A Letter to My Sister

         I love my sister. I always have supported her, have always believed in her, and have always known that she is something great. Through everything, I have always known God has a plan for her. Were there times I thought she was going to die? Yes. There were many. But deep down, I hoped and prayed that my sister, the sister  that I watched play softball, that I traveled to the beach with our Nina and Papa, that read me monster stories when we were kids,  would someday be back. How could she do this? How could my sister of all people choose drugs? We went through all the same things? My dad walked out on me too? My grandpas passed away when I was young too? These were all questions that rolled through my mind over and over. Why the heck would she turn to drugs when we lived in the same life and had the same things go wrong? Why would she choose drugs over our family? Over me? It didn’t make sense to me and I didn’t understand how that lifestyle would be anything she would choose for herself. 

To my sister, I have wondered how you could ever do some of the things you did. It will never make sense to me, nor will I ever understand addiction. I do believe that you didn’t choose to be addicted, I do believe in my heart you made poor decisions and because of them, addiction chose you. I regret not saying something to you when you were in college, I regret not coming and visiting you more to see what you were doing or who you were friends with, I regret being so caught up in my own life that I didn’t spend more time with you to realize what was about to happen right before our eyes. I regret not calling you every day so you knew you could talk to me and that I was always there. I will always think of the things I could have done better for you to help you no matter what you say, I will always know I could have done more. 

     I am sorry that our papas died and you had to deal with that pain. I am sorry that our dad walked out on us and doesn't speak to us. I am sorry that you were in a car wreck and I am sorry that you felt lonely. I am sorry you weren’t pulled back in before you had to endure all of this. I have never talked to you about all the things that went wrong for us, but I know, it hurt. I hope you realized and still know you can always talk to me. I know you are the one who keeps to yourself more, while I’ll sob a river, but know you can always talk to me when something is wrong and I hope you know I will always love to hear what you have stored in your heart. 

     Regardless of the past, I forgive you for the choices you have made because you are my sister. I forgive you for missing my college football career, I forgive you for being absent on holidays, I forgive you for calling me asking for money, I forgive you for stealing from our parents, I forgive you for everything you have ever done. I will never hold anything over your head. I’m not a better son than you are daughter and I am not a better brother than you are sister. I now see that the sickness that took over your life is a disease that can take over anyone’s. I just didn’t get caught up in some of the things you did, and I am fortunate for that because I see now it can happen to anyone and could have just as easily been me.

     More than anything, I am thankful you are still alive and still so young. I am thankful I saw your genuine smile for the first time in 6 years, even if it was through glass at the jail. I am thankful you taught me so many lessons about life and choices.  I am thankful you now have a relationship with God.  I am thankful you were arrested that day and it brought you to where you are now and saved your life. I am thankful because I know in my heart, that God chose you to stay on earth and share your story with others who are going through the pain, the sickness and the hell that you have been through. He chose you.

     I am so thankful that God kept you on this earth to be my sister again...so maybe you can read my children "The Monster Story" someday, as you did for me.  I am thankful that we can soon sit and talk about what our lives entail next and our futures, because both of ours are bright. Whatever God's plans are for you, I am thankful that you are still here. 

                                                                            Love, 
                                                                           Your brother. 

SHOW ME STATE? THEN, SHOW US...NOW!

I'm fed up with the Missouri State Senate. FED UP. We are the ONLY State in the United States who does not have the prescription drug monitoring program. WHY??? We have a crisis in this state, just like every other state in the United States--only guess what? People are running to Missouri to doctor hop because we look like a bunch of fools. We are the candy house for doctor hopping and pill popping.

What is the problem? Seriously? Cut out the political nonsense and get this law passed. Do you understand that kids are dying? Do you understand that addiction is skyrocketing in your state? Do you understand that heroin use is at an all time high because of the amount of abuse that you have allowed to continue in this state? Do you understand that people are crossing our state line because we have no such laws? Do you understand that you are making it harder for states like Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma to enforce their own laws because of US??? They can't keep a handle on their own states because all it takes is their resident's to drive 30 minutes into the border of Missouri and buy all the pills they want. There are 18 year olds that can go to several lovely cash pay doctors in town here and get all the meds they need. They get Adderall, Hydros, Klonopin, whatever because some conscious-less pill pusher has no accountability with our state government. Fortunately there are some good pharmacies around who have enforced their own rules to try to curb this problem--but then we have our own government leaders who own pharmacies in Springfield who have milked the same system they choose not to change. WHAT ON EARTH IS WRONG WITH THIS STATE?

Our local police and task forces are getting virtually no federal funding dollars. No one is helping our law enforcement stop this problem and rather, you all are sitting all fat and happy up in Jeff City doing absolutely nothing to help them.

