From prison to physician
Donation protected
On May 14, 2007, I was arrested outside my home and in front of my wife and 2 year old daughter. My years of opioid addiction turned my career as a successful physician into a 14 year prison nightmare. That Monday morning I lost all which was important to me, being a husband to my wife, walking my daughter to school and my life’s passion, to be a doctor and help people. But instead of wallowing in pity, I decided to be honest with myself, own my mistakes and start repairing, one by one, the many wrongs I caused, hoping life will give me a second chance. Upon my arrest, I decided to turned my life around one day at time, started teaching classes in prison, joined a drug rehab program and begun sharing my story with everyone that wanted, and maybe needed, to hear it. After getting out of jail early for good behavior, I was invited by my medical school to share my story with faculty and students which later turned into a part-time teaching job. Almost 4 years have passed since I left prison and since the police showed at my doorstep that rainy Monday May morning, I can safely say some good has definitely come out of my mistakes, not just for me but hopefully for many people I had the opportunity to share my story with. Today I am a full-time clinical coordinator at the school, counseling, sharing and guiding students and staff with my experiences. I am proof second chances are indeed possible but it has to start with us. However, this life story has not yet written its final chapter, since I’ve just been given a rare opportunity to restore my medical license and go back to my passion, helping people. Unfortunately, I cannot afford the legal fees that will accrue for my license restoration and therefore I am humbly seeking your support to help me write yet another chapter in this book, a chapter which hopefully will allow me to continue helping others. I have seen the worst of life when addiction strikes home, but I have also seen the best of life when you reach out to people in need.
Thank you so much for your support.
Organizer
Richard Morgan
Organizer
New York, NY