Free Again
As my alarm went off at 5:00 am this morning and I crawled out of my bed at a place called the Stephen Center, I felt ready to face the world today. A little over three months ago my life was in shambles and I didn't want to face anything. I was homeless and facing jail time. Drugs and alcohol had brought me to my knees once again.
Hi, my name is Kerry and I'll tell you a little of what brought me here and how the Stephen Center has lifted me up off of my knees and helped me walk back into the world. I am now able to face challenges that I've been running from for years.
I am a 57 year old man whose potential was unlimited, but was never achieved because of my drug and alcohol use. I started using drugs at a young age and it progressed to the point where it destroyed everything in my life that meant anything to me. I ran through people's lives not caring who I hurt or whose life I brought down with me. I sobered up at times, once for several years. Things did get better then but the guilt and shame of what I had done to my ex-wives, my three beautiful children, my parents and my two brothers and sister always crept back in. I knew what would take away that pain, guilt and shame — that was to get high or drunk. Then came the awful day when even the drugs and alcohol wouldn't take away those feelings of pain, guilt and shame.
That is when the Stephen Center came into my life. The HERO Program has allowed me to start facing my problems, not running from them and using them as an excuse to use. I have found a job while living here which has given me some confidence that I was so lacking before I came here. The Stephen Center has saved my life. The staff has helped me realize that I was a good person making bad choices because of my alcohol and drug use.
If a person really wants to change their life, the Stephen Center is the place to do it. The process can be difficult, but the results will allow you to be a free person once again.
