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Mike S pulls no punches as he shares the story of his turbulent childhood with an alcoholic, abusive father in Oakdale, California. Born into chaos, Mike describes how he'd be locked in his room until his father came home, only to receive brutal beatings that went far beyond normal discipline. "I grew up getting beat like that," he explains, "and I always joke I think I started to like it because I was stubborn."

When Mike was just 12, his life took another devastating turn—coming home from school to find the house emptied out, his mother and sisters gone. Left with only his 17-year-old brother as a parental figure, they survived out of a Coleman cooler until they found housing. These early experiences shaped Mike profoundly, instilling in him a fierce determination to be everything his father wasn't.

At 17, Mike joined the Marine Corps, escaping his chaotic upbringing and excelling in the structured environment. Despite being surrounded by Marines who drank heavily, Mike initially avoided alcohol, haunted by the memories of his father's behavior. It wasn't until his first marriage collapsed—after his son Joseph was born—that Mike began drinking regularly and experimenting with cocaine.

The story takes a heart-wrenching turn when Joseph, after coming to live with Mike and his new wife Kim, is struck by a car in a crosswalk, suffering a traumatic brain injury that left him in a coma. As Mike recounts the agonizing hospital vigil and uncertain prognosis, we see the seeds of the profound connection that would later form between Mike and Jason, whose son Tyler would experience similar trauma.

This raw conversation doesn't just chronicle a series of tragedies—it reveals how our deepest wounds can become unexpected bridges to others. Mike's unflinching honesty about his struggles with addiction, fatherhood, and breaking generational cycles offers a powerful reminder that sometimes the people who understand us best are those who've walked through similar fires.

Have you experienced trauma that still affects your relationships today? We'd love to hear your story at [email protected].

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