At the young age of 20, Billy’s alcohol and drug use had hurt family relations, and he lived in and out of tents on the streets.
“I was stealing from everybody. The family was pretty much done. In November of 2011, my family came together, and they mourned me. They didn’t know if I was alive or not.”
Luckily, in 2012, he encountered someone from De Paul (now Fora Health) whose simple conversation made a significant impact.
Feeling dejected and hopeless, he wandered into De Paul after attempting residential treatment in other local treatment centers. “I remember sitting there with the lady at the front, and I was emotional. I just said I’m gonna die in the long run. I have no idea what to do.”
The staff member explained the admission process and added, “This is our process, but it doesn’t have to be yours. Why don’t you involve your family and try to get that going?”
Billy couldn’t believe his family would want anything to do with him anymore and didn’t take her advice initially. After a New Year’s Eve featuring heavy use, he went to his parent’s house and asked his family for help.
They said yes.
With treatment and support from his family, Billy started his recovery journey. After a few more months, he got integrated more into the recovery community through AA meetings and finding a sponsor.
Today – he’s thriving! “I’m a father. I have two kids. I own an intervention company. I also run a sober living home in Vancouver.”
What started as a simple conversation in our lobby, helped an individual find healing, rebuild family connections and return to the recovery community to support those needing treatment services!
Your donations mean staff are able to engage in these conversations every day. We treat every person who calls or comes into our doors with dignity and kindness. Whether they engage in our programs or not, we want to see people find healing and recovery!
Give today and help people seeking recovery services here.
