A Tribute To Sage Capozzi

 A Tribute to Sage Capozzi

By: Rose Barbour

His name is Sage

And I’ve never met him

But he opened my eyes

To the devastation.

Before I knew his name

Or heard his story

My life was in chaos

And full of worry.

I knew my son was sick

And on the wrong path

I was fighting like crazy

To get him back.

Along came Carmen

Full of grief

He’d lost his son, Sage

To this awful beast.

My heart broke for Carmen

And all the others

Who had to bury their children,

Fathers or mothers.

The reality of addiction

Reduced me to tears

Our children need help now

They don’t have years.

At the tender age of 20

Sage lost his life

Carmen started an Army

To take up the fight.

Sage, your memory will live on

As the Army reaches out

In your name, lives will be saved

There is no doubt.

You have a special place

Even though we’ve never met

Your death was not in vain

And the fight isn’t over yet!

Written with love for Sage, Carmen and family. Carmen is living my worst nightmare. He is the first parent I knew who lost a child to the disease. I was so sad for him. I was heartbroken that a nice young man like Sage lost his life to the terrible disease of addiction. That is why this family, who I’ve never met, will always be forever in my heart!  Please join the Army at www.sagesarmy.com

http://shadowsinpei.blogspot.ca/2014/05/a-tribute-to-sage-capozzi.html

Never give up!

I am so happy to tell you that our son is now seven months in recovery and doing great! His recovery is a gift and we are so grateful for it. One day at a time.

Recovery is what we prayed for. We wanted for nothing else. We had our boy back.  But, we would receive another gift this week when he was accepted into Holland College’s carpentry program. This news just put us over the moon.

When he called me at work to tell me, I screamed, cried, shook, told my co-workers, and then closed my door and jumped up and down and cried some more happy tears. What a blessing!

Of course, then I shared the good news with everyone else who has supported us in our difficult journey. It felt good to tell them and offer hope.

This time last year, we thought we were going to lose our son to the disease. He was at his lowest point. He was suicidal. He was turned away at the hospital because he was addicted. The addictions centre wouldn’t take him because he was suicidal. He was stuck with no options. He was desperate. He was tired of living! His text messages that day say it all:

“You don’t need to do anything for me because I’ll be dead by the end of the day. Love you”

“Oh well, no one wants to help me so I don’t care anymore”

Thankfully, he (and we) made it through that rough and heart-wrenching time.

This journey through addiction is hard. The pain brought me to my knees and made me physically ill.  I would have given my own life to save my son but God doesn’t make deals.

As family members, we have no idea where the journey will lead and we have no control over it.  Mike and I thought for sure that we would have to bury our son. His addiction was advanced and the help was inadequate to that point. I even had his funeral planned in my head.

He would suffer another five months before being offered adequate enough treatment and support. When it came, he found recovery. Now, he is healthy, happy and making great plans for the future.

If you are living the nightmare of addiction, please do not ever give up hope. Recovery is possible and it is a beautiful gift.  Where there is life, there is hope.

Sincerely,

Rose

Tribute to Mother Warriors

She will not receive a visit

Her telephone won’t ring

Another mother warrior

Feeling the sting.

Addiction stole her child

His sparkle all but gone

Another mother warrior

Wondering what went wrong.

With love as deep as the ocean

And a lot of faith

Another mother warrior

Prays and waits.

In a jail cell he sits

At home she weeps

Another mother warrior

With a child in deep.

To a grave site she goes

A weekly visit and cry

Another mother warrior

Wanting to die.

A mother to a grandchild

She fills that role

Another mother warrior

Protecting a young soul.

She sees the signs

A relapse is here

Another mother warrior

Living in fear.

Cautiously optimistic

She listens to his plans

Another mother warrior

Praying for her young man.

Colour in his cheeks

A smile on his face

Another mother warrior

Every moment she’ll embrace.

Living with pain

That is deep and true

Another mother warrior

Helps her family through.

Deserving of this time

To let your worries float away

YOU are a mother warrior

Each and every day!

~Rose Barbour

http://shadowsinpei.blogspot.ca/2014/05/tribute-to-mother-warriors.html

Somehow the train stopped for our son

Our son, now 7 months into his recovery, applied for college this week. He is looking forward to going back to school, learning a trade, and making a good living. We are thrilled.

I was so overcome with gratitude for his recovery and his future goals that I broke down in tears on the treadmill earlier in the week. I was laughing, crying, running, and giving thanks all at once. It felt good. It felt really good.

Only a year ago, our son was quickly approaching death’s door after a long difficult journey with addiction. I even had his funeral planned in my head. We were scared.

An addicted child is a train wreck waiting to happen, but you are powerless to stop it, though you do get battered and bruised trying. Somehow, the train stopped for our son and he is now living life to the fullest and truly happy. We are so grateful!!

Now, here’s hoping that he stays strong in recovery (one day at a time), and that his application to Holland College gets approved for September!

I was going to ask you to send positive thoughts our son’s way, but I changed my mind. Instead, please pray for those still suffering and their families. They need it the most. This is a very difficult journey for families; most are living this nightmare in silence. They need our support.

Please also say an extra special prayer for those who’ve had to bury a child because of addiction and/or mental illness. They are living every parent’s nightmare. I hope to never know that kind of pain. God bless you all.

Sincerely,

Rose

PS: Our 3 C’s Family SupportGroup starts on Tuesday, May 6^th at 7:00. Click here for more information!