Channing’s story begins 25 years ago, long before he ended up at Heartview. He was raised in a good household, with little exposure to drugs or alcohol. But he felt like he didn’t fit in at school and was introduced to alcohol as a young teen.
“High school was a blur. Alcohol made me feel alive and social. I was a very good athlete and was on my way to potentially doing some pretty big things post-graduation in golf. Alcohol changed this. By the time I was a Junior in high school, I was drinking every day. I was not only drinking in the evenings and at parties, but I was drinking on my off hours and at lunch. I was even drinking before and during golf practices after school. Looking back, I can honestly say that I was a full-blown alcoholic by the time I graduated high school.”
After graduation, Channing’s party life continued and he was introduced to marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, and meth.
“Nothing compared to the high I got from meth. I was instantly hooked. The next three years revolved around that drug. I spent every waking hour chasing, dealing, and doing whatever it took to stay high. This led to me being arrested and facing some serious time in jail. This scared me. I was able to kick the meth on my own and keep myself out of jail, but I quickly supplemented it with my alcohol addiction.”
Channing’s 20’s were one long, extended party. He worked in bars, so he thought heavily drinking every night was normal. Excessive drinking led to legal consequences, fights, failed relationship, trips to the ER, and visits to jail.
“Multiple trips to outpatient treatment did not slow me down. I would be in a bar 20 minutes after leaving the treatment center.”
“Shortly before my 30th birthday, my life changed forever. I had a baby boy. I would love to tell you that this is what got me sober, but it did not. I wanted it to be so bad, for the very first time in my life, but I could not quit. No matter what I told myself or how hard I tried, alcohol pulled me back. I was going through a pretty tough split with his mother which led to intense daily arguments, which led to me on the barstool every night. We were battling tooth and nail for custody, and I ended up getting a DUI right in the middle of it. I truly think this was God stepping in one last time. This opened my eyes to the real possibility of not only losing my son, but losing my life if I stayed on the track I was on.”
Channing didn’t trust himself to go back to outpatient treatment, so he reached out to Heartview, and was checking into the residential unit a few days later.
“My experience at Heartview was invaluable. It was a truly humbling experience. I was scared but for the first time in my life, I put my guard down and gave it all to God. My residential group was full of people from all different walks of life but when we got in a circle, we were family. Addiction was our common bond and our common enemy. Heartview gave me the tools I needed to succeed and the strength I needed to battle my addictions, one day at a time. I owe my personal growth, patience, temperament, and the life I have today to the kickstart I was given in Heartview. I would not trade my Heartview experience for the world and will be forever grateful.”
“My life since Heartview has been completely different. I have an amazing nine-year-old boy that love with my whole heart, and I am able to be the dad, he needs me to be. We spend every weekend together, making memories and exploring our faith. I am also, for the first time, in a safe and secure relationship with a solid foundation and unbreakable core values. Since Heartview, my career growth has also grown exponentially. I started my electrical career in the oilfield right before I checked myself into Heartview. The tools gained in treatment gave me the self-confidence and drive to see my career through. I have since become a master electrician and am now a self-employed consultant for a large operator in the Bakken. I have even recently started a second business holding rental properties and am in the process of expanding a portfolio. None of this would have been possible without sobriety. I truly believe my life now is a gift and I do not let a day pass without acknowledging how grateful I am. In March I will be nine years sober. Heartview kickstarted my journey and, day by day, God and I are finishing it.”
“Thank you, Heartview. You are changing lives. You are saving lives.”
This Giving Hearts Day, you can help people like Brandon get their lives back. Early giving is open using the links below:
