Danny Ellerd’s life once appeared to be heading towards an early death. After years of addiction and homelessness, he was found beneath an I-40 overpass in Oklahoma City weighing just 92 pounds, according to recovery organisation Hope Is Alive. Officers initially planned to book him on outstanding warrants, but his physical condition was so severe that he was taken to hospital instead. Doctors worked to save his life and his hand, which had been badly affected by an infection linked to intravenous heroin use. What followed was a dramatic turnaround. Ellerd entered recovery, rebuilt his life and eventually returned to education. He went on to study at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City, where he earned two associate degrees and maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA. His transformation later extended beyond his own recovery, as he began working with and supporting people experiencing homelessness and addiction.
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