People Care by Caring People

“Many Reasons to Smile”

For the first time in years Jimmy can smile; his old teeth, destroyed by his meth use, have been restored and all aspects of his old life of addiction have been replaced by a rewarding and healthy life style, free from meth and alcohol. At age 48, Jimmy has climbed out of the dungeon of drugs, alcohol, homelessness, unemployment, and major health problems.

Jimmy Lost more than His Teeth
During his using years Jimmy lost more than his teeth – he painfully lost custody of his infant son who is now nine years old and living with adopted parents. He knows some day he will have a happy reunion with his son.
There are many reasons for Jimmy to smile. After years of attempting to achieve sobriety, in and out of treatment and half-way houses, he now has four years of being clean and sober. He has a job as a full-time technician in the aerospace industry. He loves his job and he is good at it. The full-time job gives him health benefits so he can get medical care for his health issues. He lives and works in the California coastal town of San Luis Obispo, a place he describes as one of the most beautiful places on earth with its turquoise-blue ocean and mild Mediterranean climate – a starkly different environment than living on the streets of Phoenix, Arizona.

TERROS Believed in Me
When asked the reason for his recovery success, Jimmy’s quick answer was “TERROS. They believed in me.” Treatment did not quickly lead to a turnaround. He would quit using, then use again but he didn’t stop going to the treatment program. “Sometimes I showed up too high to be in group but they still talked to me in the lobby, sometimes gave me a bus ticket, and told me to come back. They didn’t kick me out; they believed in me and I kept coming back because of people like Kate, Val, George, Jeff, and Roseanne the receptionist. Since then I have stayed in touch with Kate and I am trying to figure out how to give back to TERROS and especially to the folks there who are in the early stages of treatment. I want them to see and believe it can be done.”

After 20 Years – Visiting Mom
Last summer Jimmy visited his mother and family for the first time in 20 years, and he is looking forward to the next visit. He is expecting a promotion at work, has taken up the guitar again, goes for meditative nature walks, attends a Baptist church, and helps the church serve food to the homeless – serving them with a big smile that says “I like my new teeth but I am especially proud of my new life.”

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