Nicholas Ciaramella
Nicholas Ciaramella lost his battle with substance abuse addiction on July 28, 2018; he was 31 years young.
Nicholas was a wonderful incredible young man. His smile, often mischievous at times, spoke volumes of the heart within him and the love that he carried for so many people. Many memories come to mind but mostly of how caring and thoughtful he was reaching out to others, always bringing a smile to everyone’s face.
In April of 2016 Nicholas made the most difficult decision of his life and that was to face the unavoidable challenges and do whatever he could to fight the unfair battle of substance abuse addiction to get back his life. Facing the unknown with courage and with an open mind Nicholas embarked on his journey to overcome this powerful disease.
For nearly 2 years Nicholas’ recovery was his first priority and he found joy, happiness and peace in his sobriety. In his words, he was “surviving & thriving.” One of the many reasons that Nicholas stayed sober was his dedication to helping other men and women struggling with this disease. Helping others came easy to him and it became his pathway to wellness and freedom from active addiction.
During part of Nicholas’ sobriety he lived in Portland, ME as a member of the sober community and served as a House Coordinator. His biography read: “Being a man in recovery, the obligation to help others had become a passion.
My journey in sobriety has breathed new life in me, where my relationships with family and friends has never been stronger. The places I have been and people I have met on this rollercoaster ride have provided me with an irreplaceable experience which I now share with others.
Immersing myself in the program and being an active member in the Portland sober community has given me ample tools and resources to help other men achieve sobriety.
My energy and commitment to sobriety is contagious. Having an impact on the lives of others has given me a profound purpose in life and motivates me to be the best version of myself, everyday.”
As in almost every recovery plan there are set backs, but Nicholas never gave up the fight. Despite all of his hard work to stay sober and with support from family and friends and the recovery community in Portland, ME this horrible disease ultimately took his life.
Nicholas would not want his passing to be merely another static but a platform to help others who are struggling with addiction.
For this reason, in Nicholas’ memory family and friends have come together every year to support The Family Restored in their mission to raise money and awareness to help eradicate this horrible disease.