Alex Hoffmann's life was pretty good...Until it wasn't.
Wonderful family, great career, wanting for nothing, family vacations all over the world, Alex made it through some tragedy earlier in his life, and now, life was...Heaven.
All Hell broke loose.
The market crash led to the loss of his successful business, he found out his son was addicted to heroin, Alex himself began to fight addiction, and then he lost everything. Rehab, divorce, and DUI convictions sent Alex to bankruptcy, homelessness, and then jail.
Then he lost his son.
Only with the help of others-the angels in his midst-did Alex get his life back on track. He knew he needed to get better so he wouldn't get bitter. He got a new job, a new purpose, and a new lease on life, and began fighting the fight against the opioid and mental health crises facing his state and his country.
In Our Last Day in Heaven, Alex shares his story of tragedy, loss, and hope...with Angels in the midst. Now, he faces another overwhelming challenge in his life, and, like the rest of his story, his goal is to be an example to others...that there is hope in the face of tragedy.
Alex Hoffmann has taken up the fight against the opioid and mental health crises since his incarceration due to his own addiction, and the tragic loss of his youngest son to a heroin addiction and overdose. Since his recovery, Alex has met with local and national leaders to share his experiences, testify for legislation, and to council others facing addiction...All with the hope that other families don't have to go through what he did.
"Alex is a smart, compassionate, and empathetic man who goes the extra mile for people. When I had no idea which way to turn, Alex gave me direction. It was Alex who taught me never to give up hope. When I wanted to give up, Alex's words kept me moving forward."
- Susan Rickun; Parent of a recovering opioid addict
"I applaud people like Alex Hoffman-parents who have lost children to this crisis and then have the courage to use their tragedy to help others avoid a tragedy of their own."
- U.S. Senator Ron Johnson
"In the face of absolute despair and helplessness, Alex did not collapse under the unbearable gravity of the tragedy that befell his family. Instead, he harnessed his pain and sorrow to transform his experiences into something good, and from his darkness arose a new passion and dedication to fight..."
- John Nygren; Wisconsin State Representative (from the Foreword)
"Our Last Day in Heaven shatters the myths that addiction only affects the so-called 'bad people' or that we can just arrest our way out of it. It exposes this epidemic as the equal opportunity destroyer of lives it is. Alex Hoffmann will persuade you that no longer can we hide behind the mistaken belief that substance dependency is a sign of moral weakness or a character flaw. This book is an insightful and thought-provoking examination of the biggest challenge of our times."
- Brad Schimel; Attorney General, State of Wisconsin
"Alex Hoffmann's story is one of hope, courage, and commitment that flows from the very deepest well of a parent's unconditional love for a child. His grief in loss has led to a lifetime dedicated to winning the war on addiction by battling against it proactively, with fervor, and on the very front lines of its existence."
- Michael Rogowski; Partner, Husch Blackwell Law Offices, Madison, Wisconsin
