Jarrod’s story of recovery

This is his story of recovery, hope and gratitude for the support that was made possible thanks to supporters like you.

Hello out there to whoever may find this helpful. I’m writing from my new home overlooking the beautiful scenery of Armidale.

My story of recovery, near death and life began last year after an outreach worker from Freeman House encouraged me to seek treatment. I was unwell from drinking to excess, resulting in liver sorosis.

When I started in detox, I didn’t last a night and had to be hospitalised. It felt as though I was dying and for a time, I lost the use of my legs from the waist down.

After recovering in hospital, I was able to complete detox and moved into the residential program where I set about regaining my mind and putting into practice what I was taking from the group sessions.

Along with the group sessions where I learnt to make clear focussed decisions, I was able to make use of facilities such as rooms for art, music, pool and the gym to improve my health and mind.

I got to know a lot about myself through the other residents. We had a wide variety of experiences, levels of trauma and barriers. We had motivations and goals we wanted to achieve in our lives.

I was progressing through the program but continued to be sick. It culminated in a seizure which saw me hospitalised, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of type one diabetes.

The diagnosis was a shock but thanks to specialists who taught me how to deal with this chronic incurable illness, I now inject insulin daily, check my glucose levels and have more energy and am more active than I’ve been in a long time.

I met so many inspiring people during my time at Freeman – nurses, case workers, support staff and management – all of them brilliant and filled with compassion.

I feel whole again with purpose and meaning – I’m working, have a place of my own, enrolled in an alcohol and other drugs course and have a support system in place.

I’d like to thank St Vincent de Paul and my new friends at Freeman House for helping me to see clearly – I feel whole and happy in harmony with myself. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

When I reflect on how far I’ve come since being supported by Freeman House, I’m reminded of a moment from when I was in primary school that speaks to who I am. There was a girl with a disability who was treated like an outcast. It would have been easy to go along with everyone else ignoring her. But I chose to sit with her. It was the right thing to do to show that someone cared: “me”.

If anyone needs help, reach out to Freeman House. I’m just like you, it is possible to be your true self again. Find the spark and don’t look back.

Freeman House performs a vital role in the community as the largest residential rehabilitation service in Northern NSW. With the closest service offering withdrawal facilities located four hours away in Lismore and Newcastle, Freeman House acts as a haven offering long-term drug and alcohol rehabilitation, crisis accommodation, inpatient treatment, aftercare support and programs to accommodate patients with young children.