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Joel excelled at writing. He wrote his first book when he was in the second grade and later won an award for an essay about his grandfather. He also loved to write song lyrics and developed an ability to rap when he was in high school. With his lyrics and music, he developed a following for his band, The Even Keel. Joel struggled with drugs for many years and passed away from an accidental overdose in November 2017 when he was 36. Pattie entered a time of deep depression after she lost her son and knew it was not the same as losing a child to an accident or illness. She offers grief counseling through her website for those who have experienced a loss due to addiction.
Website: https://theresilientjourney.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theresilientjourney
Twitter: @TheResilientJo1
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FamilyGrief
Partnership to End Addiction: https://drugfree.org/treatment-and-recovery/
Joel’s music: https://www.reverbnation.com/theevenkeel/songs
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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If you wanted to find Blake, you only had to go to the fire station down the street from his house. At a very young age, he already knew that he wanted to be a fire fighter. He was an excellent violin player and enjoyed karate. He was introduced to drugs from an acquaintance of his girlfriend at a young age. He sought help and was sober for a long period of time until troubles came his way while he was serving in Philadelphia as a Fire Service Paramedic. His mom, Rochelle “got the call” about her son’s passing from fentanyl poisoning in June 2021 when he was 31. Rochelle copes by continuing her ballet dancing in local productions and marrying a man who is her rock. She says to let yourself grieve and don’t hold back, and not to be embarrassed if you need medications.
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Charles (also known as Buddy) was an old soul. At a very young age, he would sit and talk to his aunt like he was the same age, and he treasured his family. He loved to travel, had lots clothes, and collected all types of sneakers. He was prescribed a pain medication after a serious car accident that started him on the road to his addiction. He passed away in April 2022 when he was 34. His mother, Tawanda, copes by wearing her son’s shirt every day, talking about him with others, and listening to podcasts about grief.
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Becca was a wild child who grew into a confident, young adult and was able to talk to anybody. Her passions included animals, theater and music. She was also a talented artist who fell in love with tattoos and thought of the human body as a canvas. After a tragic event in her early teens, she self-medicated with marijuana and then other drugs. In January 2021, she passed away at 22 from fentanyl poisoning. Her mother, Sarah, wants to break the stigma about addiction and speaks to school groups about her daughter’s life. She found that listening to podcasts has helped her to cope with her grief. These include “A Good Cry” with Michael Cruz Kayne at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-good-cry/id1586175225; and “All There Is” with Anderson Cooper at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-there-is-with-anderson-cooper/id1643163707.
Sarah was moved by a quote from Andrew Garfield (an actor whose mother died in 2019 from cancer) who hopes he never gets over the grief of losing his mother. In an interview in People magazine, he said, “So I hope this grief stays with me because it's all the unexpressed love that I didn't get to tell her…We all told her every day, she was the best of us."
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Stephen lit up any room he walked into and was the guy who made others laugh. He was a musician who played guitar and piano, a welder who used his talents to make artwork, and a world traveler. His addiction to pain medication began soon after having a wisdom tooth extracted while he was in the navy. His addiction progressed over ten years until he died from fentanyl poisoning in March 2022 at the age of 32. His mother, Andree, honors his memory by displaying a Christmas tree in her front yard for others who are grieving to place a special ornament of their loved ones. This was featured on several news outlets as follows:
2023
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/fullertons-community-christmas-tree-honors-loved-ones-lost-to-opioids/3293487/
2022
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/fullerton-mother-creates-fentanyl-awareness-christmas-tree/3058803/
https://abc7.com/drug-overdose-fentanyl-christmas-trees-ornaments/12591577/
https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/human-interest/2022/12/24/fullerton-mother-honors-son-with-fentanyl-christmas-tree
Soon after her son passed away, Andree woke up one morning with a tune in her head that she had never heard before. She discovered the lyrics were from a song called Full Circle by the group Half Moon Run. She feels that Stephen was trying to explain in this sign from heaven about his life with addiction.
