I wish the best for you an dee.
I guess it's easy for someone on the outside looking in to be skeptical when you talk about how you want to get sober, how certain comments in this thread opened your eyes or whatever but to be honest it's a powerful drug that wins out way too often over will. I agree that you should be look at as someone with a condition and not as a junkie, criminal, etc but unfortunately when you resort to stealing or other crimes that affect others, especially loved ones, it can be understandable that the same sympathy isn't shown as it would be for someone with an uncontrollable illness.
I don't want that to come across as looking down on your or other addicts because as big as it is, you shouldn't only be defined by addiction and like you said, you're a person, you have feelings and your life is just as valuable as the next man. I hope you can find happiness and something that helps you to beat this.
Since this is an AMA...what, if anything, would be big enough for you to get clean then overcome the want or need to use again and help you stay sober?