On July 20, 2005, I pulled over to the side of the road, shot heroin into my veins. This at the time was my life. It’s what I did to function. I was passing out because of the amount of drugs I had just put in my system. When I opened my eyes I was in oncoming traffic. I remembered feeling an impact like never before and when I came to, I knew something was wrong. I was looking at the bottom of my foot from my leg being so badly broken. It was like a scene of a movie that wasn’t real. Jaws of life, life flight helicopter, finding out that my hip, knee, shins, ankle and shoulder were all severely broken and I believed I wouldn’t walk again.
Growing up in a preacher’s home I knew right from wrong. Played sports at a young age, did well in school. I just wanted to be a “normal” kid and fit in with whoever I was around. I feared rejection and that led me to compromise at 12 years of age, when I smoked weed for the first time. I didn’t go to jail, no one found out and I got attention for being wild.
This started a 12-year addiction that ruined my life, my family, my future. Weed led to alcohol. Then that wasn’t enough, and pills came into the picture. Then ecstasy, acid, cocaine, and finally heroin. These are things I never wanted or thought that I would do. I had this under control I thought.
When I let someone put a needle in my arm for the first time I changed into a completely different man. Shame, guilt, anger, depression and selfishness ruled my life. It led me to incarceration, overdoses, and a shattered life that seemed impossible to change. Thats when I reached out for help. I went to Appalachian Teen Challenge where I found my past doesn’t define my future and I could be a new creation because of Jesus. Years later I have a family, hope, future, potential, forgiveness! A brand-new life!
Now President of Family Care Ministries, an amazing wife and kids, I know through Jesus truly all things are possible. God has given us a vision at helping our nation see that if there is breath in someone’s lungs, there is hope for transformation!