I read in the local Joplin Globe that one of our own state representatives doesn't even think we have a drug problem.  Mr. Davis--are you blind to what is going on around you in Joplin, Missouri???

Now, I see a horrifying MURDER with 4 teens involved in Southwest Missouri over a Mexican Drug Cartel.

WAKE UP. WAKE UP AND DO SOMETHING FOR YOUR FAMILIES IN MISSOURI.

I refuse to make my blog a political one--because it is about MY family...and I shouldn't have to fight the battle...but if my own state reps and senator don't see this epidemic happening--then let me educate you. Look around you. Step outside of your little perfect box and see the real world.

No one cares about your petty political agendas and bickering. Get off your duffs and do what is right for the families in Missouri. NOW. My daughter may not mean anything to you---but is it going to take your own children to die from this epidemic to see that it is a problem?

PASS THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING PROGRAM NOW.

GET SOUTHWEST MISSOURI SOME FUNDING FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THIS DRUG PROBLEM.

SAVE OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES.

48 Days and Circles

Well, we are on our 48th day of sobriety for my daughter today. She said she has felt fantastic and is so happy. She truly sounds happy. She is in a treatment where they do go on outings to the store, to public places, to church, to fundraisers, etc. and I think it helps in a sense because it doesn't feel like an institution, it feels like a family. I'm not suggesting that option is for everyone because there were times in the past 5 years that if she were given even the ability to see blue sky at a treatment facility, she probably would have ran for her life. She is just at a different phase of her addiction and at this point and time in her life, she says she is done with drugs. I pray it is true and I hope it is true and I have a wee bit of faith that it is true--but my feelings mean nothing in the grand scheme of life. It is all in her hands and I leave her in God's hands.

I've talked so much lately about faith, God, prayer and with every stroke, my words are being banned from school's being able to use my blog due to the religious aspect, which is a real frustrating thing, but the miracles that have happened to lead us to this point, are so large and so evident, that I cannot ignore them. I cannot ignore that prayer has gotten me through this more than any other coping mechanism. I cannot ignore the fact that her prayers have been answered in so many ways. I cannot ignore the fact that in my darkest hour, I had so many faithful servants praying for a miracle and that miracle happened. I really did not believe my daughter would live to see her next birthday and she turned 26 last week. She turned 26 in a house full of women that I ordered pizza for and you would have thought I bought them dinner at the finest steakhouse. They were so excited and so appreciative. Her body is healing. Her heart is healing and her mind is healing. Best birthday gift ever.

Not ONE time has she called home for her weekly call and asked about an old boyfriend, ex boyfriend, etc., which is a first and it is evident there isn't one on her mind. The only fellas she inquires about are her brother's. Not once has she even asked about Joplin, Missouri. Not once. She asks about her family. She asks about my job. She asks about the things that truly should matter in her life. She tells me about her days, about her lessons, about the things she is learning about herself. She tells me about all the cards and letters she gets from people that love her and they mean so much to her. I tell people she cannot write them back, but they continue to show her love and support and she feels that support. I don't let everyone write her that asks, obviously nor would everyone that wrote her be delivered to her. Her supervisors watch closely and they talk about things before they let her read them and they keep her circle of contact very small. Right now she only has contact with her immediate family--which is awesome, actually. Her circle is small and as time grows, her circle will grow. At some point she will have to carefully select who she lets back into her circle...a great deal from her past will need to stay out of her circle to keep her circle moving in the right direction. 

Circles are hard to break. At times, our circles can be chains that lead us in the same direction and same mistakes over and over and over. I can remember a time in my life that my circle had some people in it that created constant drama, police involvement, etc...which is not normal, by the way. If you friends are getting regular visits from the police--chances are, your circle needs to change. 

I have watched from afar, her old circle of friends that  she loved who have stayed in their tight circle and all of them are getting married, having babies, just having beautiful lives and intertwining their circles together and making new ones---but she fell out of that circle and into a new one, so her circle changed. Your circle of friends define you, mold you, influence you and sometimes ruin you. I look around at my closest circle of friends and its small. I admit I have lots of friends but the circle I confide in or cry to, or that know my deepest darkest secrets is very small. It may seem to you that I have one huge circle because of my blog--and I do consider all of you part of a certain part of my circle but I also have a part of my life that I am fiercely protective and don't allow anyone near that circle.

I've watched several of the young men and women we know who are struggling with addiction continue to run into these circles of drugs, stealing, lies, and even death and their circles continue to keep going around and around and around with the same result. Arrested. Bailed Out. Robbery. Arrested. Bailed Out. Friend Dies. Arrested. Robbery. Bailed Out. Arrested. I just want to reach into their circle and stand up and yell "STOP!" Do they not see the circle is leading nowhere?  Do they not see that their circle is in a constant spiral of madness? Are they not getting dizzy of seeing the same thing over and over and over? 

