Almost Gone: My Story, My Survival, and Why I Finally Told It

There are moments in life when everything stops — not metaphorically, but literally.
For me, that moment came when I slipped into a coma that lasted more than three weeks. Doctors weren’t sure I would survive. Some didn’t believe I would wake up at all.

But I did.

And that moment — waking up, broken but alive — is the reason this book exists.

Why I Wrote Almost Gone

Almost Gone is not a book I ever planned to write.

For years, I carried this story quietly — the addiction, the pill mills, the medical system failures, the stroke, the coma, and the long road back. Like many people, I believed silence was strength. I believed moving forward meant not looking back.

I was wrong.

Silence almost killed me.

This book is my attempt to tell the truth — not for shock value, not for sympathy, but for clarity. Because what happened to me is happening to thousands of people every single day, often without anyone noticing until it’s too late.

The Life I Lived Before the Wake-Up Call

Before everything unraveled, I was working, building businesses, raising a family, and doing what many would call “fine.” On the outside, life looked stable. Productive. Successful.

Behind the scenes, I was slowly losing control.

Prescription drugs — legally obtained, casually prescribed — became a silent dependency. Not overnight. Not dramatically. Gradually. Quietly. Until one day, they owned more of my life than I was willing to admit.

That’s the part of addiction people don’t like to talk about:
It doesn’t always look reckless. Sometimes it looks responsible — until it isn’t.

The Moment Everything Changed

I suffered a stroke and fell into a coma that lasted three and a half weeks. My family was called in. Decisions were discussed that no family should ever have to face.

What brought me back, I believe, was a combination of medical care, stubborn will, and something deeper — faith, love, and the voices of people who refused to give up on me, even when I couldn’t fight for myself.

Recovery didn’t end when I woke up.
That was just the beginning.

What This Book Is — and What It Isn’t

Almost Gone is:

• A true story

• A memoir of survival

• An honest look at addiction, recovery, and accountability

• A reflection on faith, family, and second chances

It is not a book about blaming doctors, vilifying the system, or pretending recovery is simple. It’s about telling the truth — even when that truth is uncomfortable — and showing what’s possible when life gives you one more chance.

Why This Story Matters Now

The opioid crisis didn’t disappear — it just became quieter.

Pill mills may have changed names. Prescriptions may come with more warnings. But people are still falling through the cracks, still trusting systems that don’t always protect them, still believing “this won’t happen to me.”

I wrote this book for:

• Anyone struggling in silence

• Families who don’t know how close they are to loss

• Survivors who feel alone after recovery

• Readers who believe second chances should mean something

Moving Forward With Purpose

Today, my life looks very different.

I work. I write. I advocate. I focus on health, honesty, and staying present. I don’t pretend I have all the answers — but I know this much:

I was almost gone for a reason.
And I’m still here for a reason, too.

If my story helps even one person pause, ask questions, or choose a different path — then telling it was worth it.

Thank you for reading.
Thank you for listening.
And thank you for giving this story a place to land.

— Robert Routt

Check out more or contact us anytime:

Almost Gone Robert B. Routt | A Memoir of Survival
https://www.robertroutt.com/

Almost Gone by Robert B. Routt: A gripping memoir of survival, addiction recovery, and faith. Discover your second chance.