Meet Yves…
Yves, who is originally from Suffolk, Virginia, admits that when he was younger, he routinely made poor decisions. One of those poor decisions included using drugs as a teenager. During that time and for many years after, Yves’ substance use consisted of using marijuana, crack, and powder cocaine. At the age of 26, Yves’ pattern of poor decision making resulted in him being sentenced to prison.
While in prison in 2005, Yves’ grandmother passed away. The loss of a loved one is difficult for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for those in prison who are not able to receive comfort or give comfort to family members and friends. While grieving the loss of his grandmother, Yves became a Christian and turned to God for comfort. Yves shared that relying on his faith is what helped him to cope with the death of his grandmother.
Today, Yves has learned to make better decisions and has managed to successfully get a handle on his sobriety. He is thankful that, with the help of his counselor, he found the REAL LIFE program. For Yves, being a part of REAL LIFE provides him with a strong foundation for him to build upon. He is eager to continue to learn how to live a clean and sober life, to continue to learn to be responsible, and to improve his social skills. Yves is also looking forward to being able to spend time with his mother. Despite spending 31 years in prison, Yves shared that the bond between him and his mother continues to be strong.
Although Yves has been a part of the REAL LIFE program for only a short time, he believes that the friendships that he has made, the support that he receives, and his faith will enable him to accomplish his goals.