SOME PERSONAL STORIES OF RECOVERY!

They say it is a House of Miracles. People suffering from addictions and their families get well at EDGEWOOD. Sometimes, against all odds. But don't take our word for it. Here is just one of the numerous experiences that our patients have had at EDGEWOOD, and you can decide...Is EDGEWOOD a House of Miracles?

Willy's Story... The Short Version!
Willingness...I was willing to do anything, whatever it took to get high. I loved it. It was my goal from 14 & up. But it led me down the road of misery, the things we did, the people we hurt, the danger we posed was scary. I spent way too much time on skid road. Over dosing became too frequent, people died.

My friends are either in jail, dead or have disappeared - I do not think one could survive that life style at that pace. My friend Dave is still in jail some 16 years later. I went on. Trying to build a better life. I became a secret "user" but as the tape played out I would end up losing two beautiful wives, homes, and the desire or willingness to live...morally, physically, spirituality bankrupt...nothing left to give.

My wives were terrified when they got a glimpse into the real me - a binge addict who would eventually be unable to control his using, going from days, weeks, months before going terminal..

My second bout of going terminal I tried a recovery house, A.A. N.A and made 10 months clean. How I made that long is a mystery as I never changed, surrendered to my addiction, never did all that was suggested or was so full of denial, dishonesty and unwilling to change without even knowing it.

My third time...I ended up arriving in Edgewood...beat-again and with a beautiful wife, two young daughters, a successful business and was never so miserable in life, caught between two worlds I was even unable to laugh, smile or feel except guilt, fear, anger.

This time around it would be all emotional pain, lies that I would inflict. When my wife asked me to leave, I threaten her in an attempt to get her to stay with me by telling her it was "Game Over" if we split up. I'm getting too old (50) for this shit and didn't have any fight or desire to rebuild...again. I was basically telling her if she left me, my death would be on her hands.

I knew how it would end up - it would all come crashing down again - the only question being how long it would take. I began using until I would die...death seemed a good option.

My disease liked this very much, it had won, I could use non-stop until the bitter end. Fortunately my wife had enough love left to get my ass to Edgewood.

I came only because I couldn't bear the thought of my girls living life with the knowledge their Dad was a loser - a drug addict who died and left them to a life of shame. I was an expert on shame and could not pass that on to them.

At some point in Edgewood a miracle began to happen. I began to experience a rebirth of my spirit, a powerful desire to live, a fire in my belly unlike any I have ever known, began to take hold and I began to stand up and fight, the fight. I completed treatment in Edgewood whereas it had been decided for me that I would require more time...and began extended treatment in Edgewood's Woodside program. While in there my desire for recovery became even stronger. I battled my demons. My wife began seeing another man, still I stayed against my will. She attended Insight and received help with her pain.

Meanwhile I developed a greater awareness, relationship with my higher power, myself and I got to surrender to my very most "inner self". My spiritual experiences awareness increased and I began to get better, willingness to do whatever was suggested became my goal. But most importantly I realized that I had to pick up the tools laid before me and "Do it" with my higher power, self, A.A. and others. I began to realize just how valuable my time in Extended Care had become. I had become "Grounded" in the process, I was being reborn a passion for recovery a desire to think outside my head go within myself, heal.

Help others and to be grateful and to hopefully one day, give back the gift I had been given to others, my higher power my family, my community, A.A. N.A. my business. Today I am in recovery and my willingness to live, recover still amazes me...thanks Edgewood. Today I'm back in my community and people are liking what they see!

I'm scared to think where I would be, had I turned down Extended...