I knew Mickey from my Tuesday night recovery group in New Market, Maryland where I live. He’d spent 3 months in another program but things changed there and he needed another place to go.
I facilitated for him to come to Helping Up Mission. Mickey really was tired of using and wanted to change, so he did not use between the two programs.
Although he had now been clean those 3 months, he still had to start all over in our 12-month residential Spiritual Recovery Program. But Mickey didn’t complain, he was just enjoying being clean after almost 2 decades of drugs and alcohol.
Like a number of guys here, after he graduated from our program, Mickey decided he wanted to go to college. Still living in our graduate transitional housing on campus, he got a grant and started taking courses.
But Mickey’s an older guy and I think everyone who knew him was surprised he actually did it. Last week Mickey grabbed me in the parking lot and said, “I arrived at HUM 4 years ago today!”
Still living here, Mickey also works on campus as a Graduate Intern, while also continuing his college work. He was excited to tell me that he is finishing all his general courses this semester and will now begin focusing on his major.
His life is so different today than it was some 4 years ago. Recovery feels pretty good for Mickey. Happy to report his momma’s pretty pleased, too!
One Day at a Time,
Pastor Gary Byers
Deputy Director