As part of the annual Press Christmas for All campaign, we share with readers the stories of those who have received help from the program. This is one of them. 

Tattoos can tell a life story.

So can their absence.

Post Falls resident Paul Myers knows that better than most.

Born to teen parents and surrounded by drugs and violence, Myers and his brothers had a chaotic upbringing.

“I remember one instance of a man getting his foot shot off,” he said. “His screams and the sight of his foot are still vivid in my mind, as if it were yesterday.”

The brothers bounced between Idaho Falls and Las Vegas, sometimes in the care of their mom or other relatives. They experienced homelessness, living in a tent for the better part of three years, and faced neglect from their mom.

After entering the foster care system, Myers and his brothers were separated and suffered abuse at the hands of many of the foster parents who were supposed to care for them.

Myers fell in with a neighborhood gang, the members of which made him feel like part of a family.

“They took me places, gave me money and ensured I dressed nicely with a place to sleep,” he said. “I jumped into the clique at the age of 9 and began living the lifestyle of a gang member, which seemed far better than living in the gutters around people who hated us.”

Myers ran drugs for the gang and began using drugs himself. He eventually landed in prison for five years.

After his release, Myers continued the lifestyle that was familiar to him, until meeting his fiancé, who was in recovery. She encouraged Myers to change his life and go back to school so they could build a future together.

When they welcomed their first daughter, Myers knew he could never use drugs again.

Six years later and now a father of two, he remains committed to his sobriety.

“I have big plans and have been working hard to give back to the community that has accepted me and all my faults,” he said. “I believe I can make an impact, especially for those children who suffer as I did.”

Myers earned an associate's degree at North Idaho College and is now working toward a degree in elementary education at the University of Idaho.

He believes his life story is relatable to others and can help him connect with people who have experienced similar struggles. But he worried the gang-related tattoos on his neck, face and hands may hold him back as a teacher — and he wants them removed.

“I believe that, in doing so, parents will be more accepting of knowing THAT life is far behind me,” he said.

The Center for New Directions at NIC connected Myers with Charity Reimagined and Press Christmas for All. With their help, he underwent the painful but rewarding process of laser tattoo removal.

Staff at NIC have witnessed Myers’ transformation and spoke highly of his commitment to breaking the cycle of substance abuse and neglect for his own children.



“Much like Apostle Paul from the Bible, Paul’s story is one of redemption,” said Louisa Rogers, who runs the Center for New Directions.