Full Circle lyrics
https://youtu.be/azV0Y7v6wsg?feature=shared
Cap off kneeling at the back of the church,
Feeling water on your brow, if it's healing it hurts
At first a sharpish pain that returns as a thought
That the needle in your skin will bring you closer to godAnd I watch as your head turns full circle
Our hope was with a coffee and a medical text
It's too easy knowin' nothing blowing off the rest
And the riddles in the pages leave at too much to guess
And the worry cracks a fracture from your hip to your chestAs I watch as your head turns full circle
We got lost in the travels in the spiritual book
Missed the beaches from nirvana and the way that they look
And the crooks they're on the island they're killin' to keep runnin'
They're running severance on the plastic and it seems to be workingIs that the best that I can do?
As I watch as your head turns full circleYou appear even tempered though your looks will deceive
And the sparks are always flying cause you drink for relief
With the heart of a child and the wit of a fool
It's a wonder why I don't try to build a wall around youWhen I watch as your head turns full circle
And I watch as your head turns full circle
Yeah I watch as your head turns full circleIf you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Samantha was stubborn, strong-willed, and struggled with authority. However, she also loved fiercely, was passionate in what she believed in, and was always there when you needed a friend. Her sister, Brittany, would call her about everything and knew she could always count on her. When Samantha broke up with her boyfriend of eight years, she turned to an old friend for companionship who was dealing drugs. He turned her on to cocaine to help with her depression. One night, the line she took was pure fentanyl and she overdosed in August 2023. Brittany is coping with the death of her sister by reading grief books, looking for signs from her sister, and speaking up to break the stigma about fentanyl poisoning.
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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David had a great job, loved hunting, sports, and was very involved with his family. His cousin, Rosalie, describes him as a “boy’s boy.” In April 2021, Rosalie received a call from one of his three brothers telling her the tragic news—David had passed away due to an accidental overdose. She copes with her grief by remembering her cousin through poetry. Below are two of her poems dedicated to her cousin, David.
Everlasting Age
In the time of aging, you no longer are. I’m where you remain, near to my heart yet physically so far. Age is just a number; time is ever lasting. With you I’m one in this year of life. Nothing pains me more than to grow apart; for current time has me as I partake in your final year. I’ll try to understand your thoughts, your actions and your experiences; in each shedded tear. As I journey through this year as your everlasting age, I’ll take all I can to make better days. I dread the time we no longer will be in sync. As I will be moving forward, onward the step you could not make. I can only hope that I find you one day, as I remember you always.
Everlasting Days
I’m no longer your everlasting age. Still looking back on the best days. Not that recent days have been bad, it’s just I can never be fully glad. I keep you with me, so you can live on. You come to my mind when I hear certain songs. I can only dream of the days we are old and gray, for you’ll remain your everlasting age. I move on and forward the steps you could not make. They say you are only truly gone when you are forgotten, so it’s safe to say you will live on with me all my everlasting days.
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Michael was an incredibly hard worker—he followed in his dad’s footsteps and worked for the railroad. He never said, “no”, was so tender hearted, and silly. His sisters, Courtney and Hattie, cope with his passing from an overdose in July 2022 through humor, closeness, and strength. By telling their brother’s story, they strive to advocate for family and friends in mourning who may feel shame or that their loved one’s death didn’t matter because of the stigma of addiction. Courtney recommends reading, “Understanding Your Grief after a Drug-Overdose Death,” by Alan Wolfelt, PhD.
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Jessica wanted to help others and thought about working professionally as a nurse. She loved children, would help out at summer camps, and had several babysitting positions. She was always the one people would call if they needed help. When she was around 17, she was in a car accident and was prescribed opioids for her pain. She went from using opioids to other drugs and, eventually, started using heroin, and died in 2017 at 36 from fentanyl poisoning.
Her older sister, Rosanne, tried everything in her power to help -- an intervention, rehabilitation, giving her a job in her salon, and a place to live. It’s been a five-year journey of grief therapy, workshops, and self-care to learn how to live a new normal without her sister. For her grief, Rosanne went to “Onsite”, a program that helps you gain tools to move forward https://onsiteworkshops.com/; learned “The Grief Recovery Method” through Hopeful Heart Solutions https://hopefulheartsolutions.com; and read books such as “Signs” by Laura Lynne Jackson and “Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief” by David Kessler.
