top of page

Student Profile: Brent

Apr 23, 2024

3 min read

0

2

0


     “One of the first times I overdosed, I was at a buddy’s house smoking. It was the 4th of July. I smoked the same amount as I did any other time. I don’t know if this stuff was stronger. Next thing I knew I blacked out. My buddy tried to give me CPR.... He threw me in the car as fast as he could and drove me to the hospital. I was dead for a couple of minutes. I woke up in the hospital.” 

     Brent’s life had been steeped in drugs for the past couple of years. He had gone to rehab a couple of times to try to get clean, but each time he would relapse. He had been stealing to sustain his addiction until one day a passerby caught him in the act and made a citizen’s arrest. 

     The first week in jail was sobering. Brent was going through withdrawals and coming to terms with the reality he was facing. After the first week, he was moved to a different pod, where he ran into a family friend who was a part of the kitchen crew. A familiar face put Brent more at ease, and within days Brent also joined the kitchen crew, which kept him busy during the day. In his downtime, the guys pointed him to the library where he picked up a book with an image of cracked concrete on the cover: “70x7 & Beyond.” 

     As Brent read, he could see his own life reflected clearly in the author’s journey of addiction. He kept trying to get out, but he kept falling back in. Brent recognized his powerlessness to break the cycle. The author shared about his journey to faith - that Jesus was the answer. This man’s story impacted Brent, and he began asking questions. Christian Encounter had been presented to him several months ago as an option to get help, but until now, this option hadn’t seemed appealing or necessary. 

     When Brent arrived at the Ranch, he was missing his four front teeth, the effects of heavy drug use. At his first dental consultation, the dentist said that given the extent of the damage, the prognosis was multiple extractions and root canals, and ultimately dentures. Brent was given a referral to a specialist to begin his root canal treatments. 

     When Brent went to see this new dentist, after one look at his teeth, the dentist asked a few more questions. Brent shared his story and what led him here. The dentist decided he wanted to prescribe his own treatment plan to salvage as many teeth as possible. The process of restoration began. 

     Meanwhile, Brent was back in high school, picking up where he left off a few years ago. He had dropped out of high school when he was 16 and started working full time for his dad’s drywall company. Brent’s work ethic and sense of humor carried him through his first months at the Ranch. 

     Being an adult in the program, Brent struggled with the authority of the interns, many of whom were only a few years older than him. The court had stipulated that Brent must complete the program, or otherwise face more jail time. The fear of returning to jail hung over his head, but several months in he could no longer feign compliance to the program. Brent was suspended from the program in December. 

 


Brent and former student Andrew on this year's Guys' Igloo trip.
Brent and former student Andrew on this year's Guys' Igloo trip.

   A few months away from completing the program, Brent was staring down the possibility of incarceration again. “I wasn’t participating in my own growth. If this place was only a means to stay out of jail, it was never going to be enough to grow or be successful here.” 

     Brent returned ready to be a part of the program rather than work against it. As he submitted himself, he began to experience for the first time “the peace that surpasses all understanding.” 

     “After becoming a Christian, I’ve been able to see God has a plan for my life. He has preserved my brain through all the drugs I've done. People have done a quarter of the drugs I've done and been mentally handicapped for life. I've almost died more than once - and God has kept me alive through that….” 

     In the past year, Brent has had 51 dental procedures, including seven root canals and 13 crowns. The work isn’t completed yet, but he’s leaving with four new front teeth - and a strengthened faith. 

     <