Addiction Recovery Program: Patsy

I grew up in a big loving Italian family and was taught great morals. My parents divorced when I was twelve years old and it took a toll on me and my sister. I had a best friend and we hung out and rode fourwheelers. Although my dad told me specifically not to get on the road, I disobeyed him. My best friend got hit head on by a truck and died. I dealt with a lot of guilt and that’s when my addiction really started.

I dabbled in alcohol, smoked marijuana and hung out with the older crowd. When I was 18 years old my mom passed away from cancer. I started taking opiates to
cover the hurt inside me. I started breaking into houses, robbing people, stealing from my family and doing things to pay for my addiction. It didn’t matter who I stepped on.

In 2010 I was working at my dad’s business and I was really dope sick. I didn’t know what to do so I left at lunch, went to the neighbor’s house and stole a bunch of jewelry. My dad is the one who ended up catching me. The lady is a friend of the family and she said, “Patsy, just turn the stuff in and nothing will happen.” It was too late. I already had the dope in my hand. My dad is the one who called the police and I went to prison for two years. Everybody wanted me to get help, but I just didn’t want to listen.

I got out and was on parole and didn’t learn a thing. I got back into trouble and went back to prison. I didn’t learn anything from that either, and I got into the heavy drugs. Things started spiraling out of control. I didn’t care about my life. I didn’t care about my loved ones. I didn’t care about anything.

In 2016 I realized that I needed help. I ended up going to a program that didn’t work out. They dropped me off in Charleston and I knew I wasn’t ready to go home. I ended up at Union Mission’s Crossroads and entered the recovery program. Due to my pride and stubbornness, I left after five months and went
back home. God restored the relationship between my dad and family until I got back into my addiction. I almost lost my life to a heroin overdose and it took six
things of Narcan to bring me back to life.

A few months after that I knew I had to get help or I wasn’t going to make it. I came back to Union Mission with a desire to change my life. I was ready to allow God to search my heart and give me a better understanding of myself. I wanted something different in my life and I knew God had a plan for me. I wanted things that I couldn’t get through drugs. I wanted a wife, a house and kids someday. Most of all I wanted a relationship with God and with my family.

The support at Union Mission is amazing. I am so thankful that God has placed these people in my life. I’ve been here for 6 months and every day I wake up I’m excited and thankful. I have started the transitional phase now and I will be an intern helping the new guys coming into the program. As far as goals. I’m going to look at a couple of colleges. I am just going to stand still, listen to God’s direction and take it one step at a time.

My dad is truly my hero. I know he loves me with all his heart. It’s been seven or eight months since I’ve talked to him. Even though he taught me great morals and great values, I stabbed him in the back numerous times. He doesn’t want anything to do with me now, and I completely understand and deserve it.

If I could talk to him I would just tell him how much I love him. Just like my heavenly father, my dad is testing me to see if this is real this time. I have faith and I trust God’s going to restore our relationship in His time, and I know I must do my part. I’m excited for that, but I’m a little impatient because I want to talk to my dad.

Patsy is working hard on his recovery and hopes to someday restore his relationship with his father and family.