Our son is enjoying his new life in recovery. He has truly
turned a new page in his life.
He works all day and spends his nights and weekends at home
with family.
He buys all of his necessities and loves that he can do that
now.
He pays room and board and, much to our surprise, even gives extra
because he can and he wants to.
He treats his family to dinner almost every payday because it
makes him feel good.
He tends to things around the house because he likes to help
out.
He manages his cravings by doing something to take his mind
off of them.
He does not want to go back to the life of hell.
Yes, our son is enjoying all that life has to offer.
He is constantly expressing his gratitude and how good it
feels to be clean.
Life is good!
By getting the treatment he needed, he was given a new lease
on life.
Every person should have this opportunity to get well. Every.
Single. Person.
Our son is in this wonderful place because he finally got the
treatment that he needed and has been asking for. He was on the waiting list
for two years. That was a very long two years for him and us.
There were no gaps between his detox and his treatment this
time. It was seamless.
To improve his odds of a successful recovery even more, my
son also got into an aftercare program at The Reach Foundation shortly after
treatment. He was so lucky to get into their first group. It is an amazing
place with amazing people. Through the Foundation, he is gainfully employed and
learning new work and life skills. His recovery is the priority and he is fully
supported in attending appointments and meetings. He is also surrounded by positive
adult role models as well as peers who are also in recovery.
We are truly fortunate to have an aftercare program like The
Reach Foundation in Stratford. It is new and I have no doubt that it will grow across
the Island with the proper investment from government, the business community,
and Islanders.
I thank God each and every day for my son’s recovery. I also
thank the folks at Mt. Herbert (Dr. Ling, in particular), the good people who
started The Reach Foundation (Janice Coady, Cheryl Roche, and Verna Ryan), government
for investing in addiction treatment last fall (much more needs to be done
please), and everyone else who had a role to play in my son’s recovery!
Most of all, I would like to thank my son for his courage in
this fight with addiction and for his love, kindness and beautiful smile that
make the years of hell fade away from memory.
I want this for every family. We have to do more. It is up to
our government to invest our money into addiction treatment and aftercare
programs so that people have a chance to get well. This is a healthcare issue
that has a tremendous impact on society if not addressed. For every $1 spent on
addiction treatment, $12 is saved in other areas including healthcare and
justice. This is a good, sound investment that needs to be made immediately.
Lives depend on it.
Sincerely,
Rose
PS: Anyone wanting more information on The Reach Foundation
can contact Janice at 620-0000 or jm_coady@hotmail.com.
Glad he is doing so good!
ReplyDeleteThank you! We are so grateful.
DeleteRose I could not be happier for your son..and of course your whole family!!! This is exactly what we want for each & every person battling Addiction!! Huggs to you all..It is a family Disease..But it also a Family Celebration when our loved ones get that seamless treatment they deserve!!
ReplyDeleteI will continue to fight for that same treatment for those over 24..It is not there yet :(
xo
Thanks Mamma! And, I am right there beside you fighting for equal treatment for all!
DeleteRose, I missed this last week and just catching up on my readings. I am happy for you and your son and family . This is what I have been asking for the last two years. A place for my daughter to go once she leaves detox , so she does not have to go back to her drug friends.(Not really friends) and finally last September she was able to get a room for herself and be clean and take care of herself. But it two years for this to happen and this had taken her out of the lives of her two children for that time as well. We need somewhere for our addicted children to go and learn how to live again. I hope and pray everyday that we will have more facilities like the one in Stratford so when the addict is ready to make a change and reach out for help they can. We feel very proud of our daughter but she still has a lot of healing to do and I hope and pray that one day she will be the Mom that she can be. Until then I am saving her children for her. Thanks again Rose for all you do for us.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words. I am so happy that your daughter is in the healing/recovery process as well. I wish her and all of you the very best. Your grandchildren are very fortunate to have you for love and stability while their mom gets better! It is my dream that recovery will be possible for every family. It will take the proper treatment and after care to make it happen. We'll get there one day.
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