It was in October 2017 Andrea Gonzales-Paul quit her job as an investigative journalist producing TV news in Washington, D.C.
After working for a few local news affiliates, a couple national news outlets, and a cable news network, she had to move back to her parents’ house in Michigan. She was only 23, and was devastated to leave everything she had worked so hard for.
But her liver was failing. Doctors were saying she needed a transplant — so she took that as her cue to start documenting.
When Andrea was only 8-years-old she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease that people often need liver transplants for. It seemed like the natural progression of the disease for her to become this sick so she starts the transplant evaluation process.
The moment Andrea is almost listed on the organ transplant list, she receives a phone call from a nurse that changes everything. Her liver had returned to near normal function, so she no longer needed the transplant.
It was at that moment everyone, including Andrea, realized she had drank herself to this point. The film then explores an addiction problem that went undiagnosed and the emotions that came after through interviews with her family, friends and former co-workers.
Through making this film, Andrea is able to process the events that occur and finds gratitude for the entire experience.
