For 25 years I was heavy into addiction. In that time, I had been in and out of rehabs and jail many times over. The last time I went to prison was in 2013 and when I got out, I ended up at Wellspring on March 11, 2015. Six months later I had graduated the program and was walking out a completely different person then I went in. After graduation I continued to go to 15 meetings a week, I got very involved with the newcomers coming out of prison, and the people that were coming from the streets and entering Wellspring. I tried to be their big brother and help them get to meetings. While I was at Wellspring, a guy named Mark Bolduc used to pick us up for church in a van and I really enjoyed going. When I was in prison, I just went to church to get out of my cell, but with the way Mark was doing it really opened my eyes and I drew really close to God and eventually got baptized and now I help Mark drive the vans to the Wellspring houses to pick up people to come to church and other meetings at the church such like the Serenity meeting.
There were a lot of rules at the Men’s House and a lot of people, especially like me, that fought the law for so many years who think they are petty rules. After being there for a month or two, I realized how much the rules were to keep you accountable and to make you understand how to be a productive member of society. I was one of the lucky ones and I only got one 24 the entire time I was there. I really put my all into the program, I listened to the counselors, the director, and I was always asking questions. I wanted to re-acclimate into the community the best I could, not only to be a productive member of society but to be a good father and to be a good mentor to other people that are going through the program to show them that the program works. No matter how hard times get, you can bounce back from them.
While in the program I was working towards getting custody of my kids back. Two days after I graduated from the program, I was able to do so with the help of my mentors and the program. They were 14 and 11 when I got them back and now there grown adults and looking back it I see how much taking Wellspring seriously putting that work in, affected mine and their lives drastically cause we wouldn’t be where we are as a family today. My kids and now grandson are the thing still keep me fighting every day to stay sober and getting to have such a close relationship with them makes me feel blessed.
I graduated years ago and still Monday to Friday I go to Wellspring’s Men’s House and pick up the men and bring them to the BARN for a noontime meeting. On Wednesdays and Sundays, we pick up from the Wellspring’s Men’s, Women’s, and Infinity House to take them to church and to meetings at Cross Point. I ended up doing this because of how much it helped me when I was at the Men’s House. I have been driving for Mark for six to seven years and it really makes a difference in my life to be able to help people who are coming in and out of Wellspring and the Holyoke House.
I really enjoy my life today. On June 19, I will celebrate 11 years of sobriety. I have an amazing relationship with my kids and grandson, have a beautiful fiancé who supports me through my sobriety, an amazing full-time job I love, and I have learned a lot of coping skills from Wellspring that I was able to bring into my everyday life. I am grateful to be able to be a part of doing this so that my story can help somebody in the future. If you give the Wellspring program your all and truly want the help and take it head on it can truly change your life just like it has mine. One day at a time!!