Meet Romano!

Meet Romano

Hi there my name is Romano,

For a long time, I was stuck in a battle with addiction. What started as a way to escape pain and stress slowly turned into something that controlled my life. I lost my peace, my direction, and almost lost myself completely. There were days I didn’t recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror.

I reached a point where I knew I couldn’t keep living that way. I was tired—tired of hurting, tired of letting people down, and tired of being trapped by my own choices. That’s when I decided to ask for help. It wasn’t easy, but it was the best decision I ever made.

I completed both inpatient and outpatient treatment, and through that process, I began to face the truth about myself. I learned how to heal, how to forgive, and how to rebuild my life from the ground up. Recovery taught me discipline, faith, and patience—and that every day sober is a victory.

As I grew stronger, I started setting goals for my future. I earned my CDL license, something I never thought I’d accomplish when I was at my lowest. Now, I’m enrolled at Lower Columbia College to study welding, building new skills and working toward a career I can be proud of.

Art has also become a big part of my healing. As an inspiring artist, I’ve found peace in expressing myself through creativity. It helps me tell my story without words, and I hope my art can inspire others who are still struggling to find hope.

Today, I’m living proof that change is possible. I’m not ashamed of where I came from—it’s part of what made me who I am. Every struggle, every setback, and every small victory has led me to a better version of myself.

I’m proud of my recovery, and I’m grateful for the people and programs like Community House on Broadway and CORE Health that helped me get here. My goal now is to keep growing, keep helping others, and keep showing that no matter how dark things get, there’s always a way back to the light.

-Romano