JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Five years after helping save a man’s life from addiction, one Jacksonville woman is now battling her own fight. However, she said if it wasn’t for the same man she once helped, she may not be here.
Katelyn Vargo said she finds herself in a vulnerable position, grappling with a serious stomach illness.
“It feels like a mixture of the stomach bug, the flu, and COVID all at once, all the time, and it’s been like that for 11 months,” Vargo said.
In the midst of her health challenges, Vargo reconnected with someone she never expected to hear from again.
Rich Lucas, who was recently sworn in as an attorney in Florida, celebrated five years of sobriety from alcohol.
He credits Vargo for playing a crucial role in his recovery, as he recalled the night that changed his life.
Vargo was an operator for the American Addiction Centers hotline.
“Katelyn took the time to talk to my wife and tell her about the treatment center. She arranged for me to have my computer there so I could do the online class that I just enrolled in. She really coached me from getting from Florida to Mississippi, and that’s a journey,” Lucas said.
Five years later, Lucas was finally able to thank Vargo for that life-changing call.
He posted a video on TikTok, hoping it would reach Vargo.
And it did.
@becomingsandycohen If anyone knows her, please forward this along. 🙏 #recovery #addiction #lawschool #creatorsearchinsights #wedorecover ♬ Never Forget You - Noisettes
Their reunion gained attention when they were featured on a show in New York.
However, Vargo was also facing her own crisis—struggling without work and on the brink of eviction.
In a remarkable turn of events, Lucas helped her raise thousands of dollars through a TikTok video. The GoFundMe she created exploded.
@becomingsandycohen Thank you @Crystal Weatherly for finding Katelyn (my spelling was WAY off). Katelin’s GFM is https://gofund.me/7acabba1 Also $CA: @Katelynvargo I filmed this prior to her responding to me, that’s why it doesn’t talk about our conversation yet, as I was waiting for her permission to post anything and wanted something ready to go. I have now been speaking to her and will update this more at some point soon. #caitlyn #findcaitlyn @American Addiction Centers ♬ original sound - The Old Law Student
“It was just in the nick of time I was saved,” Katelyn says. “The most important part about that to me is that I didn’t have anything to do with that. I didn’t have to make that happen. I didn’t ask Rich. I hadn’t talked to him since he went into treatment, really. And that right there, to me, is hope. Because really what it is, is God doing for me what I can’t do for myself.”
Despite the support, Vargo continues to face health challenges. She recently underwent exploratory surgery, which revealed issues in her intestines and stomach.
“They were able to cut out some scar tissue, and that has seemed to help a little bit, but I’m still having hyperglycemia, and they don’t know where that’s coming from or why that’s there,” Vargo said.
Vargo expressed deep gratitude for Lucas’ return and the community that has rallied around their inspirational story.
“I would say, number one, I hate asking for help. It is really, really tough for me to ask for help, and I don’t want people to hear the story and just hear that. There is so much hope in the story.”
