RECOVERY STORY OF THE MONTH

Hello, my name is Jeffrey R. My birthday is August 29, 1986. I am 39 years old, and I was born in Cleveland, Ohio.

Growing up as a kid, I had a wonderful mother who did all she could for my brother and sister and me. There was always a lot of addiction in our family. Two of my mom’s brothers, and her only sister, are dead as a direct result from addiction. So that means my grandparents had to put three kids to rest before they passed away.

As a young kid, I knew what drinking and drugs were—my family drank and partied a lot. However, my mother knew what it really was and did the best she could to shelter us from it. But I could not wait to drink, and no matter what she would do to keep us away, I was going to find a way to drink.

Problems for me with drinking and using started right away. I started drinking at the age of 13, not every day… it was whenever I could.

In high school, I played sports—baseball and wrestling. I excelled in the sport of wrestling and was one of the best in the state of Ohio. This is when my drinking started to happen. I was a young freshman, 14 years old, and started varsity. So my peers were all older, 18 and 19 years old, and going away to college parties all the time.

I knew I drank differently from the start. I was a blackout drinker right off the bat. In between my 10th grade and 11th grade, I got arrested for the first time and sent a treatment for the first time. I was 16 years old. It did not stick, but a seed was planted. I was a long way from stopping using.

For the next 23 years of my life, I was consumed with alcohol and drug addiction. I was in and out of jails, psych hospitals, homeless, and was 100% absolutely hopeless.

I was OK being a drunk loser as long as I stayed drunk.

I have kids, and I have a family that had to sit back crying and heartbroken by the way I was living—in and out AA, and never stayed. I always thought I would beat the game one day. I was OK being a drunk loser as long as I stayed drunk. And drinking and getting high were all I had, lonely and helpless. The last year I was out there was the pits of hell. I was absolutely insane, and I had to drink to stop myself from going into DT’s. I was in the hospital four times.

Then on November 11, 2023, I got my fifth OVI (Operating a Vehicle Impaired) in Rocky River. Two weeks later, I got a domestic violence. Looking back on that today, this is where God started his magic with me, though I didn’t see it then. I knew I had to do something to stop. And I knew that I was 100% powerless and couldn’t stop. So, one more trip to detox. I went to Stella’s (Stella Maris) on January 12, 2023, and I came to The Rock (the Ed Keating Center) on January 18, 2023.

This is where my sober journey starts. When I first got to the Keating center, I went because I had so many court problems. At the same point, I really wanted to stay sober. But I was unable to fully surrender my will… absolutely. As a result, I got drunk two more times. Both times, Marty allowed me to try again. No words can ever say the love and gratitude I have for Marty and the Keating Center.

…and three days in I had a spiritual awakening. I felt the love from my God…

On September 3, 2024, I came back from a weeklong bender a mental wreck, and three days in I had a spiritual awakening. I felt the love from my God, and through all my friends. I knew that I was right where I needed to be. I got a sponsor, who I absolutely trust and love. I went through the 12 steps for the first time in my life. I changed jobs and started something new. I worked with all sober guys from the Rock, and slowly my life started changing.

Today I have peace inside of me that never in my life have I ever felt. I can’t say enough about how much I love the Keating center, Marty Taft, and everyone there. It changed my life! Thank you, Keating Center.

Sincerely,
Jeffrey R.