Your circle of friends should never be telling you to "try this line of meth" or "Sneak out tonight and lets go smoke dope" or "Grab that pair of jeans off the rack--no one will know." Friends don't do that to their friends. in my 45 years of life, I have never had a friend ask me to steal anything, let alone, steal something daily. If that is your circle---it's time to find a new one. It's time to step out of the circle and stand alone. It's time to look behind you and in front of you in your circle and if they aren't moving and progressing with life--then that isn't the circle you should be in. Circles change. Circles grow. Circles add new circles when life is healthy. Your circle should never be an unending ring of trouble.

Break out of your circle. Put a circle around yourself for awhile and if you can't find the strength to do it, stand up and say "I need help" and let your family circle around you. Let them guard your circle until you can guard it yourself. Reach out to me even, I'm ballsy. I will snatch you right out of that circle if you want me to. I promise you, there are ways out of the circle. 

Tonight, let's all pray for those stuck in a bad circle. Let's not gossip about them, or judge them and especially not judge their parents. As parents we do the best we can. We try so hard to keep our children in good circles but at some point, our kids start moving into their own choices, own circles, and then have to deal with the consequences. Take a look at your circle right now. If you can't trust your circle, if your circle is negatively influencing you, if your circle is not leading you into a positive direction....STOP. The circle stops with you. 

The Awakening-Part 5

We rolled out of Carthage, after meeting my sister and picking up some items of clothing, bedding and other things she had collected for Addi. She also gave her a journal. It was one of my Grandma Kelly's daily journals. Every single day, she would wake up in the wee hours of the morning, go into her bathroom, kneel on the floor and pray for her family. She would journal her prayers. We have all read through different years, since her passing--and most of us have one or two that marked monumental moments in our lives--births of children--deaths--etc. My grandma's prayers are peaceful to read and you can picture her kneeling praying for her family and friends and church and thanking God for all the blessings in her life. This book was priceless and it was so sweet of my sister to think of giving Addi one.

On our way, we talked and talked. She told me how great she felt and how I "was right" about the detox. I have mentioned that probably 50 times in my blogs, because I've always wanted her to try to detox even just once, without medication. Just once, give it a try. She would never even consider it. The treatment facilities always deemed it a necessity and I never won that argument before.

We also began talking about a news story about a local boy who was shot and killed a few months ago and the day before, his sister and two guys were charged in his death. When I read the probable cause affidavit, it made me want to cry. It truly sounded as though this young man had let his sister live with him, she was hanging around a bad crowd, doing drugs, and so he kicked her out. In anger at him, she suggested they should rob him---so at one point, her friends did just that--they robbed him...only he lost his life, by being shot in the head. The whole time I'm reading this story, I'm getting physically sick to my stomach. I think of all the times my daughter tried to lure my son out to a parking lot, a place of business or to meet her somewhere to "borrow $25" and thank God he never would do it. All I could imagine, is that some thugs she was associating, would hurt him, rob him, or do something unimaginable, all because of her drug use. When I told Addi this story, she started crying. She said "I would never let anything happen to him." I said "YOU COULDN'T HAVE CONTROLLED IT. When you are hanging around people who steal, lie, rob, make and sell drugs--they don't care what he means to you. They don't care what anyone means to anyone...they don't care about YOU.  Do you get that? This girl probably loved her brother just as much and just because she got hooked on drugs and mad at him and said something out of anger, she had two people listening who decided to carry it out. NOW HE IS GONE." That story haunted me. It haunted me to the point, that I had many times made my son take precaution after precaution for his safety when Addi was out and about. In all reality, due to the dangers of drug addicts around town, we ALL must be vigilant when walking to our cars, locking our doors, etc...because you just never know. I think I made the point that people as desperate as someone gets when searching for heroin, they do not value their own life, let alone someone else's. It's terrifying. I felt sick for that family. I still do. God bless them. Losing both children, virtually--over drugs. It's not fair. I pray for them every single night.

We got to the hotel we were staying at for the night and we carried in the massive amount of  bags and bags of clothes for her to sort through. Her "mentor" had given her a book to read and wanted to her to take a test about her interests, strengths, etc. from the book "Strengths Finder" so she also started reading that so she could take her exam for her first "task assigned." She seemed so excited to take the test, and so excited to prove to him that his investment would pay off.

