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A Single Choice, A Lifetime of Consequences
A single decision after a night of drinking left Clay paralyzed for 23 years—now he uses his powerful story to warn others.
The Sobriety Daily Newsletter
August 29, 2025 | Stay Connected, Stay Sober
He walked into a bar like any other night. He left knowing he’d never walk again.
On July 25, 2002, Clay finished his second-shift job in Davenport, Iowa, and did what he’d done countless times before: he walked across the street to the bar. Several drinks later, he made a decision that would define the rest of his life—he got behind the wheel.
Less than a mile from home, his truck veered off the road. He overcorrected, flipped the vehicle, and woke up in an emergency room with a devastating diagnosis: a broken C4 vertebra and complete paralysis from the chest down.
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For 23 years, Clay has lived with the consequences of that night. Through surgeries, traction, and unimaginable adjustment, he’s carried not just the physical scars, but the emotional weight of a choice that can’t be undone.
Yet, in the midst of unimaginable hardship, Clay found a purpose: advocacy. He uses his experience as a sobering reminder of the fragility of life and the permanence of choice, speaking to schools, community groups, and anyone who will listen about the realities of drinking and driving.
He now shares his story with a powerful poem that ends with a plea:
This Can't Be Right, This Cannot Be! How Could This Have Happened To Me? I Chose To Drive, Intoxicated, I Should've Called, I Should've Waited! Less Than a Mile and I Would've Been Home If Only I Would've Used The Phone! But, I Chose To Drive, While I Was Drunk, Overcorrected And Flipped My Truck! All I Saw Next Was The ER Ceiling, Below My Chest I Had No Feeling! A Tube In My Stomach, A Trach In My Throat, I Truly Do Pray Y'all're Taking Some Notes! It Turned Out To Be a C4 Fracture, Weights Bolted To My Skull As I Laid In Traction! "You'll Never Walk Again", The Dr Said. If Only I Would've Used My Head! Thank You Lord Jesus That I'm Still Alive! Take It From Me Y'all, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE! Clay Turkle |   |
If you have a story that you would like to share with our community please drop us a quick email to [email protected] and we will ensure to contact you back asap to discuss your journey…
Today’s Mantra
My choices today shape my reality tomorrow
Sobriety News
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The Cedar House Foundation opens Kendra House on Sept. 1—a new sober living home in Abilene exclusively for Dickinson County women seeking long-term recovery. Blending local and national recovery models, the house offers community support and mentorship from women with lived experience, funded by state opioid remediation and foundation grants.
A new study suggests that weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may reduce alcohol consumption and curb addictive behaviors by quieting the brain’s reward system. While still preliminary, these findings open the possibility that such medications could eventually play a role in addiction treatment.
Tip of the Day
Before saying "yes," ask: "Will this decision help or hurt future me?" A 10-second pause can save you a lifetime of regret.
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