Step by Step for Recovery, Former Henry Ford Health System Patient Travels Across Michigan to Bring Awareness to Addiction Recovery
One step at a time, Alex Maysura, 55, will challenge himself physically and spiritually as he walks more than 350 miles, from Mackinaw City to Maplegrove Center in West Bloomfield, to honor National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month and share his personal journey of alcohol recovery.
West Bloomfield, MI, August 01, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Step By Step for Recovery, Man Travels Across Michigan to Bring Awareness to Addiction Recovery.
One step at a time, Alex Maysura, 55, will challenge himself physically and spiritually as he walks more than 350 miles, from Mackinaw City to Maplegrove Center in West Bloomfield, to honor National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month and share his personal journey of alcohol recovery.
Maysura, of Troy, remembers the day he took his last drink, Oct. 25, 2005. He had hit rock bottom. He lost his marriage and his business; his mother developed cancer and dementia, and his father had a stroke.
“It was a difficult time. I had little reason to live and was rapidly wasting my life in isolation and physical neglect,” says Maysura. “Alcoholism made my world devoid of goodness and joy, replacing it with darkness and fear; I felt helpless and hopeless.”
When Maysura realized he couldn’t take care of his parents in this kind of state, he sought help.
“My sobriety and salvation began at Henry Ford’s Maplegrove Center. The recovery experience changed my world for the better and can do the same for others struggling with alcoholism and substance dependency,” says Maysura. “Maplegrove is a place where patients learn to rebuild and reclaim their lives, well-being and a sense of hope through rehabilitation and treatment.”
The recovery program provided him with real answers to real problems, as well as tools to help him through difficult times.
Now, Maysura is working on his master’s degree from Wayne State University with the intention of helping other people. He also volunteers at Maplegrove Center in the Intake Department, in the Family Welcome Center, and in Community Education Children’s Program where he helps children from families affected by substance abuse at Maplegrove’s summer camps.
After he stopped drinking, he started feeling what years of alcohol had done to him physically so he started walking to lose weight and feel better.
“Walking is a form of meditation, a time to reflect on the purpose of life,” explains Maysura. “It is a natural, spiritual reconnection to life – when I walk, I feel very much alive.”
Maysura says he chose to walk the 300-plus miles down Michigan not only to celebrate National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month, but to plant the seeds of sobriety throughout Michigan communities and get the word out along the way that help and hope are within reach.
“The sad truth is that too few of those suffering from alcoholism and chemical dependency find their way to treatment and the care they so desperately need,” says Maysura.
Maysura also considers the month-long walk, which begins August 1, a legacy to his son and grandchildren, and a testament to his faith.
“The walk is a defining moment in my life,” says Maysura, who has trained two to four hours a day since June, 2007. “It exemplifies, in a simple and understandable manner, how the gift of sobriety works and what it can do for those who seek it. “
Maysura explains that the beauty of the walk is that, like his own spiritual journey, his objective is unseen, yet he knows it is there and he will arrive at his destination. He says he discovered a new life, and is happier and healthier than he could have ever imagined a few short years ago.
On his walk for recovery, Maysura will travel through the Michigan communities of Mackinaw City, Levering, Alanson, Petoskey, Walloon Lake, Warner Township, Gaylord, Comins, Mio, Rose City, Alger, Standish, Kawkawlin, Frankenmuth, Clio, Davison, Ortonville and West Bloomfield.
To celebrate Maysura’s walk for recovery as he completes the last leg of his journey, and in honor of National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month, Maplegrove Center will host an open house 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 3. The public can tour new patient rooms, get recovery information and view health care exhibits.
Follow Maysura’s progress beginning August 1 via his blog at www.henryford.com/maplegrove.
Henry Ford Health System's Maplegrove Center provides a full spectrum of substance abuse treatment and support services for people of all ages. Maplegrove is located at 6773 W. Maple Rd., West Bloomfield.