We also got out the box of items that I had brought her, including her new Study Bible I had purchased...She was very touched by it. I opened it up to show her what made it a "Study Bible" as the man had shown me in the store, with the notes and related scriptures written below. I literally just opened up the Bible--not having a scripture in mind. I opened it up to Jeremiah 29:11 that said "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Perfect. Really any passage in the Bible is perfect timing when you need it. This one was particularly perfect. That night, we talked, we visited, we laughed and we enjoyed each other's company. I loved being in her presence. She loved taking a bath and then a shower and then another bath. She hadn't had that "spa treatment" in a long time and hadn't had a real bath in almost a month. Her body was so marred with scars. It broke my heart that my baby girl had waged war on her own body with the infection from drug use. I caught myself staring at her back when she was in the bath tub. Praying "Please God, make this be the end of this nightmare once and for all. Please save my daughter."  I couldn't sleep that night. I woke up at 3 AM or so and blogged, just staring at her. The next morning her journey would begin a 12 month long program---and what scared me the most, is she didn't seem scared at all.

The next morning, I woke up to many messages and one was from a sweet friend named Andrea. She told me "This verse popped up in my "on this day 5 years ago" and reading your blog it made me think of Addi." She went on to write "Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 12 Then you will call upon me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek with all your heart." I instantly wrote her back. "Wild. We opened up her new Bible last night to that same verse...just on "accident."  She responded, "Funny how God works." Indeed. Wow.

We got ready to make the rest of our trip. Ironically enough, as we got about an hour or so away, we were following our GPS--and it told me to turn around and make a U Turn. That couldn't be correct. I called the office to confirm the directions. I'll be honest, I worried about her safety of anyone knowing where she was--or more of anybody who considered going and finding her to take her away and back into that world---ironically, the GPS doesn't lead you to it at all...it leads you about and hour out of the way. Technical glitch, they say? I say "Heaven sent."  We pulled up this long winding gravel road and there it was....her home for at least the next 12 months...and it was beautiful, peaceful, serene, welcoming...it was home.

We walked to the front porch and the supervisor welcomed us in. You know how you visualize someone when you talk to them on the phone and hear their voice and they NEVER look like you would think? This woman was so sweet, and so kind and so helpful and I had her pictured as this dainty, darling, dark haired woman. She was a dainty, darling, dark haired woman. The home was so clean and inviting and there was a beautiful kitchen, dining room, living room and upstairs it had spacious bedrooms, with beds and bathrooms and "welcome" toiletries trays for each girl. All women. All addicts...all there to find healing. I said "This is all so surreal. It feels so right. I cannot believe how peaceful this feels. I almost can feel the presence of my Grandparents at this house."  Susie (I will call the supervisor as an alias) said "I can tell you that when you contacted us, we didn't think we were going to have a bed available--but we prayed about it and decided somehow we needed you here, that you needed to be here. We decided we would somehow make room to add one more because God was leading you here--then we got a call that another girl had decided to go elsewhere so it opened up a bed. God wants you here, Addi. You were meant to be here." Chills ran down my spine. There was that feeling of the holy spirit again. I really like that feeling. Addi, confidently said "I know he does."

I unpacked the car and all of her belongings and we said our goodbyes. As I drove away, I felt a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in months, years. I felt she was safe. I felt she was good. I felt she was ready. I felt God.

As I was on the highway, I looked down on my phone and on my Facebook page, I had a message. It was from a woman who wanted to reach out to me, to tell me a story about her family. She said she had been reading my blog and had read about the closeness of my son and daughter. She wanted to tell me the story of her family, so that I could teach Addison a lesson that she should be told, so she could see the risks, the damage, the pain, the loss that she could have in living a life of drugs...that she could hurt the one that she loved the most. She wanted to tell me about her niece who got tangled up in drugs and the wrong crowd--and that it cost her brother his life. She was the aunt of the kids from Oklahoma. The same family I had just told Addi about on the drive up. I told her that it was amazing that she messaged me, that I had too, thought of my children when reading that story and how terribly tragic it was--but it did remind me of my children. She said how hard it was to think about the pain her niece feels in knowing her choices caused her brother's death and that yet, their family still loved her--and rightfully so. That story makes me so sad. Please pray for that family. I told her if it is any consolation, I did think about what my son would want in that situation--and I know he would want us to still love her. He would want her to find forgiveness because he would know that his REAL sister wouldn't have ever hurt him.

God was tugging on my heart in all directions and the fact that a family in such a horrible time of tragedy could even think of mine--meant so much to me.

I got home safely and when I walked in the door, I noticed papers on the kitchen counter. They were my little one's preschool papers. His Bible verse of the month? You guessed it...Jeremiah 29:11....

