When Will picked up the phone to call Destination Hope, he felt like he had run out of chances. Relationships were broken, trust was gone, and even his family had reached a painful limit.
“I truly was at the last house on the block,” he said. “I had burned almost every bridge I had, and there was nowhere else to go.”
What finally pushed him to seek help was a conversation with his parents that he will never forget. They told him they did not want him around anymore. They said it was not fun having him there, and until he decided to get help, he should not come back.
“As painful as that was, it became my biggest motivation,” he explained. “I wanted my family back in my life.”
That moment became the turning point that led him to Destination Hope.
Taking The First Step Toward Help
From his very first call, he remembers feeling something he had not felt in a long time: support and genuine care.
“That’s when I made the call to Destination Hope, and their staff was phenomenal from the very first conversation,” he said. “They took me under their wing from admissions through case management and the techs on site.”
He did not just feel processed or passed along. He felt guided.
“Everyone there made me feel supported and showed me something I didn’t have before: a guide to living life,” he said.
Before treatment, his days revolved around alcohol and drugs. That was what “living” looked like to him. The idea of a life built on stability, purpose, and real connection felt distant and unrealistic.
“Before I came to rehab, my idea of living was getting drunk every day and getting high every day,” he shared. “That was what life looked like to me.”
Learning A New Way To Live
At Destination Hope, that definition of life began to change. Through structure, therapy, and consistent support, he started to learn a different way to exist in the world.
“At Destination Hope, they gave me a blueprint for how to live a healthy, happy life,” he said. “They taught me practical tools, structure, and a new way to look at myself and the world around me.”
The process was not just about stopping substances. It was about rebuilding from the inside out. He learned how to show up for himself, how to be honest, and how to accept help. He began to form friendships with people who understood what he was going through and who were also trying to change.
“I enjoyed coming in, meeting new people, and forming friendships I’ll never forget,” he said.
Those relationships and that sense of community helped him stay committed on the hardest days.
Taking Recovery Out Into The World
As much as he valued his time in treatment, he knew the real test would come after he left the program.
“The real test was what I did after treatment,” he said. “I took what I learned inside those walls and used it to build my life on the outside.”
Equipped with tools and a clearer sense of who he wanted to be, he began to rebuild his life step by step. He stayed connected to recovery, kept using the skills he had learned, and continued to grow.
“I used the foundation they gave me to create a life I could be proud of,” he said.
Over time, that foundation turned into something he once thought was impossible.
Six Years Later: From Patient To Helping Others
Today, it has been six years since he first walked through the doors of Destination Hope. His life looks completely different from the days when he felt like he had nowhere left to go.
“I have a life that I never thought was possible,” he said. “I’m blessed to work in this field now and to give back what was given to me so freely.”
Now he spends his days helping other people who are in the same dark place he once was. He offers hope, shares his story, and reminds them that change is possible, even when it feels out of reach.
“I get to help people find the hope and happiness they might be searching for right now but can’t seem to reach on their own,” he said.
A Message For Anyone Who Feels Hopeless
When he talks to people who feel like giving up, he shares the same simple message over and over again.
“I tell people all the time: don’t give up on yourself,” he said. “There’s a reason you’re still here, still moving, still getting up every day.”
For him, faith and the idea of a higher purpose are powerful parts of his recovery.
“God, or whatever higher power you believe in, has a bigger plan for you,” he said. “Once you start to see that and trust it, life becomes incredibly fulfilling.”
Looking back, he sees Destination Hope as the place where his life began to turn around.
“Destination Hope helped me find that plan for my life and gave me the tools to walk it out, one day at a time,” he said.
From the “last house on the block” to a life filled with purpose, service, and gratitude, his story is a reminder that recovery is possible and that the right support can change everything.