By: Joey R., Transformations Alumnus
On November 14, 2018, something happened in Delray Beach, Florida. Transformations Treatment Center jumped
in to assist a police veteran that lost his way or rather fell in the proverbial hole. The officer, a retired police sergeant suffering from PTSD and began to drink to suppress the forces of evil. He tried everything he could to stop the substance abuse. Sure, he went to AA meetings, but that wasn’t enough. He talked to fellow officers and that didn’t help. He went to church and that didn’t help. He had a therapist, a Psychological Dr., and a case manager all of which didn’t help. Thus, forced himself to battle the disease on his own. Like anyone with addiction issues, the swirling wind around the sergeant proved to be catastrophic. He was unable to grasp what was real and what was a mirage. Transformation Treatment Center was his last hope of life out of the control of substance abuse.
When he entered the facility, he wasn’t a number or a dirtbag. He was a person! Every staff member looked him straight in the eye acknowledging his strife. The staff had my six and that was the turning point.
That sergeant was me.
I lost all control of my life. I couldn’t sleep. Desperately, I tried to quit. I couldn’t talk to anyone. I was crushed having lost most of my family and friends. My motor skills had diminished! I couldn’t run and catching a baseball was difficult. I hit the ball hard skipping into the outfield. However, my attempt to run to first base was demonstrative. I literally fell right on my face. My legs went completely to a pool noodle, and I crawled my way. Embarrassed.
On the cusp of celebrating four years of sobriety, I was introduced to the Families Behind the Badge Children’s
Foundation. Philadelphia and surrounding counties put out a BOLO. If you can ride 65 miles and raise $200, you can attend the event. Interesting, the Ben Franklin Bridge to the Jersey Shore. I gasped at such a huge challenge. A non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families of fallen officers and critically injured as well.
Ding Ding! (a Rocky reference). I immediately I thought about the softball game that I couldn’t even reach base without crumbling and falling on my face. I couldn’t perform, my motor skills had diminished, and the simplest task seemed unattainable.
I digress. It’s 65 miles. Hmm. Think Joey, think!
I reached out to Transformations Treatment Center for assistance. Immediately, they jumped into action! I provided
contact information to the facility. Boom! “What can we do Joey?” “I need assistance with backing the blue,” I said. You see, the Thin Blue Line doesn’t mean helping an officer who committed wrongdoings. It’s about helping each other when we fall. Transformations Treatment Center understands and “gets it.” I don’t want to get into how much the facility donated because that is inconsequential. The important item of reference is that 1,502 miles away from Philadelphia is Delray Beach, Florida. The distance was no match for a facility that instilled in me the tools to live a productive life. Like the “Got Milk” slogan, “Got Transformations Treatment Center,” pass it on! “Got Joey,” pass it on!
July 24th, 2022, 6,000 riders set out on a journey of 65 miles. Transformations Treatment Center was there in spirit. Why? If you remember in the past paragraph, I couldn’t make it to the first base. Transformation Treatment Center didn’t give up on me! July 24th, 2022 is the day I rose from the ashes of falling. I now can demonstrate that you can win! You can beat the demons. I can show others that I am here with a bucket, shovel, and ladder. I was provided a skill set when I entered the facility on November 14th, 2018. Oh, I’ve been tested, crushed, demoralized, dispatched, and pushed. I am Joey Rafferty, a survivor not an alcoholic. I am an alcoholic in recovery. Four years later, and still Transformations Treatment Center has my six.
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