The Awakening--Part 4

So many events and my timing are running together because it all seemed like so much was happening so quickly. Forgive me if I bounce around. I am regretting not writing these things as they were happening.

On Easter Sunday, we went to church at Grace Episcopal in Carthage, which is the church I grew up in with my mom and stepdad. When you walk into the church, there is an "In Memory of Dick Mansfield" right in front your face with Holy Water. Grace Church is where we held the funeral of my stepdad, who was very instrumental in my life. He was also the man who my children depended on as a father figure after my divorce. He was the man who when my daughter was only 7, and told her class that her Papa and Nina were taking her and her brother to Disney World for Spring Break---so her Papa took her to Florida. I spoke at his funeral at this church. Grace Church has not been a comfort to me since that day in November 2006. I can barely walk through the doors without bawling my eyes out. Easter Sunday was different. As I sat down in the pew, I began to peruse the bulletin and noticed not only Addi's name on the prayer list, but noticed my own. I jabbed my niece Emma, sitting next to me and pointed, like "Whattt??? Me??" Emma is precious beyond words. She shrugged her shoulders, and in her cute little smile, she said, "Well, ya need 'em." She was right. I did need the prayers. Every single thing Father Steve said that day, was like he was talking to me. I found comfort there that I hadn't felt in almost ten years.

As Easter festivities ended and the week ahead of me began, I really became nervous about picking her up on that Wed. I was determined that I was not going to allow her to even get inside my heart or mind with any sort of pity. She called me collect again on Monday, to tell me about her tests and to get reassurance that she would be going on Wed. There was a part of me that worried about whether or not she was manipulating me, eager to get out in the world. On Tuesday, the jail took her over so the judge could make a docket to furlough her and release her to me the next day for treatment. My boss said that on that particular day, most were not hardened criminals, but a different group and when the judge heard the word "heroin addict"-even the other people in orange jumpsuits were taken aback. My boss was convinced that Addi was ready for change. I was still not so certain. My son, who had visited her the Friday before, was excited for her. He felt she was ready and he had good feelings about this choice of treatment...however, he was reading his Bible and praying to God this was the answer we had been seeking for so long.

I couldn't sleep at all on Tuesday night. I was so nervous. I got to the jail early so had to wait until the release time. I finally got the signal that I could walk around the back and she would be coming out. She asked me to bring her clothes, which I did, so I didn't have to ride several hours in the car with the stench of her rain soaked clothes from 23 days ago. She walked out and hugged me. Then said "Can we go into the lobby so I can hug everyone goodbye?"  "Huh? Hug WHO?" She wanted to go hug the people working in the jail, particularly the Sheriff, his Captain, his lady that worked the commissary, etc.  I told her that probably wasn't standard procedure. She told me that they hold church there twice a week. She said "This jail is different. They really care about people."  I thought, "Well, that is a good thing."

We had to stop in Carthage because a relative wanted to talk to her before we left. This relative has been in Addi's life since she was 3. He is a strong, quiet, hard working person who says very little about matters that don't involve him. He had made it known, that he had stayed silent too long and wanted to talk to her. I am going to try to keep his identity anonymous, but anyone that knows us, will certainly catch on to his identity pretty quickly. We stopped at his office to see him. (This part still makes me cry even writing it). He took us back into a conference room. I felt I was more nervous than Addi was at this time. He laid down $2000 cash and said "Addi, if I gave you this right now---what would you do with it? If I said, you can have this $2000 cash and my truck...would you drive straight to Teen Challenge?" She looked at him and said "I wouldn't want that cash in my hands to take that risk. I'd like to say I would, but I wouldn't want to have the temptation." They were looking each other straight in the eye. He said, "That is the answer I wanted. It's honest. You don't know your limits yet...that is what you need to say." He then laid down a check for $1200 which was the fee for Teen Challenge deposit and he said "I'm giving you this as a loan. I don't invest in anything that I don't think will give me a good return. I believe you are a good investment. I want you to take this, and if you will complete this program and do the things they ask of you--we are going to have a business proposition together. I will be here for you if you feel you are stumbling, you need to communicate that to me, and I will help get you through it. I want you to keep me posted on my investment and write me about every two weeks. I want you to come up with a plan--what do you want to be? What are your goals? You cannot survive off $7 an hour for the rest of your life. You need a plan...so when you come out of here in 12 months, I will help you finish college and we will reach your goals together...I'll be on your side every step of the way if you do the things you need to do. I believe in you." There were other details that I will leave out, but the look on her face was indescribable. A man she had respected, yet feared, because she had failed her family so many times--was on her side. A man she had utmost respect for and a man who took this conversation very seriously and chose his words carefully. He is a man of few words--but on this day, they were powerful beyond measure. She had someone who believed in her. Someone who she never knew had believed in her before....

