This is Johnny. He is 25 years old. He loves writing music, skateboarding, exercising, and from what I understand, has a pretty impressive talent to rap. He also struggles with drug addiction. Sitting down with him, it was so apparent of how humble, compassionate, understanding, aware and full of love he is… I will tell you, his story touched me deep in my soul and opened up my heart and mind to a better understanding of the life of an addict.
Johnny was born October 28, 1993 in Mexico, he is the youngest of 6 children. He does not know his biological father and his mother had a difficult time trying to raise 6 children on her own. At age 3, Johnny was put on the street in a cardboard box… gut wrenching, to say the least. His Aunt and her boyfriend decided to take him in and shortly after, brought him to Oregon. At age 8 his Aunt left and he was raised by the boyfriend, who he now calls dad. Life was complicated and not easy, by 8th grade he was smoking marijuana, by age 18 he was smoking meth and by age 23 he was smoking and shooting up heroin. The cycle of abuse was full force, he spent time in jail, he was homeless, sleeping in the ditch at a local bank and behind a minute market. To support his habit, he would get into cars and take change or small amounts of money or pan handle to get enough money to get high, while he makes no excuses for that behavior, his story of finding $500 in a car once but chose not to take it because he knew the person probably really needed it, was quite impressive to my heart. His desire was to get high to cover up pain, he never wanted to commit crimes or hurt people in that process. Again, to hear him tell it, was amazing and worthy of mention. His comment of just wanting to be a rapper but became a drug addict instead so that didn’t work out, did make me laugh out loud.. His honesty was so refreshing and his heart to just tell it without sugar coating it, was amazing.
Within a life of abandonment, verbal abuse, poor choices and feeling unwanted but loved, Johnny knew there was more to life and he craved it. He used, to cover up the hurt that consumed his life but he desired the freedom from addiction and the ability to live his best life… Enter Tony and Stephanie.
Tony and Stephanie have a heart to seek and love the lost, to enter the lives of others and offer kids the hope of a better way. Sitting with Johnny and Stephanie through this interview was one of the most beautiful experiences, I wish you all could have been there to experience it yourself. To see Johnny’s love for these two people and their family spoke volumes of who he is and the beauty within him. They entered his life at a very low point, not trusting that anyone could truly care or love him, just for him, was hard to believe. Johnny had the desire to get clean and was successful twice, once for a year and relapsed for two more, then he was clean again for 65 days. He is now in his third try at recovery. He relied on harm reduction, which was a saving grace to see him through until he could enter a treatment program. He successfully completed treatment at Klamath Falls Transformation Center. March 19, he will have one year clean. The love of this family opened his heart and mind to the thought that maybe, just maybe, all this could be his too.
To hear this boy talk about his upbringing and what drew him to using is heartbreaking, to live the life of an addict yet have this pure genuine heart was touching, to hear him talk about recovery was beautiful. He is fully aware not to be too confident in his recovery, he knows at any moment he could slip but he has this passion to fight for his best life. He has days where it’s hard and he’s angry but he stays focused on the common denominator of church, the love of this family that took him in, the knowledge of knowing he doesn’t want to live the life of an addict and the heart to reach other people and show them the love and support that Tony and Stephanie gave him. He wants to give back in his recovery, he hopes to one day be a drug and alcohol counselor. His desire is to be a little of everything good in his life. He feels like every day the story unfolds a little more…..
Ending our interview, Tony showed up.. I can not put into words how breathtaking it was to see Johnny wrap his arms around this man, who gave him a chance, and simply just love him and hug him tightly. God is so, so good.
It was an honor and pleasure to sit with this amazing young man and hear him tell the story of his life, how he got there and how he saved himself. His transparency was beautiful, his thankfulness amazing and his outlook refreshing. I have no doubts that his future will be incredible.
-Special Thanks to Reclaiming Lives/Recovery Cafe and GypsyJane Photography