Recovering addict's birthday wish is to simply help others

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - A birthday celebration for most 18-years-olds can be a little wild, maybe even reckless. But Bryan Messick has been through more than most kids his age.

He wasn't even sure he'd make 18, so this year is different.

"I expected I was going to die from using drugs and for a while I was ok with that. That's just what drugs do to your mind. I was set on going out that way," Bryan told FOX 29's Bill Anderson.

After teen years filled with addiction struggles he's been drug-free for nearly 8 months and has a clarity on his life that was absent for some time.

"One day something hit me and I called my parents and said I need help, it finally hit me after all them months and I decided to turn myself in and ask for treatment," Bryan explained.

Marijuana at 13, heroin by 16 and on the run for months after a drug-related parole violation it finally clicked for Bryan. So as he approaches his 19th birthday he decided to share his story in hopes that it helps someone.

"I feel like my story could help other people. I really want to help other people. I was volunteering for things while I was in placement. I wouldn't say it's a high but it feels really good to help other people," Bryan said.

Part of that help is asking anyone who sees his social media or this story to donate in honor of Bryan's January 11th birthday to a nonprofit that helps people in recovery. Bryan's mom Destiny believes the donations and openly sharing the story may offer support for recovering addicts and their families to know there are people who can relate.

"Not knowing if I'm going to get a phone call. A good phone call or a bad phone call. Whether he's alive or dead, dreading when the phone didn't ring dreading when it did," Destiny explained.

But even with all they've been through, she says the family never stopped praying for and believing in Bryan and hopes others also embrace that message.

"I hope you never have to experience having a child who becomes addicted to any kind of drugs but just care," she added.

It's Bryan's birthday next week, a 19th birthday that he didn't expect to see and because of that, he's asking all of us to donate to his chosen cause and try to save more lives that may also recover and pay it forward For Goodness Sake.

If You'd like to donate to Bryan's birthday charity you can visit his Facebook Fundraiser.