God was working miracles and sparking hope in her life yet again...

The Awakening--Part 3

Tina visited with Addi at length. She showed her the scars and tattered veins that had collapsed from drug use. She showed her where she would be shot up in her neck. Tina was just mortified that Addi had sunk so low and had felt so lost. She also said something else. She said "I cannot go back to Joplin or this area. I will die. I cannot die. I want to live. I want to go as far away as possible and I've filled out my paperwork to where I want to go." Tina looked at her and said "OK, kid. Let's do this."

Tina contacted the prosecutor, who then spoke to the judge--and they agreed to let her go--on a very tight rope, with lots of reports from the facility. We contacted the place she chose and she had to have a physical. IV drug users can contract so many dangerous diseases. She had to pass those before she could be finally accepted. It was Easter week. I called my cousin, a doc to see if he knew a doc in Newton County--he did, but they didn't accept our insurance. I called my mother-in-law who works for Freeman Surgeons--and she found a nurse practitioner willing to see her on Good Friday. So on Good Friday, she was escorted by a deputy, with her pretty orange jumpsuit and given a physical and blood work. She wouldn't learn the result of her tests until Monday.

In the meantime, I had been still receiving prayer texts from our divorce client that were so sweet, faithful and just determined they were going to pray Addi through this. I also started talking to my aunt. My aunt and uncle are on my mother' side. My aunt was the perfect wife for my uncle and she is the closest thing to my dear Grandma, who was perfect. A perfect Christian. My aunt prayed with me, and I told her about possibly sending her to Teen Challenge. My aunt said "Stephanie---you know that Grandma and Grandpa Kelly were big supporters of Teen Challenge. They faithfully gave to Teen Challenge. I thought, "My grandparents had no drug addicts in their lives. Why would they choose such an organization?"  My aunt said "Do you suppose God led them to give to Teen Challenge all these years, KNOWING that someday, their own family would need them?" Woah. Woah. I had that tingly strange excited feeling again. I told my aunt the story about the man on the phone who made me cry by comforting me and telling me I wasn't in control. My aunt said "Stephanie, that is the holy spirit." How can that be the holy spirit? I never even understood that term." I felt it. That WAS it. I felt the holy spirit.

I'm friends on Facebook with the daughter of my grandparent's pastor and longtime friends I messaged her "Could you ask your dad how he feels about Teen Challenge? Addison is thinking of going there." She immediately wrote me back, "My dad said their success rate is astounding and grows even more after being there 2 weeks and people that complete the 12 months have a greater than 85% success rate. "He said to let him know if she ends up there--that their church would love to sponsor her." Ok, so wow. My grandparents, now deceased, who were instrumental in all our lives, were donating to a place for addicts our whole lives. Wild. Now their church is willing to help my daughter? Wow. I called my son, who thinks his life is blessed simply because his middle name is "Kelly" that last name of my grandparents. I told him these bizarre coincidences and he said "Grandma and Grandpa have a hand in this. This is happening for a reason. The Lord is using them to guide Addi." Ok, this was just too crazy.

Easter came and Addi's arm turned red. She called us collect multiple times on Easter fearing she had TB and she would not pass the physical. My nurse mother in law explained to her that a lot of people have that reaction and she may just have to have a chest xray. but not to worry about it. I told her that her Aunt Denise said any time the negative thought enter our heads, to pray. I was trying, but I was also sweating it...the next day they took her to her follow up. All tests were negative and they did do a chest xray which was clear---she passed her physical. She was going to get to go.

I called the facility and they told us she could come that Wednesday and gave me a list of items she would need to bring....which brings me to shopping for a Study Bible...I go into ForAll Bible and the place is packed. I am looking at the mountain high shelves of Bibles and people were moving all around me and I obviously looked lost. A gentleman said "May I help you find something in particular?" I stammered at first, and then said "Well, here is the deal. I need a study Bible. My daughter is headed to a faith based treatment facility. She is a drug addict. He pulled out an NIV Study Bible and he began to read scripture in it that applied to her situation and would show me the study parts and the whole time, he's telling me how successful the program was and that she will do great and we were just lost in this conversation of scripture reading. I felt like we were the only people in the store. I chose a rose colored leather bound NIV study Bible. I went up to pay for it and the lady asked me if I wanted her name on it. It was cheap to do, so why not. She showed me where the service department was and I meandered back to the store. I ran into the same sales associate clear on the other side. I said "Well, I decided to get her name on it." He said "Well, I was going to suggest that, but we had such a good conversation, that I didn't want to try to give you a sales pitch." He asked the lady how long it would take and she said "15 minutes"  He said "write her name on this card right here so I can make sure we spell it correctly." I wrote her name down. He then, in his calm voice said "I wanted her name any way, so I could pray for her." Wow. God was pulling at my heart with full speed.

