Chris’s Story
‘I always told myself that I was never going to be like my father, but I ended up being just like him.’
When he was 2 years old, Chris’ father left. He was addicted to drugs and at 8 years old, Chris lost his father to an overdose. His mother was an alcoholic and an addict and his earliest memory of her was that she was in jail.
Raised by an aunt for several years, along with other foster kids, he moved in with his mom when she was released from jail. Her boyfriends tended to be aggressive and abusive and when they weren’t taking it out on her, Chris received the brunt end of it. “I think this is why I could never understand the word ‘love’. I would hear the words ‘I love you’ but I would only see abuse.”
As a teenager, Chris tried to forget the pain in his life and his daily use of drugs and alcohol eventually led to addiction. He got married, but it fell apart. He met another woman and they had a child together. They tried to make it work as a family, but his addiction won, and just like his dad, Chris left the marriage and pursued his addiction. The mother of his child also battled addiction and when their young daughter was 5 years old, her mother became another overdose statistic.
Chris knew he had to get clean. His daughter was worth it and he desperately wanted a life with her. After participating in 14 different treatment programs, Chris has found something different. ‘I had stayed away from God most of my life but Ruth & Naomi’s Oasis program introduced me to God in a new way and it has brought me much closer to Him. My relationship with Christ has been a game-changer for me. I started going to church and was even baptized a few months ago and I’m excited about the changes that God is making in my life. I was in a really bad place for a lot of years and was going deeper and deeper into addiction and depression, but I’m on a new track now and learning skills to deal with everything that comes my way. God has helped me overcome a lot and I have the support now to help me stay strong and sober for myself and for my little girl.’