Ben Owen

But they opened their doors to us, and I was determined to make it work. And Robert told me when I opened up to him, he's like, look, I don't get it. I'm not an alcoholic, but whatever I can do to help you through this, I'm here for it. And I've really called him task on that promise. And we haven't stopped since. I went to AA.

But they opened their doors to us, and I was determined to make it work. And Robert told me when I opened up to him, he's like, look, I don't get it. I'm not an alcoholic, but whatever I can do to help you through this, I'm here for it. And I've really called him task on that promise. And we haven't stopped since. I went to AA.

But they opened their doors to us, and I was determined to make it work. And Robert told me when I opened up to him, he's like, look, I don't get it. I'm not an alcoholic, but whatever I can do to help you through this, I'm here for it. And I've really called him task on that promise. And we haven't stopped since. I went to AA.

I did not want to go to AA because I was still convinced at this point that I was special. And that I wasn't like all these other crackheads and junkies and drunks. That I'm going to recover different. I don't have to go to meetings. So reluctantly, I went to AA on October 4th of 2019. And I shared in a meeting. And this Marine pipes up. His name's David Gibson.

I did not want to go to AA because I was still convinced at this point that I was special. And that I wasn't like all these other crackheads and junkies and drunks. That I'm going to recover different. I don't have to go to meetings. So reluctantly, I went to AA on October 4th of 2019. And I shared in a meeting. And this Marine pipes up. His name's David Gibson.

I did not want to go to AA because I was still convinced at this point that I was special. And that I wasn't like all these other crackheads and junkies and drunks. That I'm going to recover different. I don't have to go to meetings. So reluctantly, I went to AA on October 4th of 2019. And I shared in a meeting. And this Marine pipes up. His name's David Gibson.

Come to find out he's got a background not too dissimilar than mine. And we talk. And he shares some words of wisdom with me. And I get a sponsor and I start working steps. And, you know, Jess and I had it in the back of our heads this whole time that when Brandon died, little Brandon, we were going to relapse. That was our reservation.

Come to find out he's got a background not too dissimilar than mine. And we talk. And he shares some words of wisdom with me. And I get a sponsor and I start working steps. And, you know, Jess and I had it in the back of our heads this whole time that when Brandon died, little Brandon, we were going to relapse. That was our reservation.

Come to find out he's got a background not too dissimilar than mine. And we talk. And he shares some words of wisdom with me. And I get a sponsor and I start working steps. And, you know, Jess and I had it in the back of our heads this whole time that when Brandon died, little Brandon, we were going to relapse. That was our reservation.

You know, kind of like you held onto that bag of coke for so long. Like, it's there. You're going to beat it, but it's there if you need it. Kind of that. Like, we had that in the back of our head as, I'm going to stay sober, but, you know, if I need to get high, I can do it when Brandon dies. Because we knew it was going to happen. And, um, December that day came.

You know, kind of like you held onto that bag of coke for so long. Like, it's there. You're going to beat it, but it's there if you need it. Kind of that. Like, we had that in the back of our head as, I'm going to stay sober, but, you know, if I need to get high, I can do it when Brandon dies. Because we knew it was going to happen. And, um, December that day came.

You know, kind of like you held onto that bag of coke for so long. Like, it's there. You're going to beat it, but it's there if you need it. Kind of that. Like, we had that in the back of our head as, I'm going to stay sober, but, you know, if I need to get high, I can do it when Brandon dies. Because we knew it was going to happen. And, um, December that day came.

I realized I hadn't heard from him. And we had gone through this exact same scenario 18 months prior with his mother. We realized we hadn't heard from her and nobody could reach her. And so we went and did a wellness check and found her dead and decomposing. And so 18 months later, I see the same thing playing out with Brandon.

I realized I hadn't heard from him. And we had gone through this exact same scenario 18 months prior with his mother. We realized we hadn't heard from her and nobody could reach her. And so we went and did a wellness check and found her dead and decomposing. And so 18 months later, I see the same thing playing out with Brandon.

I realized I hadn't heard from him. And we had gone through this exact same scenario 18 months prior with his mother. We realized we hadn't heard from her and nobody could reach her. And so we went and did a wellness check and found her dead and decomposing. And so 18 months later, I see the same thing playing out with Brandon.

And I sent, um, I called one of my employees from retag who I'd stayed in contact with over the years. He'd watched my rise and fall over and over again. And I told him what was going on. He said, get me an address. And he went and checked and Brandon had been dead a few days. And in that moment, That would hurt. It still hurts because Brandon should have made it out with us.

And I sent, um, I called one of my employees from retag who I'd stayed in contact with over the years. He'd watched my rise and fall over and over again. And I told him what was going on. He said, get me an address. And he went and checked and Brandon had been dead a few days. And in that moment, That would hurt. It still hurts because Brandon should have made it out with us.

And I sent, um, I called one of my employees from retag who I'd stayed in contact with over the years. He'd watched my rise and fall over and over again. And I told him what was going on. He said, get me an address. And he went and checked and Brandon had been dead a few days. And in that moment, That would hurt. It still hurts because Brandon should have made it out with us.

You know, he had nobody. One of the letters his mom wrote when she killed herself

You know, he had nobody. One of the letters his mom wrote when she killed herself