I raced out to find some shoes for Addi and wanted to call my Aunt Denise to tell her "I felt it again...listen to this story!"  I had two missed calls on my phone---it was my Aunt Denise...

Yes,, Stephanie Patterson was feeling God working in her life and that of her daughter's--and it only gets better...

The Awakening--Part 2

So, the day after she arrived at the Newton County Jail, I slept like a rock. I slept better than I had in months. I knew she was safe.

I need to go back to the day of the arrest. They were arrested at a motel. Every belonging my daughter had left was in that motel room. I went to the motel to pick it up and I was hotter than hot angry. God bless the girl working the front desk. I had smoke of rage billowing out of my nostrils. I said,  "My daughter was just arrested. I would like to retrieve her belongings. She has nothing left and she is going to need them." The lady told me that the room was not in either of their names so she would need to call the person who had reserved it. This got me very intrigued and even more irritated. "Who the heck was renting a motel room for these two drug addicts??"  She got a voicemail--but I recognized the name of the person they said the message was for--it was her boyfriend's mother. I got even more hacked. I said "When you get in touch with HERRRR -PLEASE ALSO TELL HERRR THAT SHE IS AN ENABLER!!!!" I was awful. Awful awful awful. The clerk was very sweet and assured me that she would give her my phone number and tell her to call me.

So, I left empty handed and went back to work. It was not easy to concentrate. When I got home that night, I found his mom and sister on social media and sent them a message to let them know that they had been arrested and the car they were driving was still there. I had no idea how they were driving a brand new Jetta, but it was a rental. I also let them know their belongings were there and who knew what kind of people had access. I figured we would never see any of her remaining items of clothing again.  She gave me her number and we talked--and talked--and talked. She headed to get their things and later we met to do the exchange. In this moment, I felt a kinship, bond and instant friendship. She was me. She was dealing with the same hell. Basically everything they had told both of us was a lie--and she paid for their room for two nights, just so he wouldn't lose a job he had just started in town. She said something though that has stayed with me. She said "Addi doesn't want to be this way. I could feel it in her. I am praying she sees the light and finds her way." I thought, "Wow. How can this woman give two cents about my daughter? She did, though. She meant it.

So a week passes and Addi is on antibiotics for her staph, she is starting to heal up--Sheriff allowed her to be removed from the suicide suit. She would later tell me that vomiting and diarrhea in "the pickle suit" may have made her detox even more miserable but even more unforgettable. She would try to get comfortable and put a blanket over her head and a voice would say "REMOVE THE BLANKET FROM YOUR FACE NOW!" When she told me these stories 23 days later, I didn't feel one bit of pity for her. Not a drop. I was glad that she went through it, survived it and hopefully never wanted to experience it again.

Vicky gave me a list of items she could have in jail, now that she was moved into general population, such as 3 white bras, 3 white t shirts, 3 white undies and 3 pair of white socks. I went and bought the items and wrote her name on all of them as instructed and put $10 on her commissary account only because she got a restriction--No phone card purchase allowed. We didn't want her calling any of her "friends" to come get her. As I was dropping off her items, the lady that oversees visitors, the commissary and the white wardrobes, asked if I would be back for visitation. She handed me a sheet with the hours and rules. I put my head down and said "I don't know that I will visit her. I am just too angry and have done all I can. I just don't think I want to see her right now." She told me she laid hands on Addi and prayed for her. She said Addi trembled. She said, "That little girl is in there. I see it in her eyes. Don't give up on her. I will see you on Friday." She was the sweetest woman. She deals with criminals and families every day but took the time to lay her hands and pray for MY DAUGHTER? Wow.

I started  to worry about her arraignment. She was given papers to apply for a public defender. "Nooooooo, this will never work. They will do their job and get her bond reduced. We cant have that." Vicky went  to see her again. She took a lady from her church who is in recovery. She talked to Addi about her life changing and how God has been the reason. They then talked to her about her upcoming court date and she asked Vicky if she would call me to see if my boss, Tina, would represent her. I said "Really, she wants Tina to represent her?"  Tina feels about Addi as a daughter. She was only 9 when I started working for Tina. She has been through every facet of this journey along with me. She wanted her to stay planted in jail too--so I was surprised that Addi would want her, knowing likely that no bond reduction would be filed. I thought, "For someone who knows how to skate the law, that was an stupid move"---but was it??  Maybe she didn't want out. Maybe she knew that getting out would be the death of her. She would later tell me that she wanted Tina because she knew I would be the one working on the file and she knew that she could not be set free because she was certain heroin would he waiting for her.