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Hannah was loyal, fierce, and lived & loved with an unmatched ferocity and intensity. Her father, Cody, said she helped those who were marginalized, forgotten, left behind, misunderstood, hurting, or abused. She put others before herself, tried to take care of them, and made sure they were safe and okay. Hannah personally struggled for years with mental health and addiction. Depression and anxiety were her forever companions in a never-ending tug of war. On October 12, 2022, Cody lost his daughter to fentanyl poisoning. He copes with his loss by honoring his daughter’s memory, listening to podcasts, and researching grief with books such as “The Grieving Brain” by Mary-Francis O’Connor, “Resilient Grieving” by Lucy Hone, and “Grieving Mindfully” by Sameet M. Kumar.
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Meggie describes how she and her three siblings were a close-knit group of four who faced everything together when they were growing up. However, in 2015, her older brother, Michael, 28, died from an accidental overdose which fueled a raging addiction in her mom and little sister, Bridget. In 2022, things took a turn for the worse when her mom died from liver failure due to drug and alcohol abuse and then, 40 days later, Bridget, 31, was found in her bed from an accidental overdose. Meggie copes with the loss of her two siblings with grief counseling and reading books such as “The Empty Room: Understanding Sibling Loss” by Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn.
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Angela lost three of her four siblings (Nicky, Steven & Cindy): two passed away from an overdose and one from a massive heart attack. She remembers them with pictures and other special mementos, and by telling their stories. She copes by keeping busy with helping to raise her sisters’ children, plus listening to grief podcasts, attending grief meetings, and reading books such as, “It’s OK That You’re NOT OK” by Megan Devine. She also plans to participate in National Fentanyl Awareness Day sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). You can find more information here: https://www.fentanylawarenessday.org/
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Jack was an excellent student, and enjoyed sports throughout his elementary and high school years. He graduated from college with a major in actuarial science and landed his first job. But his mother, Maribeth, said he worked very long hours, and although he sometimes said he enjoyed it, she thought the isolation and long hours were very stressful for him. He left his job and eventually became a bicycle courier. He suffered for 10 years from depression, and later developed an addiction to heroin. Maribeth said that Jack's pain became unbearable and he died in his home at the age of 35. Maribeth shares a tribute to her son at: https://www.forevermissed.com/jack-heston/about
She also thinks about the following philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche and quoted by Joseph Campbell: “Nietzsche was the one who did the job for me. At a certain moment in his life, the idea came to him of what he called ‘the love of your fate.’ Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, ‘This is what I need.’ It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment—not discouragement—you will find the strength is there. Any disaster you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow.”
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Nickoli was a beautiful soul who never felt like he was heard or loved. His mother died from an overdose when he was very young, he didn’t know his father, and he was shuffled among family until he landed in his forever home with his adoptive mom, Angelique. From the day he joined her family, he called her mom and her children considered him an older brother. He passed away from a fentanyl overdose when he was only 18 in 2021. This epidemic is horrible and is taking our youth, says Angelique who prays, listens to grief podcasts, and joined Facebook groups to cope.
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Brandi had a typical childhood: she participated in sports, dance, girl scouts; went on family vacations; and had lots of family get-togethers. But as she got older, she became argumentative and got into a lot of trouble. It wasn’t until her sister, Kaylee, was taking a psychology course that she determined that her sister fit the description of someone with bipolar disorder. At first Brandi smoked pot but got mixed up with opioids after this was prescribed after her second pregnancy. She passed away from an overdose at 39 after a life of struggling with addiction. Kaylee advises not to go it alone when dealing with grief, and to join a grief group or go through one-to-one counseling.
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Aaron loved music, debating, and getting together with friends and family. He was also an avid reader and taught himself to read before he even started school. His mom, Sheryl, was his biggest fan. However, Aaron dropped out of school at a young age and started down the wrong path. After he turned 22, Sheryl got the call that no parent wants to get. At first, Sheryl coped by listening to this podcast and later joined with other moms who lost a child. She felt very strongly about paying it forward with her own story since she learned by listening to others.
