As we approach the Christmas season, a time for reflection, gratitude, and giving, I want to share my story of transformation and hope that could not have happened without the prayers and support of people like you.

Six months after retiring from the Army in 2014, I was asked to celebrate a wedding in West Point. On my way there, I suffered a gruesome accident that injured both my legs. I was determined to fulfill my obligation, which I accomplished with the help of a wheelchair, painkillers, and lots of wine.

From darkness to light

The months that followed were some of the darkest of my life. After having surgery, I was confined to a wheelchair for several months. Alcohol and prescription painkillers became my constant companions. This deadly combination plunged me into a grim spiral, one that I could not escape on my own. It wasn’t until I surrendered completely and sought help at an inpatient treatment center in my hometown that my life began to turn around. After intensive therapy for both my addiction and combat-related PTSD, I found strength in recovery.

The treatment experience saved my life. It gave me the tools to pursue sobriety, but recovery is a journey. This is where Guest House, along with AA and my sponsor, stepped in to become my lifelong companions. Through Guest House, I finally felt my journey in sobriety was uniting with the Church. I found a community of support, connection, and faith, which helps me stay on the path of sobriety.