Mark Saluke’s journey is one of extremes—years spent lost in addiction, punctuated by moments of reckless abandon, wild parties, and near-misses that could have changed his life forever. His college years at Ball State University were a blur of academic success and chemical chaos, a balancing act between the Dean’s List and destructive benders. Mark’s descent into alcoholism was a gradual slide, masked by a veneer of social charm and intellectual curiosity, but beneath it all, he was searching for something real. That search led him deeper into addiction—until one day, it led him to recovery.

But the road to sobriety was not a straight line. For Mark, recovery meant learning to live without the crutch of substances, a painful process marked by relapses, regrets, and redemption. His life began to change when Lucy, a Labrador beagle with a gentle soul and a mischievous spirit, entered the picture. In Lucy, Mark found a companion, a guide, and a mirror. As he struggled to let go of the chaos, Lucy’s calm presence became a beacon, helping him rediscover joy, connection, and the simple wisdom of living in the moment.