Check Out Corey Winfield’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Corey Winfield.

Hi Corey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
December 15, 2018. A date that marks the first day I was truly free from alcohol. It wasn’t the first time I had tried to quit, but it was the first time I meant it. The first time it stuck.

Drugs had come and gone in my life, but alcohol was the one that never let go. It was everywhere—easy to get, encouraged in social settings, and disguised as a harmless indulgence. As long as I kept my drinking hidden from my friends, family, and co-workers, I convinced myself that I was in control.

But the truth was, the more I tried to conceal it, the worse it became. I wasn’t fooling anyone. Not really. Least of all myself.

Then came January 23, 2015. The day my body finally caved under the weight of my choices.

I was 36 years old when my liver and kidneys shut down completely. Renal failure. Two words that should have belonged to someone much older, someone sicker. But there I was, lying in a hospital bed, my body no longer willing to keep up with my denial.

A doctor walked in, studied me for a moment, then asked the question that changed everything:

“How long have you been an alcoholic?”

There was no pity in his voice. Without hesitation. I reply, “I’m not, I just had a good month.” He said he had seen my Liver and that I am an alcoholic.

I don’t remember what I said in response, but I do remember what I felt. For the first time, I couldn’t run. I couldn’t make excuses or pretend I had things under control.

That moment—more than the sickness, more than the pain—was what truly woke me up. It wasn’t the day I got sober, but it was the day I realized I had to.

The road from that hospital bed to December 15, 2018, was long and unforgiving.

There were days I stumbled, moments I doubted myself. But when I wake up each morning, free from alcohol, I know two things for certain:

God loves me..

I have finally started living.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Struggles are real, and it wasn’t easy changing my life. I assume it’s like that for everyone in early recovery, and I know I’m one of the lucky ones to have hit a stride in recovery.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At 17, I began a radio career and was a radio broadcaster for twenty years. I worked in Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Smith & Fayetteville, Arkansas. The passion to create and entertain hasn’t left and has only grown stronger in my sobriety.

I’ve written a short script and plan to start shooting very soon.

217 Recovery Podcasts will be live on YouTube soon!

What matters most to you? Why?
My relationship with God is the most important thing to me, followed by my family. Setting good examples and leading by example are also important to me. If you’re in management and notice your employees wasting time, look in the mirror before you discipline them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.217recovery.com/corey