Here’s your sign that second chances are real — and sometimes they come full circle in the best way.
Richard Lucas, a man from St. Augustine, Florida, recently reconnected with the addiction counselor who helped him get sober five years ago. Her name is Katelyn Vargo, and she was the voice on the other end of a hotline when Richard was battling end-stage alcoholism and desperate for help.
Back then, she helped him get into a treatment program. Fast forward to today: Richard is not only five years sober, but he’s also studying to become a lawyer and traveling the country to share his story and offer hope to others struggling with addiction.
But the story doesn’t end there.
After Richard’s story went viral, he found out that Vargo was facing serious health issues. The single mom had lost 70 pounds due to a mysterious illness and was struggling just to stay afloat. So Richard did what anyone would hope to do for the person who saved their life — he promoted a fundraiser on her behalf, and the response was overwhelming.
The support helped Vargo secure a new apartment, find stability, and feel — in her words — “taken care of” for the first time in her life.
Now the two are bonded in an even deeper way, proving that recovery isn’t just about getting clean — it’s about paying it forward.
“Don’t give up,” Richard says. “Because if you don’t give up, the possibilities are endless.”
And this story? Living proof.
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