At 18 years old, I thought I was ending a normal night out with friends.

Instead, I found myself running for my life after a stranger opened fire on my car, believing I was someone I wasn't.

I survived.

But what stayed with me wasn't just the gunshot- it was the trauma that followed. The missing memories. The hypervigilance. The fear that showed up long after the danger was gone.

Sometimes surviving isn't just about making it through the moment. It's about learning how to live with what comes afterward.

Surviving Mi Vida Loca is built on one simple belief: everyone has a story worth telling.

I'm Mel your host! I am someone who's life has been shaped by resilience, loss, healing and second chances. Those experiences inspired me to create a space where real people can share the moments that changed their lives.

Each episode features honest conversations about survival, identity, family, addiction, trauma, redemption, hope and everything in between.

Welcome to Surviving Mi Vida Loca.

Mi Casa, es su casa

In this episode of Surviving Mi Vida Loca, I sit down with a friend, who began struggling with addiction at a very young age. What started early turned into a deeper battle, eventually leading to rehab and a major turning point in his life. Alex shares what it means to grow, heal, and turn pain into purpose.

Today I sat down with my 23-year-old son, who is now serving in the United States Navy. We talk about what it was like growing up with a young mom who was open about her past- from teen motherhood to the mistakes and lessons that shaped our family.

Part 1- In this episode, I talk about what inspired me to revisit the beginning of my story and the feelings that come with growing up loved, but knowing your story started differently. This is a soft re-entry, not the whole story- just the start of opening that door again.

If you grew up in an adopted or blended family or ever felt a little different even while being loved, this episode might feel familiar.

Part 3 of our story- growing up in chaos, surviving the hood, and learning hard lessons with humor, honesty and friendships. Real stories, real laughs and real growth.

In part 2, me and my best friend talk about growing up in the hood, figuring life out, and navigating being gay in spaces that weren't always welcoming- with real talk, laughs, and stories we can finally joke about.

We were best friends growing up in chaos- surviving life, getting into things we had no business in, and still creating memories that shaped us forever.