Leaving Cloud 9

Sometimes Cloud 9 isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

For Rick Sylvester, childhood in Cloud 9, a rundown trailer park in a shabby southwestern town, meant enduring his mother’s drunken fits and drug-induced stupors. Abandoned by his father at age two, his mom's endless stream of boyfriends taught him the art of shoplifting and drug runs and the harsh reality of senseless violence. She introduced Rick to crystal meth and—when she remembered her children’s existence—fed Rick and his little sister SpaghettiOs and stale, dry cereal. Rick finally escaped when he turned eighteen and joined the army—only to discover his past dragging behind him wherever he went.

Rick battled depression, anxiety, and PTSD as the chaos, neglect, and unpredictability of his childhood seemed to doom him to follow in his mother's footsteps. Well into adulthood, Rick stumbled through unemployment and divorce, using drugs and alcohol to numb the pain until he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. 

Leaving Cloud 9 is not, however, simply the tale of Rick’s suffering and grief; it’s the story of his redemption and restoration. Vividly realized, profoundly honest yet deeply compassionate, this unforgettable debut shines a light on how God protected a boy who didn’t even know to pray, revealing how grace reaches into the most desperate circumstances.

Written by Rick’s wife, Ericka, this powerful shared memoir provides an insider’s view of an often-forgotten population and on the issues affecting the millions of Americans who are growing up poor and feeling hopeless. An indelibly American story, Leaving Cloud 9 shows that no matter how dark the circumstances, no one is beyond hope.