RECOVERY STORY OF THE MONTH!

Mikey A.
Sobriety Date: October 25, 2017

My name is Mikey, and I am an alcoholic. I have a sponsor and a higher power that I choose to call God, who I do not understand sometimes, but no matter what, always has my back. Most importantly I have a working knowledge of the twelve steps that I try to apply to my life daily. I say “try” because I’m not perfect and I still fall short in many aspects. 

I have two loving parents. My mother is in this program and we get to walk this journey together. My father is what we call a “norm-y”.  I had a good childhood and always had what I needed and some of what I wanted. From as far back as I can remember (to this day), I battle with depression bad. It is not as bad as it once was because I know how to control it better now, but I attempted suicide 3 times. I was very close, two or three times, to death.

I remember one time I woke up with tubes down my throat and all kinds of machines hooked up to me. When I came to, I remember looking around and my mom was on one side of me and my dad on the other, crying their eyes out. They knew I was battling with depression and addiction and all I could think about at that very moment was I have to get out of here because I have more drugs at home. I was so selfish.

During my 15-year run, I had been to multiple facilities like the Ed Keating Center and jail. I was most definitely a low bottom alcoholic.  Nobody wanted me around and nobody wanted anything to do with me…because why would they?  All I did was take from people… anything to get my next one.

Nobody wanted me around and nobody wanted anything to do with me…because why would they?  All I did was take from people… anything to get my next one.

I remember being in a one-bedroom apartment with my mom, my aunt and uncle and my grandmother. It was bed bug infested and we had to use garbage bags filled with clothes as pillows…and sweaters as blankets. While my poor grandmother was in the living room, her two daughters and her grandson are in this tiny bedroom worried about one thing only, and it was not making sure that she got food or anything like that.  It was one thing and one thing only…getting high.

Shortly after that, my mother went to the Jean Marie House in March of 2016.  I went do Dayton to try the geographical cure they talk about and let’s just say that lasted 3 months and I was back in Cleveland ripping and running. This last run only lasted about a month before the pain was finally great enough. My last use, I was at Sheetz on Tiedeman all night and it was cold and raining outside.  I was miserable.  I was beat down.  I felt defeated.

When the morning came, I had $2.00, so I walked up and got on the bus. I went to the rapid station on Brookpark Road and got off the rapid on 117th and walked up to “The Rock”.  I didn’t want to go there because I knew Marty was going to tell me to shave my face, but at that point in my life I had no options left.  I was willing to do whatever I had to do not to continue to feel the way I felt or continue that lifestyle.  I knew there was a better way of life out there because I have seen it.  I knew what I had to do, but until I was ready for the change and the pain was great enough, there was absolutely nothing anyone could do for me.  There is no doubt in my mind that if I didn’t make that decision to go to the Keating Center that day, I would most definitely have become a statistic.

There is no doubt in my mind that if I didn’t make that decision to go to the Keating Center that day, I would most definitely have become a statistic.

Thank god for places like the Keating Center, Jean Marie House, etc. because they do not turn their backs on us when everyone else in our life does. The people that run those places are just like me, alcoholics….and they understand.  From the day I walked into the rock on October 25, 2017, I still try to continue to do the things I did then.  I still have the same routine every morning.  I wake up, I pray, I read my 24-hour book and I make my bed.

 The blessings that come with this program are very real.  After being in and out of my daughter’s life for 9 years, I was granted full custody and I am proud to say today that I can provide for her and call myself a father. I get to work with other alcoholics just like me daily.  I am a manager at a treatment center so it’s awesome to be able to do that today.  I get to walk this journey side by side with my Mom and let me tell you, if we can do it, so can you!!  I am very grateful for the Keating Center and the people in it. I am blessed to have met some amazing, wonderful people.  I hope I helped someone stay sober another 24!!!   Thank you!