I’ve been struggling with alcoholism since the age of fifteen, for it was the only way I new how to cope with my problems. Years into this terrible addiction, I found myself at the brink of losing everything important to me in my life. My wife was filing for a divorce, my family stopped talking to me, My kids lost all respect for me, I was facing job termination, and I soon found myself waking up in a psychiatric hospital depressed, defeated, and torn. My sister, heartbroken and tired of watching her younger brother’s life spiral out of control, approached me about a residential program she had learned about called Hawaii Island Recovery. I felt hesitant at first about this idea but knew this may be the last chance for me to make things right. Once I arrived at HIR, I was immediately greeted with open arms by staff who to this day, I call my “ohana”. I’ve met mentors here who have “walked my walk” and understood what it took to live a clean and sober life. For the first time in my life, I felt there was hope for me. Each day was filled with Educational group meetings, recreation therapy, individual counseling, and trips to the gym. I can’t forget to mention, the excellent food and the resort like atmosphere of HIR, making it so much easier to recover. Today I am happy to say that I live a sober and healthy life. I made an amends with my wife and our relationship is filled with love and happiness. I’m slowly gaining trust back from family and friends that I have hurt in the past. I was able to keep my job and I’m much more productive in my work. Thanks to the experiences at HIR, I’ve truly learned to live a happy and sober life. Mahalo to all at Hawaii Island Recovery! ------
T.C.
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