Pastor Bill’s Story
One day, I’ll tell you about two life altering incidents, both involving people I love dearly, which defined my mission in life and set me on my current course with Georgia Alliance, the leading drug rehab referral service in Georgia. But that’s a longer story than I have time to write about today.
Instead, I’m going to tell you about another dear friend of mine, I’ll call him Pastor Bill (not his real name). About a year ago, I was working with Pastor Bill at the Company I managed, which at the time was the leading supplier of churchwear to retailers in the South. I asked him how he was doing. Pastor Bill is an optimistic, cheerful sort of guy so I expected the usual: “I’m as good as gold, Fritz. What about you?” But that’s not what I heard.
Pastor Bill told me about his brother who was in the hospital again with complications from Diabetes. The particular complications involved his feet which were suffering from restricted blood flow. If his brother’s Doctors couldn’t correct the problem, they were going to have to amputate his feet.
Things looked grim for Pastor Bill’s brother. The doctors had been unable to help him so far and they didn’t offer him much hope. Pastor Bill’s face was etched with worry, his eyes teary as he related the news to me.
“Pastor Bill”, my voice rang out with enthusiasm, “I’ve got good news for you. I know what to do. Everything’s going to be just fine.” As you might expect, he looked at me with disbelief. After all, his brother had seen “the best.” Well, that probably wasn’t true, the best surely would have given him the same solution that I came up with, but suffice it to say that many doctors had reviewed the case, and nothing was being done to resolve it.
Years earlier, my daughter fell ill with a horrible brain illness. She went from a bright, happy fifteen year old with a rosy future to a complete invalid, wheelchair bound, unable to walk, to talk, or to eat, all in the space of a year. This is one of the stories I’ll share with you in greater detail in a future blog entry. By the way, it has a very happy ending.
Though they were eventually able to diagnose her malady, none of my daughter’s doctors offered a cure. Instead, we were told that she’d be like she was, a complete invalid, for the rest of her life. I couldn’t think of it and I wouldn’t think of it. Nor would I agree to such a pathetic result.
After the shock of such a dire prognosis wore off, I struck out to find a solution and did. I shared the treatment, one that is as effective on diabetic complications as it is on brain damage, with Pastor Bill. That was about a year ago.
I spoke to Pastor Bill Friday. He was in a procession of cars and limos driving to a graveyard to bury his sister. I thought about his brother, but dared not ask about him. I didn’t have to. Sensing my concern, Pastor Bill said: “you know, Fritz, every time I see my brother walk I think about the time you told me about that treatment. If you hadn’t been so certain that we could do something about his condition and if you hadn’t found me an effective treatment, my brother would not be able to walk today.
There was a moment in my life where I realized that it was my calling, my mission, maybe even my responsibility to help people find… well, help. Effective help. The truth is there are many wrong ways to handle a problem and few, sometimes very few, right ways. And unless you find the right way, the problem doesn’t solve. Often, in fact, it worsens as repeated failures to resolve a problem make the problem seem invincible.
I’ve taken it upon myself, at least in my areas of expertise, to help people in need find effective help. That’s basically what we do with drug rehab in Georgia. We find effective help.
Pastor Bill’s story and mine have taught me that help is possible, no matter how grim or how impossible the situation seems. To find the right help, you just have to be led in the right direction. But therein lies the problem. Too often we’re guided in the wrong direction. Sometimes by mistake, sometimes on purpose (the sad reality is that many who show us “the way” worship at the altar of the almighty dollar and are more concerned for their living than they are for your life).
You, my friend, have been led in the right direction. To someone who cares. My team is committed to finding you the right drug rehab program so that you can beat addiction for good. I’ve got good news for you. I know what to do. Everything’s going to be just fine. Just give us call and we’re on it.
I wish you well.
Fritz Alders,
Managing Partner, Georgia Alliance