It’s time to take stock.

You have suffered far to long. It is time to be kind to yourself. You have the right to live the life you deserve with peace, not nightmares and continued losses. You deserve the peace you were denied as a child. I hope you will ask for help Debi — you deserve nothing less. Please keep in touch. Write any time you feel like sharing or venting or just to connect. I am so sorry for all you have endured. It is time to take care of yourself. Know you are not alone.

People walked past his body for 3 days. He lay in the heat. He had to be identified by a tattoo because he no longer looked like the picture in his wallet. He was always so particular about his appearance, he would not have wanted to go that way. He relapsed after being clean for almost a year.

I am told he went back to chasing the dragon.

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Just once after being clean for so long. He was depressed about not being able to find affordable housing. That was the final trigger. Feeling like there was no way he would ever be off the streets. Was there something I could have done to prevent the beating he sustained in Surrey, B. My beautiful son, so much like yours — kind hearted with a smile that would melt your heart. I guess I led a sheltered life. So many, going back to when he was diagnosed with ADD at 7 years old. I was ignorant of his inner struggle.

I am truly humbled Zanzara, that you have taken the time, in the midst of your utmost despair to write. I can feel your pain in every single word you have written. And I am truly sorry he lost his battle with this horrific disease. I am glad you have read my book. I know as Moms we blame ourselves thinking there must have been something we did wrong or could have done differently. The truth is, you did everything you could with what you knew at that time. Like you mentioned, there was no google 30 years ago. The information was just not out there.

There were not the documentaries, magazine articles, internet information. We had none of that. And no one talked about addiction. No one was saying our children were in the grips of a disease. In fact, society as a whole, judged those struggling as having no will-power or being selfish or weak or immoral. The truth is, none of that was correct. Our children were struggling and we as their Moms struggled every step of the way with them.

In hindsight we see red flags. I say in hindsight because it is only in the last few years that we have become aware of what addiction is. You did nothing to cause the disease of addiction and in spite of all your efforts, you could not cure it. The loneliness so many people feel once they reach out to recovery is very real.

In order for them to stay clean they have to stay away from their former friends and acquaintances. It is harder to make new friends. As you mentioned, finding affordable housing is impossible. That your son worked so hard to stay clean for almost a year must be acknowledged and celebrated. And I know you would have told him how proud you were of all his efforts. That your son lost his battle with the disease of addiction, that is a tragedy. He never asked for that disease and clearly he tried very hard to stay clean. Unfortunately, the disease of addiction can hold our loved ones hostage.

Everyday clean is a day to be thankful for. Relapse sadly occurs all to often and after a period of being off heroin for a period — what would have been an amount previously tolerated, became deadly. As well, we know now that so much of what is being sold on the street is now tainted.

The way your boy died is absolutely heartbreaking and I could not be more sorry for what you have gone through. And I am so sorry for the pain and suffering your son endured throughout his addiction. That he had a Mom who cared and loved him — that he had such a kind heart and beautiful smile — those are the memories to hold close to your heart. And please remember, you did everything you could do with what you knew. Hi June, It is with great sadness that I had to have my son Justin removed yesterday morning.

He has been with me since he returned from the Orchard at the end of April. However, once again those meetings were few and far between.. In the interim he stayed at the house just smoking, sleeping and eating while I worked. But at least I knew he was safe or so I thought. This boundary was broken and I also realized that he needs more help than I can give him so I called the police after trying several other options. He has no money and no phone but he has connected with the Ministry to get funds.


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This is how he bought the drugs which are so important to him as opposed to getting well. I am heartbroken June but I know I have given it my all. I am at the point now where my health is starting to suffer. I need to take a break from the drugs and drama that has enveloped my life for so many years. I truly cannot help him if he does not have the motivation to help himself. I hope he is safe and the universe takes care of him…I love my son so much.

There but for the grace of God go I I have raised my own children this way……. Hense that person on the street belonged to a family at one time. Thank you very much Julie for your note. You are absolutely correct. Each and every person struggling with addiction is someones son or daughter, brother or sister, mother or father.

Each and everyone had dreams. Tragically addiction destroys those dreams. It devastates families and damages lives in a most profound way. As a society if we would all recognize addiction as the disease that it is and treat those struggling with addiction with the same compassion as we do those battling other life threatening diseases.

