Jeff's Story
My name is Jeff and this is the story of how I came to the Stephen Center. My early years were pretty uneventful. My father was a career air force man. He flew 89 bombing missions for the 9th air force. We didn’t travel to some of the exotic places like some of my friends. Our family did live in Newfoundland and North Carolina.
When I was 17, I was in a motorcycle accident. I had to have my left leg amputated below the knee. I was angry at the world and God for allowing this to happen. For the next 40 years, I took my anger out on the world. I did this by planting bombs to blow up the police. I sold and used drugs for 40 years. I was arrested numerous times for gun charges. I spend six years in six different federal prisons for cocaine conspiracy.
I was even angrier upon my release for those charges and I continued my destructive behavior. In 2004, I was given a five year sentence from the state of Iowa for no tax stamp on marijuana. After that release, I was still mad at the world and myself. I must have learned a little during that time because I was no longer angry with God. In fact, I was pretty sure that he didn’t even exist.
I continued down this road for another two years. My father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and my mother asked me if I could help take care of my father. I was glad to try and help my father. My parents had always tried to teach me the right way to live my life. Even with all of their efforts, my life was pretty much a mess.
While helping my mother care for my ailing father, she fell down the stairs to the basement one day when I wasn’t there. She didn’t survive the fall. I found her on that Sunday morning when I went to help her with my father. Three weeks later my father died of his cancer at home in his bed. I was so angry, but if I didn’t believe in God, then who should I be angry at? I didn’t know.
Eighteen months ago I was arrested again for a minor misdemeanor drug charge. I was sentenced to one year of probation. I had never been given the option of probation on my previous arrests. I told myself it was finally time let go of all of the anger – not just for myself, but to honor my parents. I hope that they can see that I’m no longer the angry son that they had known for so many ears. I know that would make them happy. I came to the Stephen Center HERO Program for them and myself. I’m working through my issues now with the help of the counselors.
After all of these years, I’m finally getting the help that I need. Thank you Stephen Center!
