Shadow Mountain Story

Several years ago Debb and Robb Holub began down the road of recovery when they acknowledged they needed to find help for their son. At 18 years old, Joey Holub was spiraling down the dark road of addiction when he agreed to enter a wilderness treatment program, leaving behind his family, friends, and an upcoming high school graduation. In wilderness treatment, Joey began to work on the issues surrounding his substance use. At the same time his parents were learning about the disease of addiction and the ways it affects a family. Through firm but gentle counseling, the Holub’s realized that their entire family was now in recovery.

After the completion of his wilderness treatment, Joey moved into a long-term extended care treatment program. It was at this program that Joey encountered Jason, a counselor who would later have an impact on his life. Jason and Joey immediately connected through their shared passion for music. At the program our son attended Jason had created a music curriculum in which young men were able to compose, perform and record music. Joey thrived during his time in the music studio. He discovered he had a gift for composing music and singing. In addition, he realized that he could use music to delve into and explore those darker regions of his emotions – a place he avoided going during his regular therapy sessions. The Holub’s met Jason on a family visit with their son.

Eight months later, Joey returned home. The family was not properly prepared by the program for his return home but their son wanted to come back to familiar surroundings. The program did not send Joey home with clinical recommendations for transition nor did they send him home with a relapse prevention plan. Robb and Debb were not aware that they needed to ask for these tools to help them support Joey in his recovery.

Two months later while walking and under the influence, a car traveling 45 mph struck him. Medical professionals that helped save Joey’s life said that it was truly a miracle he survived considering he had multiple fractures of his left leg and severe head trauma. Joey was alive, yet he remained in a coma for several weeks. During this time Jason was in contact with the Holub family as they struggled with the possible loss of their son. He was burdened with one question, Where had the program failed Joey? The answer was clear: They hadn’t opened Joey up enough to recovery. He left the program’s care knowing he could not manage cocaine, but believed he could manage alcohol and marijuana, that misconception landed him in a hospital bed fighting for his life. Doctors and nurses had been preparing the Holub’s for the worst as nobody could really tell how much brain damage had been done from the accident.

During this time several miracles took place that lead to Joey’s recovery.
Joey awoke from his coma while mouthing the words to his favorite song and playing the air guitar. Five and a half weeks, three surgeries, and many procedures later the Holub’s were able to take Joey home. The recovery from his injuries, especially the head trauma, was going to be a long, painful road for Joey. His accident had left him with a temporary brain injury, however, he had not lost his ability to enjoy or play music. At this point Jason spoke with Robb and Debb about using music as a vehicle to reconnect Joey with a life of recovery. Jason and his wife traveled to California to visit Joey to encourage him and to assist in setting up a small home recording studio. While Jason and Joey were working on their first recording in the new studio, his wife shared a vision about a program with the Holub’s knowing they had started and managed several successful businesses. After careful consideration and thinking through how to give something back for receiving the precious gift of their sons recovery Shadow Mountain became a reality.

It was clear a highly focused program where everything that took place was in the spirit of recovery was sorely needed. A program where staff would plan activities and recovery work allowing residents to look forward to waking up every day to things they actually enjoyed doing. A place where all these options would be avenues to recovery and life skills, constantly opening people up to deeper work on themselves.

It was agreed that this new program’s mission would be to educate and lead young men and their families on the road to a lifetime of recovery. From that moment on things seemed to fall into place at an unbelievable pace. They located and purchased a magnificent property in Taos, New Mexico that was perfectly suited for this new program’s purposes. The name Shadow Mountain is derived from the mountain that the property is located on. Talented and versatile staff were located and hired. After several months everything was in place and Shadow Mountain opened their doors to their first student in May of 2007.

Joey who had been a gifted left handed pitcher in high school one year later had made a full recovery and with a rod in his leg from the accident was throwing 80 – 85 mph fastballs and complete games for the Shadow Mountain baseball team. He works at the program and is a full time student at University of New Mexico Taos.