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BRIEF HISTORY

Here is a rundown on my life of drinking.

I started drinking when I was 16 years old. That was “late” in life. For that, I can thank neighbors who watched after us. My mom and dad both drank. They had five kids. We depended on welfare.

I was called a “problem child.” I would run away from home. I ran from the abuse. I went through foster care until I was 16.

When I came back home, both of my parents were drinking even more. They drank up the county checks. They left it to churches, their friends, and our neighbors to feed us. So I quit school. I got a job so my brothers and sister had food to eat. Then I started stealing my parents’ booze. I did it to drown my feelings.

At 18, I went to a rehab for 30 days. Before that, I had been hospitalized. I had fallen off a 3rd floor porch. I continued drinking. I had run-ins with the law. Then the court ordered me to rehabs.

At the age of 30, I was hospitalized with alcohol poisoning. I had been to a Halloween party. I had drunk 1 ¹/₂ fifths of Jack Daniels in less than 10 hours. I went home and fell asleep in a chair. If I had gone to bed, I would not be here today. My neighbor came to check on me. That saved my life. I was rushed to the area hospital. I had my stomach pumped and flushed. I was in terrible pain. I was nearly dead. I had a high alcohol level in my blood. So they couldn’t give me painkillers. The poison shut my liver down for three days. After weeks of treatment, I was sent home. I now have Hepatitis A and C. It’s because of the damage I did to my liver.

This was a turning point in my life. By the grace of God, my life was saved.

I began attending A.A. meetings. I went for nearly five years. I had many slips. I went to a rehab for one year. Then I came to prison.

Over the 36 years before prison, I lost my wife. I lost everything I owned. This is the hardest way for an alcoholic to learn. But God had a reason. He took away my old way of living. He’s given back my self-respect. I still can learn from my mistakes.

I want the time I have left on earth to be happy and joyful. By the grace of God, I hope to have that. I will be free someday. God willing, I can live without the booze. I want help so I can stop. So I will be a winner.

–Anonymous Male