Life’s journey is rarely a straight highway. For Briana Bleau McKee, known in Rifle as Bry Bleau, it was full of sharp turns and falls. However, it was in the tattoo artist’s chair, amidst the hum of the machine and the smell of ink, that Bry found not only a new profession but also a long-awaited purpose. Having overcome years of addiction, she transformed her experience into a source of strength, proving that the art of tattooing can be a powerful tool for personal recovery and healing, and her studio, Inkology Tattoo, a true anchor of stability.
Ten Years in Darkness: The Path to the “Bottom”
Bry Bleau McKee, born in Boulder, spent her life moving between Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and brief trips to Florida. These moves reflected an inner instability, exacerbated by a decade-long struggle with addiction. According to her, while the early years were relatively manageable, the last ten years became a true nightmare.
The culmination of this period came at a moment of complete despair. Bry recalls a five- or six-day binge when she was on the brink. “I was lying in bed, there was a gun next to me, and then I got a message from my best friend,” Bry recounts. The message was short and brutal: “I love you, but I can’t deal with this anymore. Let me know when you get your act together.” In that moment, Bry realized she had pushed away even her closest person. Thoughts of her daughter, friends, and parents made her take a decisive step.
It was a point of no return. Bry got up, started looking for the best rehabilitation centers, and wrote to her friend that she was ready for change. Her friend immediately called: “If you’re really serious, I have a spot for you in detox, and they’re waiting for you.” Bry, who at the time barely communicated with her parents, turned to them for financial help, promising to return every cent. Her parents agreed.
A Reboot in Loveland and Finding Community
For the next 30 days, Bry stayed at a rehabilitation center in Loveland. The program was intensive, including daily therapy and strict dietary restrictions, which was an additional challenge. Bry went there hoping to avoid “12-step” meetings, but every evening she participated in informal gatherings that, in her words, played a crucial role.
“They weren’t meetings in the traditional sense, but they created the sense of community I so desperately needed,” Bry explains. It was this community that gave her a foundation for recovery. “I want to share my story with anyone struggling with addiction to show them that it’s possible. We always say, ‘Don’t leave before the miracle happens,’ and my miracle happened.”