When Sean looks back on his life, it’s hard to believe how far he’s come.
“I’ve lost everything more than once,” Sean says, “but I’ve also learned that God can restore what addiction destroys.”
Sean began struggling with substance use at fifteen, experimenting with what he calls “light drugs” and occasional drinking. What started as weekend fun quickly became a dangerous escape. By his early twenties, he was introduced to opiates and began using them daily.
Sean’s struggle with substance use led him down a painful path. “I went to prison when I was 26 and got out when I was about 30,” he recalls. “Even after that, I was still fighting charges throughout the state of Tennessee. Drugs and alcohol really messed up my life.” Every time Sean was incarcerated, alcohol was at the center of it. What began as drinking to escape pain or fill silence often led to chaos, spiraling out of control. Those choices nearly cost him his life. Sean overdosed three times and had to be revived.
Before his life unraveled, Sean had built a good life. He was married, owned a home, and worked steadily as an HVAC technician in New York. “I had everything I ever wanted,” he says. “A beautiful wife, a nice house, a new Silverado, and a good job. But I was arrogant and still drinking and using.” His substance use eventually cost him everything. “I wrecked my truck, lost my home, lost my wife, and hadn’t seen my little girl in a year.” His mother stopped speaking to him. His son was growing up without him. “Every time I picked up, I lost more. I got tired of disappointing everyone.”
In 2022, Sean began working with professionals who helped him understand the connection between his mental health and substance use. By February 2025, Sean had entered Caz’s Sundram Manor after years of cycling through short-term programs. “I came in ready this time,” he says. “Sundram gave me structure, but also freedom, the kind that lets you take responsibility for your life.” The program’s initial two-week blackout gave him time to reflect. Sean began attending meetings, connecting with counselors, and rediscovering his faith. “Sundram felt like a family,” he says. “The staff here really care. They hold you accountable because they want to see you succeed.”
Sean’s spirituality has become a cornerstone of his recovery. “Prayer works,” he says firmly. “If I didn’t have Jesus Christ in my life, I wouldn’t be here.” Faith, for Sean, is more than belief; it is daily practice. Each morning begins with meditation, scripture, and prayer, grounding him before the day starts. Much of Sean’s healing has come through service. He volunteers regularly at his church, where he helps with repairs, remodeling, and maintenance. “We redid the kids’ room,” he shares proudly. “We put up drywall, painted, and even installed the air conditioning and plumbing. It’s a blessing to give back to a place that gave me so much hope.” While volunteering at church, Sean feels a renewed sense of purpose. “Working with my hands keeps me grounded,” he says. “I like seeing something broken and becoming whole again. It reminds me that God’s not done with me yet.”
Sean recently celebrated being substance-use free for 14 months, the longest since he was fifteen. He’s rebuilding relationships with his mother and his twelve-year-old son who is looking forward to visiting Sean in the future. When he leaves Caz, Sean will move into a reintegration program where he’ll have his own space and more independence. He plans to return to work in HVAC and continue volunteering. “I just want a stable life,” Sean says. “Not everything under the sun, just peace, my kids, and a place they can come home to.”
Sean often reminds others that recovery isn’t about perfection. To anyone on the edge of making a change, Sean’s message is simple and steady. Do the best you can and change. It will be hard, and it will take time. As Sean suggests, start by asking yourself a real question: “Do you enjoy your life right now? If the answer is no, try what others have suggested. Reach out for help. Do a self-check and be honest about whether what you are doing is working.” His experience has taught him that recovery grows in community. One person helps another. That is how people make it.
Your donation can save a life!
In the grip of the opioid epidemic, you can make a difference. Any amount helps.