Introduction

Welcome and thank you for visiting!

I have known Bobby for almost a year now. We have been talking about ways to share his story and a blog seemed like a good way to not only put his thoughts and experiences down in writing, but also connect with other people who have had similar experiences. Bobby tells me that he wants good things to come out of his life and one way to make that happen is to talk about his challenges, mistakes or successes in order to give others some insight into their own lives. Of course, that goes both ways, and he would very much like to hear about your stories, that they might impact him constructively.

So, by way of introduction, here is Bobby in his own words:
"My name is Bobby and this is my blog. This is how my life came about. The experience and the mistakes. The consequences that I have endured and what I have to do now to turn it around. The bottom line is this, I have made a lot of mistakes, and I do know one thing, that with everything that I have done I know that if anybody reads this, listens to this, hears this that I am living proof that you are able to change your life if you give yourself a chance. Because if you don't, you just may die."

Bobby has a lot on his plate. And that's understating it. When he was in his teens, his kidney's were found to be poly cystic. He got his first transplant at 18, his second at 30. Seven years later, last February, Bobby's kidney stopped working and he has been on dialysis three times a week, three and half hours at a time since then. He has other ailments, the most severe of which are gout, diabetes, and peripheral artery disease. He takes 13 kinds of medication including drugs to control the constant, chronic pain.

There is more to Bobby's story than his medical history. One of the main reasons he wanted to write this blog was to talk about his history of substance abuse. This is also an affliction that hit Bobby in his teens. First he was a 13 year old trying marijuana, forcing himself to drink beer (though he hated the taste), in order to fit in with the kids around him. Then he was 16 with a cocaine and LSD habit. Three years later he was sentenced to three years in jail and one year of in-house rehab for intent to distribute LSD and probation violation. As a result of the drug use he has lost many battles but Bobby continues to wage war on the urge to use and over the last year has won, he is clean. He knows he’ll never totally win the war against drug abuse, but he thinks he just may be able to get through to someone who can win that war. Maybe he can help that person walk away from it early on. When he can, he stays active with church, NA and AA groups. He says, “I am living proof that there is a God. And I can tell you, there definitely is a hell. I have seen marijuana to opiates to cocaine, just pure evil that makes harsh things happen. There has to be a heaven, but you have to realize that you can’t do it by yourself. Bottom line, this is a war. It's not just about drugs and alcohol, its about ourselves. Reprogramming our minds and doing something different. We need to realize that we can get by without drugs or alcohol or sexual urges or using violence to solve problems. When we don't realize that, those times are when we allow ourselves to be influenced by the devil. That’s when we are in denial. The definition of DENIAL is: Don’t Even kNow I Am Lying.

If you know of others going through an addiction to drugs or alcohol, or are a user yourself, this blog is for you. Bobby wants to share his story so that you can apply his lessons in your life or the life of a loved one.

Surrounding those two very big issues that Bobby deals with is his faith. God is a part of Bobby's life. Five months ago he was baptized at our church in Sterling, VA. Surrounded by his loved ones, he reaffirmed his commitment to Christ. I think it was an important moment for him. See, sometimes Bobby's troubles make him question, where is God right now? Why doesn't he talk to me? Can't I just get a break from ONE of my medical problems? The profound thing is that despite his suffering, he has learned to listen for God's answers to those questions. He is finding that the key is not what is happening with his body, its what happens in his heart and mind. And though that does not give an instant answer to those tough questions, it is remarkable that he remains dedicated to nurturing his relationship with God. It is our hope that you read into that and say, if he can do it, I can do it.

I will update with news from Bobby as often as I can. He would very much like you to comment about things you read, so please let us know you were here.

Talk to you soon.