Former MLB superstar Scott Spiezio experienced several miracles throughout his life, but nothing was bigger than God saving him from liver failure.
In 2002 and 2006, Spiezio won the MLB World Series. After the high of the second title in 2006, the athlete wanted more. That year, he was introduced to cocaine after a game in Phoenix. After he hit two home runs the next day, he decided to continue taking the drug.
The addiction spiraled. He eventually lost his marriage, his kids, his relationship with his parents, his homes, cars, bank accounts, credit cards and self-respect, according to Kearney Hub.
In 2018, Spiezio went to the doctor for an MRI for back pain, which revealed jaundice that stemmed from liver failure. On top of the cocaine addiction, Spiezio was an alcoholic.
“Before I went to the ER, and when I went, I was not in good shape. And they told me, ‘If you make it the next five days, then you’re gonna have to have a liver transplant.’ You have to go six months without drinking, or else they won’t let you have it,” Spiezio told Movieguide® in an interview earlier this week.
In that moment, Spiezio cried out to God.
“I said, ‘God, take one of my cravings, and I’ll do whatever you tell me to do.’ And that was April 6, 2018. And from that day on, I’ve had zero cravings. I actually get physically ill if I see a bottle or even think about a bottle of like vodka or tequila or anything like that,” he continued.
Spiezio had to routinely get his liver drained with a long needle, but after just a few weeks into the process, the doctors couldn’t explain the fact that his liver was normal.
“The specialist came out to me and said, ‘We don’t know how to explain it, but your liver is normal, and your blood work is normal, and your scans are normal, and you don’t have to come back anymore.’ And they said, ‘All we can say is somebody upstairs is looking out for you because we’ve never seen anybody come back from a liver transplant.’ And I, right then, knew that God had performed two miracles: one with my cravings, and one with my liver. And it’s been amazing,” he said.
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He can’t help but thank God for the second chance at life.
“He took me at my lowest and used me, and He’s done that many times with people in the Bible. I use that as inspiration. David did this and Moses did this and Paul did this and Samson did this, you know. Like just go down the list, and I’m like, if He can still love them, forgive them and use them, then He can use me,” Spiezio concluded.
A documentary about his life, titled SPIEZIO, debuted in theaters on Sept. 10.
Movieguide® gave it a four out of four score for entertainment quality and a +1 content rating.
“The documentary highlights his faith and new mission to help others overcome substance abuse and foster relationships with God,” Movieguide®’s review reads. “These stories inspire and uplift. While SPIEZIO addresses the realities of drug and alcohol abuse and its consequences, it avoids objectionable content, making it an excellent choice for both adults and teens.”
From a hospital room where doctors gave him small odds to a theater screen sharing his testimony with the world, Spiezio’s journey from World Series champion to addict to a man transformed by faith is nothing short of a miracle that could only come from God.
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