0:00 Melissa: “I got an Orangetheory so.. I just got out of there and I’m not allowed to drive so I’m walking home. It was a DWI, a felony. I know that I was in a lot of trouble, like I’m a repeat offender. So my lowest point”
0:15 Melissa: “was the initial call with the attorney when he told me that there’s a good chance I’m going to prison, I couldn’t handle it. I had a court-appointed attorney and at first I wasn’t even gonna spend the money on getting an attorney. I was like ‘I’m going to prison anyway.’”
0:30 Melissa: “Why waste the money? But that guy never answered his phone. *laughs*. So I have no idea what was going on and that’s the worst. Your mind just catastrophizes. I was told that you had people with different fields of expertise. Someone that was”
0:45 Melissa: “educated in how to examine blood work and find possible ways to throw the case out. I thought maybe as a team that you could consult each other as opposed to just one person. I was able to ask questions”
1:00 Melissa: “via text message and get prompt responses. I was given a little bit of advice about what I could do to change my outcome to a more favorable one. Mr. Michell had advised me that”
1:15 Melissa: “it would be in my best interest to get some treatment. I didn’t even think of it. I knew that I had to stop drinking but I didn’t know what to do. You know, I just thought, like ‘You broke the law.. like , this is the punishment and that’s what it’s gonna be’. So he did inspire me “
1:30 Melissa: “to seek treatment and then just being able to ask questions. That was the big one because I know for most people, fear of the unknown is the worst, so knowing what’s gonna happen at my next court date instead of just being like ‘Am I”
1:45 Melissa: “gonna get arrested today?’, ‘Am I going home?’. I got some reassurance along the way. I would say that if you are looking for someone to be supportive and inform you and just kind of walk “
2:00 Melissa: “you through everything and like the worst time of your life. It’s a good choice. They’re not gonna leave you hanging. They’re always there to answer your questions and there’s a team of people. It’s the most comfort as possible that can be offered.