All eyes were on Ryan.

Bottom of the ninth. Two outs. His softball team was down 3-2.

For Ryan, this wasn’t just another game. It was his shot at redemption – he was in a 0-for-9 slump.

Ryan stared intently into the pitcher’s eyes, anticipating a fastball up in the strike zone. As the ball came towards him, he readied.

Crack.

The ball bounced off the outfield fence. Two runs scored.

Ryan pumped his fist in joy as his team mobbed him. It was another walk-off win.

That moment on the field captures what Ryan’s entire journey has been about: despite the setbacks, he’s come out on top, thanks to people like you.

A Dream to Serve

Ryan grew up in a loving, upper-middle-class family. Sports were always a big part of his life. He was captain of his high school baseball team and loved playing football.

But his greatest dream? To become a Marine.

His grandfathers served in the Army and passed their pride in service on to Ryan. He wanted a life-long career with the Marines – and a future filled with purpose, discipline and stability.

At age 18, he went off to Parris Island in South Carolina for basic training.

“They break you down, and build you back up,” recalls Ryan of his training. “It was hard, but very rewarding. They taught me so many valuable lessons.”

Ryan’s proudest moment came when he finished the crucible, the final part of Marine Corps basic training. He received his Eagle, Globe and Anchor in front of the Iwo Jima statue.

“I was finally a Marine, something only the select few achieved,” said Ryan. “It was the proudest moment of my life.”

Shortly after, he was woken up by the loud base alarm. It was 9/11 and America was under attack. The day was a reminder of Ryan’s purpose – to defend the country.

But that didn’t last long.

The Accident That Changed Everything

It was supposed to be routine. Ryan was confident, focused, and in command. But a split-second accident changed everything.

As he lay on his back in agony, he wondered, “Is this it?”

He had broken his spine. Physical therapy mended his body, but the emotional toll ran deeper.

He was medically discharged under honorable conditions from the Marines, and just like that, the dream was over.

And so was a part of him.

“I was completely lost,” recalls Ryan. “The Marines were supposed to be my life. It was all pulled away from me so quickly – my life direction, the camaraderie, my paycheck, and my sense of purpose. I was a disabled veteran with nowhere to go.”

Ryan moved back home with his father. He took pills to deal with the disappointment. Soon he was hooked – first OxyContin, then heroin.

Addiction took over. He spent the next eight years chasing relief, sinking deeper into darkness.

Hitting Rock Bottom – and Climbing Back

It took a car crash and an intervention from his mom and best friend to get help. Ryan checked into long-term treatment. He went to meetings, worked out, and found a job helping others in recovery.

Things were looking up – he had a career, a steady income, a house and a car.

But the disease of addiction crept back in. He started smoking weed, then got into molly, mushrooms, Adderall – and cocaine.

Ryan lost his job, became homeless, sleeping in his car most nights – or if he was lucky, a friend’s house. He overdosed several times.

“I was a homeless drug addict,” he recalls. “It was like I was back at zero.”

The Turning Point

A friend convinced Ryan to try treatment one more time. But upon getting out, he didn’t want to make the same mistake as last time.

He called up a friend he made from residential treatment, Mike. Mike was living at Liberty House, the Manchester-based program where veterans rebuild their lives, find hope, and leave addiction and homelessness behind.

There was a spot open. A few days later, Ryan moved into Liberty House in January 2024.

Finding Purpose Again at Liberty House

From the start, Liberty House was different.

“The first week or two here was too perfect,” he said. “The staff was eager and ready to help you with anything you needed. The other residents had your back. I remember thinking, ‘what’s the catch?’ It’s unlike any place I’d been before – they give you a real opportunity to find your purpose.”

As time went on, he realized it wasn’t a catch. Ryan got help seeing a doctor and a dentist for the first time in years. He found a job. He attended recovery meetings. He started playing softball again – and loving it.

But one trip back home changed everything when he relapsed.

Rather than going into another tailspin, he remembered what Liberty House taught him: accountability matters.

He called Ashley Kitchell, executive director of Liberty House, and admitted his mistake. While this relapse meant he couldn’t stay at Liberty House, his case manager drove him to a treatment facility. It was there he realized that drugs no longer needed to dictate his life, and he was done once and for all.

“My Life Could Have Gone a Different Way”

A few weeks later, Liberty House welcomed him back. It was a fresh start – a second chance.

And he’s making the most of it.

Ryan now works at a local grocery store, managing a team. With help from Liberty House, he’s finally getting the VA disability benefits he needs.

“Liberty House is a Godsend,” Ryan shares. “Without this second chance, my life could have gone so much differently.”

He’s grown close to other residents, and together they support each other through tough moments. Ryan was there for a fellow resident who was struggling and about to relapse—he talked him through it, reminding him there was no going back. Now, thanks to that encouragement, that resident has turned a corner and is doing great.

Then there’s Mike, his old friend from treatment, who first brought Ryan to Liberty House. “He’s done so much for me,” Ryan says. “I’ll go to bat for him anytime—even if he was in the Army,” he laughs.

Giving Back

Seeing the firsthand impact of Liberty House has inspired Ryan to pursue a career of giving back. This fall, he’ll start college to study human services. His new dream is dedicating his life to helping veterans fight the battles he knows so well.

“I want to be able to come home from work at night knowing I did something meaningful, just like the staff here helped me realize. Liberty House gave me that sense of purpose.”

He also has a girlfriend, his first stable relationship in years. He talks to his parents every day, and video chats with his six-year-old niece, making them both laugh.

“I am finally starting to feel like myself again,” he shares. “My life has gotten so much better since I got to Liberty House. I still pinch myself to make sure it’s real life. All the things they do that put you on a path to succeed don’t happen anywhere else.”

While there’s still much work ahead, Ryan knows this time is different.

“It takes a certain level of maturity to stay clean,” he shares. “You have to face the music and deal with it yourself.”

Ryan’s Ultimate Win – Thanks To You

Ryan is grateful for the donors who support Liberty House.

“The donors and supportive community have literally saved my life,” he shares. “If it wasn’t for them, I would probably be dead, or homeless, living under a bridge. But because of kind people like you, I have gotten my life back together. It’s allowed me to become a productive member of society and find the joys of life again.”

On weekends, you’ll find Ryan at third base with his 40+ sober softball team. “Some days I can’t miss, other days it’s like I’ve never played before,” he laughs.

He’s learned that success in life, like softball, takes daily practice.

“I live by patience, tolerance, and acceptance,” he shares. “I know if I stay focused today, I’ll get another chance tomorrow.”

Just like that walk-off double, Ryan knows that persistence pays off. Because of people like you, he’s learned there’s always light after darkness – and always a reason to keep playing.