After a year at Adult & Teen Challenge Ohio Valley, Robert Cummings will graduate this month.
“I feel excellent,” he said. “Overall, more complete, like more wholesome.” He’s also more hopeful, ambitious and driven than when he entered the program a year ago. At that time, Robert, 40, was drinking excessively and experiencing seizures and problems with his pancreas. A doctor told him his life was at risk and advised he get treatment.
After graduating, Robert plans to stay on at ATCOV for a few months and “give back” to the organization that helped him heal and change his life.
He decided to stay as a way to both allow himself some transition before returning to the workforce and because he saw how much the program did for him. Ultimately, Robert plans to return to his career as an electrician.
The best part of the program for Robert has been “witnessing the impact that focus and perseverance can have on someone’s willingness to change.” For Robert, that came fairly easily because of his willingness and the resources provided by ATCOV. “I just took in everything that I could and made the best of the opportunity,” he said.
To anyone who’s facing addiction, Robert would recommend they give their lives to the Lord. “For me the whole experience was based on a change of mind,” he said. “That’s where it all started for me and that’s what I would recommend to someone who’s wanting or who needs a change in their life would be first of all to change their mindset.”