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Editor's Note: Alex Maysura, and clinicians from Henry Ford’s Maplegrove Center are available for interviews.
Contact: Maria Seyrig (Print)
David Olejarz (Radio/TV) (313) 876-2882
One step at a time, Alex Maysura, 55, will challenge himself physically and spiritually as he walks more than 350 miles, from Mackinaw City to Maplegrove Center in West Bloomfield, to honor National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month and share his personal journey of alcohol recovery.
Maysura, of Troy, remembers the day he took his last drink, Oct. 25, 2005. He had hit rock bottom. He lost his marriage and his business; his mother developed cancer and dementia, and his father had a stroke.
“It was a difficult time. I had little reason to live and was rapidly wasting my life in isolation and physical neglect,” says Maysura. “Alcoholism made my world devoid of goodness and joy, replacing it with darkness and fear; I felt helpless and hopeless.”
When Maysura realized he couldn’t take care of his parents in this kind of state, he sought help.
“My sobriety and salvation began at Henry Ford’s Maplegrove Center. The recovery experience changed my world for the better and can do the same for others struggling with alcoholism and substance dependency,” says Maysura. “Maplegrove is a place where patients learn to rebuild and reclaim their lives, well-being and a sense of hope through rehabilitation and treatment.”
The recovery program provided him with real answers to real problems, as well as tools to help him through difficult times.
Now, Maysura is working on his master’s degree from Wayne State University with the intention of helping other people. He also volunteers at Maplegrove Center in the Intake Department, in the Family Welcome Center, and in Community Education Children’s Program where he helps children from families affected by substance abuse at Maplegrove’s summer camps.
After he stopped drinking, he started feeling what years of alcohol had done to him physically so he started walking to lose weight and feel better.
“Walking is a form of meditation, a time to reflect on the purpose of life,” explains Maysura. “It is a natural, spiritual reconnection to life – when I walk, I feel very much alive.”
Maysura says he chose to walk the 300-plus miles down Michigan not only to celebrate National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month, but to plant the seeds of sobriety throughout Michigan communities and get the word out along the way that help and hope are within reach.
“The sad truth is that too few of those suffering from alcoholism and chemical dependency find their way to treatment and the care they so desperately need,” says Maysura.
Maysura also considers the month-long walk, which begins August 1, a legacy to his son and grandchildren, and a testament to his faith.
“The walk is a defining moment in my life,” says Maysura, who has trained two to four hours a day since June, 2007. “It exemplifies, in a simple and understandable manner, how the gift of sobriety works and what it can do for those who seek it. “
Maysura explains that the beauty of the walk is that, like his own spiritual journey, his objective is unseen, yet he knows it is there and he will arrive at his destination. He says he discovered a new life, and is happier and healthier than he could have ever imagined a few short years ago.
On his walk for recovery, Maysura will travel through the Michigan communities of Mackinaw City, Levering, Alanson, Petoskey, Walloon Lake, Warner Township, Gaylord, Comins, Mio, Rose City, Alger, Standish, Kawkawlin, Frankenmuth, Clio, Davison, Ortonville and West Bloomfield.
To celebrate Maysura’s walk for recovery as he completes the last leg of his journey, and in honor of National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month, Maplegrove Center will host an open house 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 3. The public can tour new patient rooms, get recovery information and view health care exhibits.
Follow Maysura’s progress beginning August 1 via his blog at www.henryford.com/maplegrove.
Henry Ford Health System's Maplegrove Center provides a full spectrum of substance abuse treatment and support services for people of all ages. Maplegrove is located at 6773 W. Maple Rd., West Bloomfield.
###
Editor's Note: Alex Maysura, and clinicians from Henry Ford’s Maplegrove Center are available for interviews.
Contact: Maria Seyrig (Print)
David Olejarz (Radio/TV) (313) 876-2882
Contact
Henry Ford Health System
Maria Seyrig
313-874-4039
henryford.com
Maria Seyrig
313-874-4039
henryford.com
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