Dean McDermott is proud of the work he has done to be a better man for the people he loves most.
“I’m feeling incredible in this chapter of my life. I’m happy,” McDermott, 59, exclusively told Us at Cure Addiction Now‘s third annual fundraising evening on Monday, November 9. “I found true happiness within, as well as all the external things in my life: my children, my girlfriend [Lily Calo], my job, my life. I love my life today, and I owe it all to recovery.”
Now sober for three years and four months, McDermott said he got to a point where it was “really time to change.”
After learning coping skills, emotional regulation, spiritual principles and more, the alcohol and drug counselor said he found “self-love” that he can now give to his children “because I caused some damage there, and I get to make amends and repair that.”
“It is fair to say that being in recovery has made me a more present parent,” McDermott shared from the Beverly Hills Hotel. “Patience was a hard one because when you get clean and sober, you get your feelings back, and they’re multiplied 100 times over. … I really, really had to learn patience, and that’s something the program taught me. And it’s getting better. It’s not perfect, but it’s something I continue to work on, and will work on every day for the rest of my life. But my relationship with my children is getting stronger. It’s getting better. We’re starting to heal. A lot of work to do, but you know we’re doing it.”
McDermott shares Liam, 19, Stella, 18, Hattie, 15, Finn, 14, and Beau, 9, with ex-wife Tori Spelling. He is also dad to Jack, 28, with ex-wife Mary Jo Eustace.
While attending Cure Addiction Now’s annual fundraiser, which is dedicated to advancing the understanding, treatment and ultimate cure of substance use disorder by funding cutting-edge research and promoting mental health as part of the solution, McDermott had the support of Calo by his side.
The duo went Instagram official in May 2024 and continue to grow their relationship away from the public eye.
“She accepts me as I am, warts and all, as flawed as I am. I don’t know how to put this. She believes in me more than I believe in myself,” McDermott told Us. “She’s a great champion for me. She encourages me. She’s my biggest supporter.”
Calo added, “I’m just so proud of him. I’m proud of the growth that I’ve seen over this amount of time. His sobriety, how hard he works. Not only at that and his recovery, but how hard he works in his day-to-day life to be able to rebuild and repair those relationships he was talking about. It’s just such an admirable journey.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