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Josh was a great person who happened to have both the disease of addiction and the disease of depression. It was his birth father who introduced Josh to heroin when he was 13 years old, setting up his path to a lifelong habit. He overdosed from fentanyl poisoning in a sober house in 2016 when he was 32, leaving behind his beautiful daughter, Grace. He is still remembered by so many today, according to his mom, Susan. He bought food for struggling addicts, helped addicts get to meetings, and helped one person get recovery through giving money toward a ticket out of town. Susan copes through her artwork (featured on Instagram: SusanCarr88), and by listening to “Ram Dass: Here and Now”.
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Jillian was a “very wanted baby” who was a good student and could make anyone laugh, according to her mom, Jackie. As she got older, she became depressed and suffered from anxiety, and turned to alcohol and marijuana. In later years, she joined a gang and was introduced to methamphetamines. She tried to become sober but her addiction was terminal until her death at age 21 in February 2022. Jackie is filled with both overwhelming grief and relief that her daughter is free of pain, depression, anxiety and torment. Jackie copes by accepting compassion and love from family and friends, and listening to podcasts of people who have experienced a loss of a loved one.
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Kristina was a straight “A” student who loved cheerleading, dancing and gymnastics. Life was wonderful with her parents and older sister, Michelle, until she turned 15 and was introduced to heroin by her boyfriend. From that time, her life was a struggle to stay clean. Everything seemed to be going well in January 2022, when she had a relapse. When called to her parent’s home, Michelle describes how the paramedics only saw an addict, branded her a junkie and did not try to save her. In her quest to make a difference in the name of her sister, Michelle would like to break the stigma of how addicts are viewed and treated by society.
Michelle’s words, “Society has labeled drug addicts as criminals, worthless degenerates, and second-class citizens. Addicts are harshly discriminated against, seen as less than human, considered worthless at first glance. This country needs to understand that addicts are still PEOPLE! Their lives are no less valuable because they suffer from addiction! If more effort was focused on jailing the drug dealers, policing our borders, and helping those suffering from addiction, perhaps real change could be affected. Rehabilitation over incarceration, now that’s a lovely thought!
“How many millions of lives are sacrificed each year that never had a chance? For an addict the struggle against addiction is akin to fighting a war alone and without any weapons against a superpower. For many like my sister, their addiction started before they were an adult. A naive, immature, impressionable teenager who made a mistake, a mistake that triggered a powerful addiction that began a lifelong battle.”
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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Jason loved learning and was a joy to be around. He dreamt of being a pilot and set out on his life’s journey. However, during his first college semester, he broke his elbow, was placed on pain medication and everything changed. He dropped out of college and spent many years in the throes of addiction. His mom, Dianne, dreaded getting “the call” and on July 1st, 2019, that day came when she found our Jason had passed away at 34.
Dianne tries to concentrate on not asking “why” but asking how she can find meaning in her life. She honors her son’s memory through painting, prayer, poetry and placing her son’s picture on a card asking others to perform random act of kindness in Jason’s name. She also became involved with the MISS Foundation https://www.missfoundation.org/ where she found support services for her grief.
If you would like to join Dianne's support group, please contact her at [email protected]
An Invitation to Awaken
(Composed by Jason’s mom, 3/11/21)
The loss of a child ~raw, relentless and unbearable,
I refuse to vanish in its wake.
To my longing and tired heart, I hold you tenderly bearing witness.
To my senseless incessant chatter, I evoke mindful loving kindness.
Moments of grace invite Holy reflection, asking me to stay... and to Trust.
I died too, to whom I once was; now, a bereaved mother.
Yet, I slowly awaken to who I am becoming, God’s grace gently renewing my aching soul.
I feel more deeply and love more fiercely, with a more divine compassion for all human suffering.
Together in Spirit, my beautiful boy and I, as close as my breath.
Forever and always, awakening to the mystery.
Love, not addiction wins.
If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]
http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/
Music provided by La Atlántida
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