Vic's Story: Part Two

Back from Broken

Colorado Public Radio

Society & Culture

5 • 703 Ratings

🗓️ 25 August 2023

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The season ends with Vic Vela coming to terms with one of the biggest health scares of his life, while also navigating an emotional, historic championship run for his beloved Denver Nuggets.

Over the last few months Vic recorded audio diaries of his experiences. He shares some of his best and worst days as he copes with a health crisis that nearly took his life — along with edge-of-your seat playoff basketball musings — all while trying to stay sober and taking things one day at a time.

You can also check out Vic’s original memoir episode from Season 1.

Back From Broken is a show about how we are all broken sometimes, and how we need help from time to time. If you’re struggling, you can find a list of resources at BackFromBroken.org.

Host: Vic Vela
Lead producer: Jo Erickson
Editor: Erin Jones
Mixed by: Kibwe Cooper
Additional editorial support: Rebekah Romberg, Emily Williams, Andrew Villegas
Music: Daniel Mescher and Brad Turner with additional music from Universal Production Music
Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale
Thanks also to Rachel Estabrook, Hart van Denburg, Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Arielle Wilson, Kim Nguyen.

BackFromBroken.org
On Twitter: @VicVela1

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, it's Vic. Just so you know, there's some strong language in this episode. Please be advised.
0:07.4	And three, two, one. This time I'm back from Broken, I decided to do something different.
0:15.1	The 47-year weight is over. The Denver Nuggets stand on top of the NBA world.
0:25.7	They are champions.
0:28.7	And Nuggets fans from C to Shining Sea can rest or die in peace.
0:38.2	I was inside Denver's ball arena the night this happened, surrounded by screaming
0:43.9	Nuggets fans going out of their minds over the team's first ever championship.
0:50.3	I was one of them.
0:51.9	I mean, I've been cheering for the Nuggets since I was a little boy and suffered through many losing seasons.
0:57.8	But this time, they actually won. I tweeted a video of myself trying to put this moment into words.
1:06.3	I am so happy for the Denver Nuggets. I'm so happy for my city. And I'm just so happy for the
1:12.0	fans who have, who have waited for this moment for like the last five decades. And I'm happy
1:17.6	for myself. You know, I've been through a lot. I had a lot of health struggles. And I struggle
1:23.0	with addiction. And I'm alive. I'm alive to see this moment and this is so much fun. I'm so happy.
1:33.6	I love you.
1:43.7	Why was I crying? Why was this such an emotional, even spiritual moment for me? Because I was
1:51.6	alive to see it. Because in the months leading up to this game, I could have died. I almost didn't get to
2:00.7	witness my nuggetsuggets make history
2:02.6	because of the biggest health scare I've ever had in my life.
2:06.6	It was an illness that came from left field.
2:09.6	I didn't see it coming at all, and it made me rethink everything.
2:18.5	I'm forced to think about my work as a newscaster and weekend edition host, waking up at
	...

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