A disease that tells me I have no disease

My story starts out back in 1978, when I went to AA for about 8 years and stayed sober, but I found it necessary to drink again, and stayed drunk for another 8 years, until December 3, 1999. My last drunk, and I pray each day it was, Dec. 3, 1999, I was so drunk that I ended up in a coma, in intensive care with a blood alcohol level of 5.5%. The physician who worked on me told my family, 3 times, he did not expect me to make it through the night, but by some "miracle" I did. I contracted double pneumonia, but made it out of the hospital, but I knew I needed help. I found Valley Hope, because I knew I had to get somewhere safe, because I knew I would drink again. I made it through the VH program, and went home to an empty home, as my wife of 20 years left me while in VH. I also lost the relationship of my only child, and to this day is something I turn over to my Higher Power daily. After leaving VH, I knew I had to get back to AA, so from the day I returned home, I started back to meetings, and went to a meeting every day for the first year or more, and that saved my life. I attend meetings regularly still, and I remember that I do have a disease that tells me I have no disease. Getting sober, and reaching out for help was, and is the hardest thing to do for me, but my life depends on it. Not taking that first drink, or drug, is the most important thing in my life. There is not 1 day that goes by, that I don't think about that last drunk, and I do ask for God's help to keep me focused on recovery, because without recovery, I have lost everything, and that includes "ME". They always told me to stick around until the miracle happens, but I know in my heart and soul, that I have witnessed a miracle of miracles in my own life, and I now get to witness it happening to others who truly seek recovery and repair to their lives. God be with us all, because we can't do this alone!! Butch P. Tulsa, Ok.

By: Butch P.