A Father's Recovery Story

Mike’s journey into addiction began with a single pill.

"I took my first one, and I was addicted," he shared. From that point on, his life spiraled into years of substance use, deepening even further as his future wife also fell into addiction and was later diagnosed with stage four cancer.

While caring for his terminally ill wife, Mike was also dealing with the death of his father—and battling addiction himself.

"It was hard taking care of my wife while being an addict,” he recalled. "She was given three years to live. And of course, what does the doctor do? They give cancer patients strong medication... and I was just shooting up everything."

But despite the darkness, Mike’s story didn’t end there. It changed when he connected with the 100 Families Initiative, a network of agencies and providers who work together to strengthen families. Mike connected with Jamie Matlock, a family advocate who Mike said believed in him when others didn't.

Mike took committed steps to detox himself, temporarily arranging care for his children and wife so he could begin withdrawing in isolation. “I literally locked myself in my room,” he said. In the midst of that painful process, his wife's encouragement became the fuel that kept him going.

Even after his wife passed away Mike stayed on the path of sobriety—not just for her, but for himself and their children. Today, he’s been clean for 36 months. His children, Caden and Cambrie, are thriving—earning A’s and B’s, joining the honor roll, and finding joy again.

“They’re very strong children,” Mike said. “To deal with what they’ve had to deal with.”

Mike’s story is proof that recovery is possible. Through community support and the belief of those who walk alongside struggling families, he found the strength to reclaim his life and become the father he always wanted to be.

“I didn’t know how to be a father in my addiction,” Mike said. “But now I do.”