I was born in Modesto, California, and grew up with my two older sisters. My father struggled with alcohol, which made life at home difficult. Many days it felt like we were walking on eggshells, never knowing what to expect.
When I was 22 years old, my mother was diagnosed with stage-four brain cancer and passed away just one month later. Losing her devastated our family. Not long afterward, I began using prescription pain medications, including Norco and OxyContin, along with cocaine. At the time, I convinced myself that the party lifestyle helped me cope with the pain. I continued working and appeared to function normally, but addiction was quietly taking hold of my life.
Before my mother's passing, I had moved to Southern California to pursue music, playing in bars and anywhere our band could find a venue. During that time, I also studied fitness and strength training online, hoping to become a personal trainer. After my mother's death, I returned briefly to Modesto before relocating to Sacramento, where my addiction continued to grow.
From 2017 through 2022, I relied on a methadone clinic to manage my addiction while continuing to work. I lived in the Sacramento area for about 15 years and went through several unhealthy relationships that enabled my lifestyle. By 2024, I was sharing a home with friends who were also using drugs and partying. Nearly everything I earned went toward drugs and alcohol. Eventually, I lost my housing and found myself homeless for several weeks.
I knew I needed help, but I didn't know where to turn. My sister and her husband, who had previously experienced recovery themselves, told me about the Merced County Rescue Mission. In January 2025, I entered the Hope for Men program.
The beginning wasn't easy, but the program's curriculum, the compassion of the facilitators, and the genuine care shown by the staff helped transform my life. In December 2025, I graduated from the Hope for Men program. Today, I work in Operations and Maintenance at the Merced County Rescue Mission, and I am studying through the Department of Education to become a certified electrician.
As a child, I attended church regularly, but I never truly had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Through my time at the Rescue Mission, I was given the opportunity to place my faith in Christ as my Lord and Savior. That decision has changed my life in ways I never imagined. Today, I have purpose, peace, fulfillment, and joy, all things I had never truly experienced before.
I am deeply grateful to the Merced County Rescue Mission for welcoming me with compassion, believing in me, and helping me build a new life. I will always be thankful for the hope I found there and for the opportunity to live with purpose, one day at a time.
