Former addict provides second chances
CRANBERRY TWP — You never know when getting hit by a car could be the best day of your life.
That's what Jimmy Woods says about a night in 2013 when a car struck him as he rode his motorcycle, under the influence, away from Memorial Park Church in Allison Park where he had slept.
“It was dark out, and I could've died, should've died there,” he said, pulling out an engraved money clip. “My girlfriend gave me this; it says 'blessed' and it says '1/6/13.' That was the day I got run down by the car. Best day of my life.”
Woods, 52, had spent the three decades prior struggling with addiction to drugs and alcohol, an addiction he says took two near-fatal car crashes and an intense spiritual experience to overcome.
Today he works with people struggling with addiction and their families.
For his work, the Cranberry Township board of supervisors gave him a “Comeback Award” recently.
“The award recognized Woods' work educating the community on ways we can help end the cycle of addiction,” information from the township states. “Jimmy was also recognized for creating a successful business staffed entirely with individuals recovering from addiction.”
He opened that business, a restaurant in Cranberry Township, four years ago.
“We have this family here,” Woods said. “This was my dream after my accident.”
The accident added to Woods' growing stack of DUIs, and after surgeries and starting physical therapy, Woods had to go to court.
“I was in a lot of trouble,” he said.
Woods was sentenced to a second chance drug and alcohol program. There he would have to experience life off drugs for the first time in decades, and with an addiction stronger than ever after the accident.
Woods couldn't even touch his sheets without flinching, as his body became incredibly sensitive as he detoxed from opiates. He couldn't sleep, and the pain grew intense. Even when he could get a little sleep, guards would regularly check in on patients, shining lights on them and waking them up to make sure they were there.“And it'd (upset me) so bad, because you were dying to get a minute of sleep,” he said.Two weeks after the incident, Woods had an epiphany.“I wake up and my eyes are closed and that bright lights in my face and I remember thinking 'what are they doing?' and I opened my eyes and it was pitch black,” he said. “I was kind of freaked out by it.”He tried to go back to sleep, he said, but the light returned, brighter than ever.“I closed my eyes, and this light got extremely bright and warm and it was so intense,” he said. “I knew what it was, who it was. And this crazy amount of love came over me through this light, and it told me I was going to be OK.”The next day, Woods said he woke up a different person, to the surprise of those around him.“I visibly changed in front of everybody,” he said. “I was this angry violent human being before that, and in the morning I was a completely different person.”Since then, Woods has worked to rebuild his life and the lives of those around him, weaving together a network of friends and colleagues that reach out to those struggling with addiction and give them hope for a future without drugs and alcohol.He frequently speaks at churches, conferences and organizations in the fight against substance addiction and abuse, while through his restaurant, he finds work and support for people working to get clean and recover.Johnny Gold and Austin Matthew both work for Woods in the kitchen, and say he gave them a second chance and a purpose.“It's not just making food,” Matthew said. “It's nice especially when people want to come in and talk about they have a friend or family member that's struggling.”“(When) you've made mistakes, you're trying to come back, you need someone to just give you an opportunity based on no other fact than that people deserve a second chance,” Gold said. “Some people don't even want to give that chance. They don't want the hassle, and sometimes it can be a hassle.”An avid member and proponent of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, Woods recommends anyone in need reach out to these groups, as well as to rehab facilities or other organizations.“You're never wasting your time,” he said. “I don't care how many trips you take to rehab, I don't care how many meetings you go to not clean. You can go to a meeting drunk, it doesn't matter. You're picking stuff up.”In his recovery, the advice of friends and family all came flooding back, aiding him on his journey to recovery.“I remembered everything anybody ever said to me, including my parents, my boss,” he said. “When I was finally ready to get clean, all the advice I had been given was there.”
