Dom is overjoyed to have reconnected with his children.

Facing the truth changed everything

Growing up, Dom’s father was frequently in and out of prison, leaving a major hole in his life. “I wanted a father figure and there just wasn’t one,” Dom said. “I think if my dad was there, I wouldn’t have done the things that I did.”

When his father was around, Dom was able to “lock in” and focus on healthier habits. When his father disappeared again, Dom searched for belonging elsewhere and found “family” among gang members. That lifestyle eventually blended with drugs.

At 12, Dom began smoking marijuana. At 13, he started drinking alcohol. On his 15th birthday, he was introduced to methamphetamine. What he thought would be a “simple drug” quickly turned into a lifetime of addiction.

For years, Dom worked to hide the extent of his addiction, relying on “lies” to get through each day. “Every morning, I would look in the mirror and tell myself that I looked good, that I didn’t look like a user, but I never thought about what I looked like to others who aren’t doing drugs.”

His wife noticed the changes— his appearance, lack of sleep, and emotional distance—and tried to address them indirectly. Eventually, the strain became too much. She left and filed for divorce, a loss that further destabilized him.

“I thought I was able to juggle the life of doing meth and being a good dad to my kids. I thought I’d be able to handle it,” Dom said. “For a while, I thought myself a functional user. I was using drugs, going to work and coming home. But it didn’t last.”

After losing a “wonderful woman” and further contact with his children, Dom began living out of his truck, working sporadically. Depression, stress, and self-hatred set in, and meth became a daily coping mechanism.

“The hole I dug myself into, I tried to keep climbing out of, but I never could. I got to a point where I could eat and sleep on meth. I was still lying to myself that I was a functional user, but drugs consumed my mind. You want to quit but it’s got itself so wrapped around you, you can barely breathe.”

Eventually, Dom found the Mission. “I have to thank God first. Once I was honest with myself, this program has been and done so much good for me. When I first got here, none of my children would speak to me. Now I have a relationship with them,” Dom said tearfully. “These are tears of joy. This is the emotion of joy. Praise God for that.”

While in program, Dom found purpose in community outreach. “Giving out food baskets to our neighbors is such a nourishment to my soul. I’ve never experienced doing that type of work before.”

Today, Dom views recovery as more than abstinence. “I’m allowing God to still actively work in my life. His presence doesn’t stop there just because I’m not doing drugs anymore. It’s not just about not using; it’s about God transforming my entire life.”