Heroes In Our Midst

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. ~ Christopher Reeve

By Jay Mason

Early last summer I noticed, as I drove to work down Second Street, a large number of zombie-like people wandering in no particular direction. One day I counted 25 such people just on that road. This experience went on for several days. Of course, these people were not zombies, but our fellow human beings addicted to drugs and alcohol. Late in the summer, the number dropped, and I realized that some of these poor individuals had been picked up and taken to the Detox Center operated as the Na’Nizhoozhi Center and supported by the City of Gallup.

Recently two former residents returned to Gallup and had the foresight and understanding to reopen Behavioral Health at the old Rehoboth Hospital. Those people were David Conejo and Dr. Tom Carmany. David is CEO of the hospital, and Tom is President of Western Health Foundation. Several years ago, Behavioral Health closed, but fortunately, the building was in relatively good shape. David and Tom intended to start slowly and open a few beds for a 90 day treatment program. Eight beds and the necessary staff seemed appropriate. They were able to do just that, but then it became clear almost immediately that the demand was great. In one month, they went from those 8 beds to 18 beds. The number increased almost monthly, and in the course of the first year, they reached their current number of 50 beds. Twelve more beds have also been added for transitional care.

Raising money to care for these needy people is not easy. These programs rely primarily on government money to survive. It is hard to raise money from the private sector for this type of health care because most people believe that the patients have brought this problem on themselves. That may be true, but this problem affects all of us. If things are ever going to get better, everyone will have to contribute in some way.

The path to freedom from alcoholism and other drug abuse for most street people begins at the Detox Center or NCI. They

have a contract to treat 26,000 people per year. Of course, the actual number of individuals is 6,000 persons, many of whom are repeat visitors. Kevin and the staff at NCI try to break the cycle of abuse. They can hold someone from 12 to 72 hours depending on the number of times they have been picked up. No one can go to a rehabilitation program unless they are clean and sober. For many this program is the first step. NCI also shelters some street people at night who have nowhere to go. Every year they raise money to have a Sobriety Pow Wow on New Year’s Eve.

If a person wants to change his or her life, NCI also has a 60-day rehabilitation program called Hinn’ah Bits’os or Life Feather that uses traditional Native American therapies. NCI also places people at Behavioral Health and other treatment programs in our area. If a person wants to get treatment, the counselors will find a place for him or her to change their lives.

Gallup has other programs, where in many cases, volunteers serve these unfortunate people. Some churches have coffee and breakfast and invite these people to come and get some nourishment. Catholic Charities serves breakfast almost every day during the winter months. The Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s sisters) offer a daily lunch and small afternoon meal. All of these volunteer programs become an opportunity for individuals to change their lives and return to a normal life. The Missionaries also shelter men and women at night in separate facilities and put some people to work if they show promise of leaving the life of dependence on drugs and alcohol. That is the hard part; each person must want to change his or her life. Until that decision is made, all the programs in the world will be a waste of time.

One of the heroes that I am praising in this article is Katy. She runs the art project at Behavioral Health. When I toured the facility, she had a project where the patient made a mask of what the patient’s friends and family thought they were like. Some of the masks depicted a Mardi Gras or party face; one was the face of the devil. Most of the masks were colorful and creative. Some were very sad. Once the mask is completed, then Katy asks the patient to turn over the mask and paint or write or talk about what the person is really like inside and what they would like to become. For many it is a life-changing experience.

At the end of their time at Behavioral Health, patients are given jobs at the facility and around town with the help of the City of Gallup and business people. They earn some money and pay rent to the facility to live there. They are taught or relearn simple principles of money management so that they can hopefully return to a life without addiction. Another hero, Mercedes, comes to the program to teach those who want to get a GED before they leave the program. Other staff helps to find a place for graduates to live or to work.

I merely describe some of the good work going on around us every day. I know it is not easy to complete any of these programs. It is even more difficult to stay the course after the rehabilitation is completed. It is something that must be followed every day or the old habits will return. But it is worth doing because the alternative is a very lonely death. I pray for success for those who accept the challenge of changing their lives.

The heroes in our midst are all those in our community who serve the people who suffer from alcohol and drug abuse. I would last five minutes in that job. Some are trained staff in the programs; others are volunteers. All of them deserve our praise and gratitude. As Superman said above, a hero is an ordinary person who perseveres in spite of overwhelming obstacles. These people make our lives in Gallup, New Mexico better by their dedication and service. If you know one of these heroes, give them a hug, ladybug, and thank them for all they do. If you get a chance to support their projects, please do so. Happy Thanksgiving!