CARLOS

PHOTO BY RANDY BACON

CARLOS

“Seek Help”

July 30, 1994 - I was in a real bad car wreck that threw me out of the car. I should be dead. I was put in a body bag but fortunately a volunteer fireman checked my vitals and found a light pulse. I was in a coma for two and a half months. I don’t know if I was driving that car or not, but I did the time for it. I served a year in jail.

When I got out of jail, I was still heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol and homeless. I was living the same lifestyle that got me in the accident to begin with. I ended up going back to prison for seven years for robbery.

I got out of jail, and I still went back to my old life. I was homeless again. I would go to the hospital and the doctors admitted me because I was hearing voices that made me want to kill myself or kill other people. The hospital would release me after a few weeks and then I would go back again. Finally, a doctor told me that if I came back one more time, I would have to be appointed a guardian. At the time, I didn’t know what that was, but I went back again, and I was given a guardian. That’s how I got in contact with Burrell. It was probably the best thing that ever happened to me in my life. If it wasn’t for Burrell and God, I would still be doing the same thing.

People don’t always treat me well. I want people to know that I am a changed individual. I believe in God, and I go to church every Sunday. To anyone else struggling, I would encourage them to get clean and sober and to seek help. Don’t give up. My biggest life accomplishment is getting into the Burrell program.