Our Story
Pictured here are Darla and Ben Dillow, along with their son Christopher. Both are retired lifelong teachers, Darla as a Special Education teacher in the Redlands Unified School District, and Ben as a Professor and Dean at the University of Redlands.
Darla and Ben are parents of 3 sons, each of whom, in somewhat different ways, are engaged in the development of Christopher Care: Choosing Life.
At the time of our youngest son Christopher’s passing, he and his brothers were in the formative stages of extending their long work in addiction interventions by investing in a residential detox recovery program for those grappling with the stranglehold of addiction. Our two youngest sons had worked in addiction remediation for years and had a deep personal awareness of the challenge sobriety offers to the addict. Conversely, they knew as well, that though difficult and imperfect, solutions were available that could assist the addict in choosing sobriety over addiction.
Christopher was cultured, smart, handsome, charismatic, sociable, and funny. He was also a very savvy and successful businessman. At his Memorial Service we heard from friends and strangers alike of his generosity and empathy, and several offered up the simple but compelling confession, “He saved my life.”
As we struggled to process the initial shock of his passing and continue to grapple with the unending grief of losing our son, both of us as parents, along with his surviving two brothers became of unified mind that we would use our energies, talents, and resources, to establish the residential program Chris and Cary envisioned before he passed. Something that would offer state of the art support to those caught in the web of addiction but who also prayed for the tools to regain control of their life.
Addiction, we know, stretches to every corner of our world. Brothers and sisters, moms and dads, sons and daughters bend to its will. The path to recovery is anything but certain or sure. One’s profession, economic status, self-confidence, social standing, education? All irrelevant unless—unless and until the addict confronts the stark reality of the addiction and chooses sobriety. The scorecard is clear: the addict has only two choices: sobriety or ultimately death. And in the meantime, without help? A life filled with brokenness that stretches from the addict to all s/he touches.
Darla and I, applaud Cary’s decision to move forward with this initiative, and we extend out of our love for Chris our time, energy and resources to develop the best tools available to assist those caught in the web of addiction who are asking for help and who wish to choose life.
Cary & Jennifer Dillow
Cary Dillow, along with his brother Christopher, started using Naltrexone implants to save lives over 7 years ago. During that time they have helped treat over 4,000 patients. His goal, along with his team is to help treat as many addicts as possible. Cary believes It’s time to change addiction treatment. We have tools now that were not available 10 years ago.
Cary offers to talk with any patient that is dealing with addiction and tell his own story. As he always says, “My phone is always on.”
Dr. Cyrus Sedaghat
Dr. Cyrus Sedaghat has been dedicated to his medical practice for over two decades. Initially starting as a general physician, he later specialized in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Throughout his career, Dr. Sedaghat has been passionately committed to assisting patients in overcoming their addiction to opiates or alcohol.
As part of a collaborative approach to patient care, he has consistently worked with a team of professionals in psychology and psychiatry. By combining their expertise, they strive to provide the best possible support to patients on their journey to recovery. Dr. Sedahat’s primary goal has always been to minimize his patients’ suffering and ensure their comfort during the challenging transition from substance use to sobriety.
To address symptoms such as body aches, irritability, and insomnia, Dr. Sedaghat employs various medications, tailoring treatment plans to each patient’s unique needs. However, he also places a strong emphasis on non-medical interventions to maintain long-term sobriety.
In addition to his medical assistance, Dr. Sedaghat wholeheartedly supports his patients on their sobriety journey. His holistic approach combines medical expertise with compassionate care, fostering a nurturing environment for those seeking a life free from addiction.
