Sunday, July 24, 2011

A Dead End Road?

We just got back from the lake. My brother has a place on Table Rock Lake and we went there with the family for a few days. While we were there Mom and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. Nothing special just a day together.

While we were out of touch I saw that Amy Winehouse died. I don't know for sure but I assume from the circumstances it was from an overdose. Unfortunately this is the end of the road for some addicts. Never able to find the ability to seek or maintain a life of sobriety. The illness has too great of a hold.

But, this is not the road for all addicts. Whether her death makes a difference to anyone else we will never know but the truth is every single day thousands of addicts and alcoholics across the globe give up their using drugs or drinking. This is not a miracle this is just the way this disease works. All we can really hope for is that the addict in your life lives to see their day. Unfortunately Ms. Winehouse's parents doesn't get to see their daughter reach that day, but that doesn't mean your son or daughter won't.

Mom and I are lucky, Alex lived to see his day. He was one of thousands that made that step a year ago. Truthfully, we thought it was touch and go for a while but he did live to see his day. In fact I look back on what I told an emergency room doctor a few years ago when he gave my son less than 50/50 chance of living through the surgery he urgently needed. I told the doc in the emergency room prepping him it was our job to keep him alive today because every day thousands of people quit and Alex just hasn't reached his day yet. The doc stopped working for a second, looked at me took a deep breath and worked harder. Later the doctor told me he had never heard it put that way.

For those parents with kids struggling through this, no matter if they are 14 or 60 we all hope they reach their special day. The day they see the light of a profound experience.

It's difficult to describe how good it feels with Alex today and nearly impossible to describe how bad it was a year ago. Hold on to hope, take care of yourself and do what you can to support recovery when that day comes. Until then, where there is life there is hope.

9 comments:

Bar L. said...

HAPPY THIRTY FIVE TO YOU AND D!

I am hoping Amy's death will be a gift of life to any addict who realized they too will end up this way if they don't make changes now.

Momma said...

Happy Anniversary. And thank you once again for your words...

Syd said...

Happy anniversary to you both! I feel sorry for Amy and her parents. Such a waste.

Lou said...

Amen, Mom & Dad.

There are many who make it out, and some are blogging about it. You have to seek them out, they have a positive and grateful message to share.

Annette said...

Bless you Ron for that positive reminder. All is not lost! Happy Anniversary to you and Mom!!

France said...

Thank you for this message of hope, I needed to hear that today.

beachteacher said...

Excellent, excellent post....and inspiring...thank you. And HAPPY Anniversary....35 years...woo hoo ! :)

Debby of Oxycontin and Opiate Addiction: A Mother's Story said...

Happy Anniversary!
When I heard of Amy Winehouse's demise, my first thought was "thank God my son is on the road to recovery". For a while, I feared my son would either shot or overdose.
My other though was that celebrities, like Amy, most likely had access to money. Reaching her bottom didn't come.
My heart aches for her family. I think I heard that her father said he had written her eulogy long ago. Such a shame. Such a sad ending to a young life.
Your message is so uplifting. I remember when Alex was going through some really tough times, and it was tearing you and your family apart. I wondered if Alex was going to make it. I rejoice that he is also on the road to recovery.
I thank God every day, when my son wakes up and gives me a warm good morning smile. So far, so good.
Amen.

Anonymous said...

I'm looking forward to the day when my son has recovered.We are indian (from India),this should not be happening to us, our families are not supposed to have children that are addicts.Our children are supposed to do well ans succeed.Our son is at rehab (second time), we told him that this is it, we won't be able to help him again if he relapses or doesn't finish his three months.