After welcoming four beautiful daughters via C-section, Beverly Lee — like many women — felt self-conscious about her body. After talking with her doctors, they agreed to perform gastric bypass surgery. She went in with high hopes, but this simple procedure led her life to quickly spiral out of control.
In 2008, the self-proclaimed "soccer mom" and "devout Christian woman" woke up from her surgery in extreme pain. Doctors allegedly gave her a cocktail of pills, which included Percocet and Tramadol — both opioids prescribed as pain relievers — along with nearly four other prescription drugs for anxiety and migraines.
Still she continued to suffer from complications. She'd spend the next five years in and out of revision surgeries, and Lee claims doctors prescribed her even more medication to get through this traumatic time. Soon, she became addicted.
"I thought I couldn't get out of bed unless I had popped all my pills," Lee told LittleThings in an exclusive interview. "The pain and complications after the surgery were my downfall into pills. Looking back, I wish I hadn't just popped every pill doctors gave me… But nobody wakes up and says, 'I think I will become a drug addict today.'"
Beverly Lee (left) in 2008 before she underwent gastric bypass surgery. A smiling Lee shows off her dramatic weight loss (right) while posing with her husband, but little did anyone know she was hiding a deadly pill addiction. (Credit: Beverly Lee)
She tried to stop cold turkey on the medications, but on Sept. 1, 2013, her daughter Caragan, then 14, was involved in a horrific jet skiing accident that resulted in a traumatic head injury. The thought of almost losing her daughter sent Lee into a deeper depression, and she began popping pills at a rapid rate. (In fact, she admits to spending nearly $30,000 on drugs over the course of four months!)
Eventually, she was arrested for 32 counts of unauthorized pill refills.
At the height of her drug addiction, Lee admits to spending nearly $30,000 on drugs, which included Percocet and Tramadol — both opioids prescribed as pain relievers — over the course of four months. Many of the pills she got illegally through unauthorized prescription refills. (Credit: Flickr.)
"I'm a soccer mom. I was involved in the church, so this was traumatic for me. When I was arrested, I knew I needed help," she said. "I also look at the arrest as a wake up call from God. He was showing me it was time to get help and stop this horrible addiction."
She wanted to be the woman her daughters could look up to again and couldn't believe how fast her life changed because of her choice to have one weight-loss surgery. She prayed.
Then, a commercial came on the radio for The Treehouse Rehab, one of the most comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs in the country, and she immediately called. Days later, on February 16, 2015, she admitted herself to the clinic.
The Treehouse alcohol and drug rehab is "nestled among beautiful lakes and creeks, rustic bridges and a network of zip lines and sits on 40 serene acres near Dallas, Texas. This peaceful treatment sanctuary is ideal for the intensive, rewarding work of recovery," their website reads (Credit: The Treehouse)
"I had a lot to lose socially by going to recovery. I was very active in my church, PTO President, Room Mom, Cheer Mom, Soccer Mom, and wife of a very successful husband. But I knew I had to get help for me first," Lee said.
After 45 days with Addiction Campuses, where she received one-on-one guidance from staff, as well as family therapy sessions, Lee was finally on the road to recovery.
"Addiction Campuses saved my life!" Lee said. "I have lost a lot of friends and acquaintances, but none of that matters. What matters is I have my life back, and no little white pill controls me any longer. I'm thankful to God for that."
Despite what she's been through, she's positive and even manages to jest, "I'm hoping my new addiction will be to cleaning the house."
With a new outlook on life, Lee — currently six months sober — is going back to college to get a degree in recovery therapy, so she can help others beat their addictions. While she is taking her recovery one day at a time, she hopes her story will help others.
Beverly Lee poses with her beautiful family following her recovery at The Treehouse.
"You don't have to beat addiction alone! There are so many resources out their to help you," she says.
If you would like to learn more about The Treehouse or have any other questions regarding recovery from addiction, please call their 24-hour toll free hotline at 1-800-729-7138. For those looking for a national resource, you can find treatment nationwide at www.rehabcenter.net.
Please SHARE this story, so we can help spread the word about these amazing programs that help people get back on their feet and save their lives.