We must advocate for those unable to advocate for themselves. Often those struggling with addiction are broken. We need to have a system in place so that when our loved ones are asking for help it is immediate. Delays far to often mean our loved ones are back to using and tragically, far to many die while people debate treatment or punishment. Addiction is at epidemic proportions.

We have a medical crisis going on worldwide. Our loved ones deserve better.

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Those struggling need to know that help is readily available — delaying the process means we lose far to many to overdose and death. Those struggling with addiction need help, not intolerance. We need to speak up for those who are unable to speak up for themselves. I heard you on CBC radio. For the whole year now I was looking for some sign of hope and your story was it. I recently failed an interview into a prestigious college program and it dropped me into a deep depression.

I was disengaged the whole year which was unlike myself. I wanted to give up, I thought I was a screw-up and choke artist.

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I thought I could never achieve my potential with the unpredictable swings of bipolar disorder I was diagnosed with almost a decade earlier. Listening you how you stood by your son, the sacrifices you made, I can never ever give up. You are an angel,a symbol of unrelenting perseverance and goodness, I wish you were in my corner in life. We are so often harder on ourselves than anyone else would be. The fact that you were able to get an interview, in itself, is an accomplishment.

I am sure there were many applying and sadly not enough space. It was just not your time yet Rob — your time will come. Never give up on your dreams. That makes you a winner. Severe depression is a devastating condition — I hope you have talked to your doctor about this. It takes great courage to ask for help. You deserve to receive all the support available.

Again my Friend — thank you so much for sending me off this note. As I opened your book an started to read I felt the tears streaming down my. I have had the honour. Thank you so much Diane for your kind and generous words. I am blessed to know you — you will soar dear girl. I am living that same HELL my son is 28 yrs.

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I just finished reading your book. My 24 yr old son is addicted to Oxycontin and has been since he was 16 — starting with marijuana and progressing from there. I have tried so hard to not enable him, but I am struggling against a husband who enables. I cried so much reading your book and hope that your son and you find peace. Thank you so much Jan for taking the time to write. Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in responding.

So again I apologize. I am glad there was something in Addiction: I hope your husband does take the time to read it. As a parent we do everything we can to try and break through those chains that seem to keep our adult children hostage to their drug of choice. With any other disease — love, care taking, providing are the right actions to take. Unfortunately, and I know you realize, that just enables our loved one to continue.

As I mention in Addiction: It just cushions the fall to where our loved one never fully feel the impact of their choices. It goes against everything we know as a parent and that is the most difficult realization. I hope you are able to take time to take care of you Jan. As parents of an addicted son or daughter, we become perhaps the greatest the collateral damage. We deal with the heartbreak. Somehow we think we could have, should have done something different. We have to come to the place where we accept we have no control.

That is perhaps the hardest lesson to accept. You, your son and your husband are in my thought — that you are able to find some peace in all the kayos of addiction — that your son grabs that lifeline you are hoping he will hang on to and get the help he desperately needs. Thank you so much for your response …. I totally love him but hate the drug addict.

Hi June once again. Well my son, has now progressed to stealing from us. He stole a painting, which has now been recovered. Well the question is now what? Do we charge him? If so, do you know if he can be sentenced to mandatory drug rehabilitation.

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I am not sure that this is the way to go — not sure that mandatory anything works? Anyway just wanted to get your input from your experience. Thanks once again, June for your understanding and valuable insight. I am just about to finish chapter 21 the day life changed, I cannot put this book down. Thank you so much my Friend for taking the time to spend me off a note and your thoughts.

I truly appreciate hearing from you. Take good care of yourselves and each other. Thank you for keeping in touch Cindy — as parents who deeply love our addicted adult children — I know our feelings, our tears, our heartbreak and our hope are so much the same. As are our stories — all so similar.

You and your son are in my thoughts and prayers Cindy. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Full Cast and Crew. She promised her family that she will return after a Senedy Que story , Senedy Que screenplay. Wait, Is Mary Poppins a Witch? Share this Rating Title: A Mother's Story 7. Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Edit Cast Cast overview, first billed only: Mang Edgar K Brosas Young King Erik Jorn Sundquist Eugene as Erik Sundquist Rheem Abuhamdeh Edit Storyline Medy Pokwang , a make-up artist, was given the chance of a lifetime to accompany a concert star to the United States for a performance.

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