Man returns to alma mater to warn of drug dangers

In a packed gymnasium at Carson Middle School on Thursday, a photo appeared on the large screen of Kyle Churchley standing in the parking lot of Carson High School wearing a football uniform.

"I saw him walk through the foyer at the end of the afternoon," Carson High School teacher Misty Harris told the students. "That was the last time I saw him that year. He had gone home and changed his life forever."

Then the doors to the gymnasium opened and Kyle wheeled in, followed by his mother, Sally Churchley.

"My son wasn't always in a wheelchair," Sally said, handing the microphone to Kyle.

Kyle explained he used to play sports and particularly enjoyed riding dirt bikes. But when he got into high school, his friends were experimenting with drugs, and the easiest ones to get, he said, were prescription medications.

On May 5, 2005, shortly after his 16th birthday, he bought a couple of Vicodin off a girl in his class. When he got home, he crushed and snorted them.

"I went to bed and I didn't wake up for a couple of months," he said.

When his mother went in to wake him the next day, she thought he was kidding when he flopped back down when she tried to lift his torso.

When she realized he really wasn't waking up, she called 911.

After several procedures, including a tracheotomy on the way to the hospital, they discovered he had a traumatic brain injury.

"That's brain damage forever," she explained.

The Vicodin cut off blood and oxygen to the brain and his other organs started to fail as well.

"It was awful," Sally said. "We kept getting bad news. You always wondered if today was they day he would die. I learned what despair really felt like."

After Kyle had been in a coma for two months, doctors told the family it was time to let go.

She remembers praying that night and telling God, "If you want him, take him, but I can't make this decision."

The next day, the decision was made when Kyle had his first response. He laughed.

"The respiratory therapist was making funny faces," he said.

From there it was a long recovery process. After years of therapy, he regained his ability to speak.

"It took me a long time to feed myself," he said. "I couldn't brush my teeth forever."

He still struggles with muscle control, he has no dexterity in his fingers so he can't type or text. His vision is poor as well.

"I was a dummy," he said. "And I'm still suffering my consequences."

The presentation was part of the Addicted to Life campaign created by Carson High School leadership students to discourage abuse of prescription drugs, which can lead to heroin use because it's also an opiate.

Harris, leadership adviser, said national statistics show one in five teens have misused prescription medications.

"It's becoming an epidemic," she said.

After the assembly the students were invited to sign a drug-free pledge.

"Him talking really inspired me to want to live and not to fall into drugs," said Sarah Christl, 14, as she waited to sign the pledge. "You don't have to do drugs to fit in with your friends."

Kyle Kunz, 13, said he related to Churchley, who also attended Carson Middle School.

"I like to play sports and I know Kyle did too," Kunz said. "I don't think it would be a good choice to try drugs. It could ruin my life."

Kyle Churchley graduated from Carson High School in 2008. Now 21, he and his mom are ready to share their story.

"It's important for people to realize how dangerous prescription drugs can be," Kyle said. "They can be deadly."