages in our home because of our childhoods. When my youngest son became an alcoholic I was beyond upset, I was reliving a lot of trauma I thought I had worked through. 

He was in and out of rehabs and I decided to focus on my husband and myself. Last July he had been clean for about 2 months. I was happy for him, he had found a wonderful church with activities that supported addicts . He developed a seizure disorder and took medication but was still having them. 

On July 16th he had a grand Mal seizure and it stopped his heart. He didn't make it. I knew I had done everything I could to make him safe and had stopped enabling him. He was only 30 years old. 

I think about all the times he struggled to be his best self and now I know he is safe in heaven and one day we will be reunited. I am grateful for all the people who prayed with me and got me through really hard times. I worked my own plan of recovery and it has sustained me during this time. 

There once was a wonderful person who laughed and could always make me smile and he will forever be loved and missed. 

Mary

THE MIRACLE OF LIFE

 This is my story of an Alcoholic...

Keith B.

The miracle of life and the miracle of God...

From the age of 14 all the way till the age of 54, alcohol was my best friend and the love of my life. He was with me through the good times and the bad times, never leaving my side. He was the one thing that I could always count on in my life. Well, after a 40 year relationship with my best friend, I had to say good-bye. My health, my job and my relationships were all at risk of being taken away from me due to this horrible disease that is 'alcoholism'. 

Two years ago I found myself in the hospital with a a severe case of pancreatitis. While in the hospital I had a blood clot back up into my spleen and caused it to rupture. I was rushed into emergency surgery. When I finally woke up it was 3 weeks later. The doctor came in to see me, he explained what happened and I was in shock to hear this news. He told me that I had two operations in the first hospital that I was in and then was transported by helicopter to another hospital for two MORE operations to clean out my abdomen from the mess my ruptured spleen created. While on the operating table I DIED TWICE and received 17 units of blood - just to stay alive. They also put me in a medically induced coma for three weeks after the final surgery to stabilize me. 

I finally left the hospital 8 weeks later and returned to my life as a new man. I remained sober for 6 months and was doing great, till something happened and I relapsed. This is when I went to a treatment facility for a second time to fix my life for good. After my release, I was on the mend again and doing well. Sober for another 6 months until another relapse.

"What the hell is wrong with me?"...Oh yeah, it's this damn disease. Back into the hospital for the second time with pancreatitis. It is Sunday, February 16, 2020. While in the hospital COVID hits and all kinds of patients are filling the hospital and dying. This scared the crap out of me really bad. So when I finally was released two weeks later, I did some serious praying to God and gave Him my life completely and said, "I need help in order to stay alive."

This is the miracle: With all I've been through, (2/16/20), was my last drink. I am sober today with the strength that God gives me, and the mentality of ONE DAY AT A TIME. If I can beat this disease with God's help, you can too!

WHAT GOD CAN DO

It is amazing what God can do when you turn over your Will and Life to Him everyday.

For 15 years I worked hard at destroying everything I loved and those who Loved me. My master was the bottle and it managed me and drove all my decisions. He was a hard master and came at a high price but I was willing to do anything for him. In that short 15 years I lost my family, my health and my respect.

But today I have a new Master who has all Power - that One is God. May you find Him now! Sep. 16th, 2020, God once again, (not my first trip to rehab), showed that He has always been right by me, I just needed to look to Him and not the bottle. This time I surrendered and turned, yes turned my Will and Life over to His care, for today.

Today I am happy to report that today I am marrying my wife again, that I worked so hard to push away. She looks at me with respect again and (with the real miracle) trust. Not all has been restored but everyday I get up, thank Him and turn my Will and Life over to God, just for today. He is a much easier Master with much better rewards.

P.S. Monday I will be 8 months sober.

Sherman B.