![]() January 22, 2021 marked a turning point in my life. I had been in and out of treatment several times and for the first time ever, I had given up on getting sober. I felt like I was burning in hell; I was trapped in a cell of my own making, with no escape in sight. Then, out of nowhere, I received a call from Grandview. Shelly called to tell me there was a bed open. I saw this as a sign and without hesitation I jumped at the opportunity and checked in the very next day. ![]() My name is Fausto Zuniga. I am an alcoholic and drug addict who has been sober for nine months and three days. Today, my life is great, but it hasn't always been this way. I endured many trials and tribulations to gain the understanding I have now. I grew up in a broken home; my father abandoned me when I was six years old. As a confused young boy, I was verbally and physically abused and forced to grow up quickly. By the age of 11, I joined a gang, searching for answers in all the wrong places, living by the motto "fuck it." ![]() Since I was a teenager, I was involved with drugs and gangs, and I was in and out of juvenile facilities, which led me to a future of substance use and incarceration. The streets were ugly and unkind. My family no longer trusted me. I was lonely and suicidal. I would put the needle in my arm and ask God to let me die. I was hopeless. I went from a respectable man to a full-blown dope fiend. I did my last parole violation in LA County jail in 2017; it was then that I surrendered, prayed, and ![]() My life before getting sober was unpredictable. I was dealing with a lot of hurt and sadness, and I didn't know that I was using drugs and alcohol to deal with emotions and trauma. I felt really stuck in my addiction, but I knew that I was capable of more, and I wanted to become the best version of myself. I made a comment about getting clean to a relative, who took it upon themselves to research treatment ![]() Before coming to Grandview, I lived in an alley in Los Angeles. I had lost all contact with my family, I was in and out of the system, and nothing in my life was stable or consistent. I was lost, confused, and without hope. I had tried to get clean on my own free will, but that would last about two weeks. I didn’t know that there were treatment places for people without insurance, and I had no idea what Medi-Cal was, but someone I knew suggested that I call Grandview as it ![]() My name is Todd Lauder, and I was a functional alcoholic for over 25 years. I could stop drinking for short stretches of time to train and run a marathon, or to give into the ultimatums to quit “or else!” from family. I always ended up going back to the bottle. Over time, I split with my then-wife, my depression grew, and alcohol became a way for me to forget all my |
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