John locked a device called a "reverse bear trap" around my head, which was hooked into my mouth. I had one minute to retrieve the key, unlock and remove it before it ripped my mouth wide open. The key was in the stomach of my drug dealer...the person who'd preyed on my weaknesses, who'd taken everything I had in exchange for something he knew would eventually kill me. He was alive on the floor but paralyzed by opiates. A scalpel had been left next to him, and I'm sure you can piece the rest together.

I never touched heroin again--never even wanted to. Doctors say it's impossible to kick that addiction cold-turkey, but thanks to John, I did. He saved my life, made me stronger, and then he took me in. He made me his successor.