Day 10, I receive a message from a friend, a classmate of my sister's who works for the Alliance of Southwest Missouri. Come to find out, their office was downstairs from mine. I rarely venture out into the halls of our law office other than to get food for lunch--so have no clue what all is in our building. She wanted to talk to me about joining the alliance on an anti-drug campaign or awareness campaign. I was interested. Very interested. As we sat and talked, I told her Addi was in jail. I told her that I was very stressed and would like to keep her there as long as possible, but at some point a decision would have to be made--drug court, rehab, jail, prison--something. She asked me if I had ever heard of "Teen Challenge." I said "yes, but isn't that for teens? She said "No, it's actually for adults, the name is misleading." We talked about the various programs throughout the country and how successful the program can be if worked. She then told me it was faith based so I immediately cooled the jets. "No way would she go to a faith based treatment. No way. She has refused time and time again, because they won't let them take drugs for drugs. You have to be detoxed, you cannot take Methadone or Suboxone and there is just no way she will go for that. No way."

After she left my office, I got on the computer and searched the locations. I could not locate one in China or would have preferred there or as far away as possible. I knew the prosecutor was going to be meeting with the Judge and Sheriff about her options and I really felt I needed a plan. After all--I always made the plans. I always found the treatment programs. I always verified insurance. I got her there, I did it all, all, all--that was just the way this rehab stint worked between me and Addi. I found it, I connected her, I drove her--she completed 30 days and was sent home on meds and six months, if we were lucky to go that long---we were finding another one. Its been HELL. I decided I'm not doing this. I'm just not. I printed out several packets of treatment facilities...all faith based...and mailed them to her. I wrote her a letter and said "These are the programs that have been referred to me. If you feel any of those will help you, you should fill out the applications. I can't do this for you sis. I just can't do it again. I love you and know you have a mountain to climb--but we will be waiting for you on the other side." I mailed them.

I then talked to the Sheriff and told him about the packets I was sending. He said his reports on her were that she was looking a lot better and doing really well and starting to look like Addi more and more each day. I then told him how stressed I was about trying to find some place for her to go and that I found this faith based one miles and miles away but it was all women and would be very good for her. I found 2 or 3 in fact. I had even called one of the places and felt really good about them. I got a great vibe from a lady named Susie who answered the phone. I had left several messages on several treatment center's phones. I guess in a way I was still micromanaging it all, or trying to--when Sheriff said "Don't stress yourself. The judge won't let her go there any way. Too far away." Ugh. My bubble had burst. I felt deflated. "Now what?" I worried if she had to stay local, she'd never live.

That day I was driving home from work and I got a call from a man of one of the facilities I was leaving messages. I told him I had already talked to Susie, who was so helpful, but that I didn't think the Judge would approve--so it looked to be a no go. He paused, and in the calmest of tones, he said "You know, Stephanie---sometimes God puts obstacles in our lives when we feel we are in control. He puts those obstacles there to show us that we aren't. He shows us that HE is in control." I pulled over my car and cried. I felt this burden just lift from my shoulders. I felt the weight of this decision lifted off my back for the first time EVER. I felt that for the first time ever, I understood that I was not in control.

The next day I was at work and my boss had a trial get cancelled in McDonald County so was heading back with time to spare---I said "Well, you could go visit Addi. The prosecutor needs to talk to you anyway." She said "Ok, I will head there now." She said she went into this little room and there they brought in Addi. She said she wasn't prepared to see the girl who walked in..

The Awakening--Part 1

I admit, I've not been a regular church goer. I've not been a regular Bible reader. I've not been a faithful servant like my grandparents taught me to be. I've been more of those negative people who felt "oh woe is me" type of attitude. Just not a whole lot of real faith. Always felt the burden of solving everyone's problems were on my shoulders. I was a single mom for a long while, so it just never seemed like life was cutting me any breaks. I worked in divorce law the last 13 years, and well, as you can imagine---that too, is draining. The cycles of events leading up to March 8th have literally changed my thinking. They have changed my faith in a higher power.

I grew up with grandparents who were extremely good Christian people. In fact, I'm quite certain they were perfect. My grandmother never judged. She just listened. As I was going through this awful time with Addi and my grandma was nearing the end of her life-it was Addi she would always ask about. She prayed for her continuously and probably until the moment she died. She would always talk about the "holy spirit" and I honestly, just didn't get it. It went in one ear and out the other. I didn't understand the concept. I am certain now I felt it at times but didn't recognize it because I was too busy dwelling in negativity.

In January, my daughter's life took a drastic change for the worse. Drastic. As a result, our lives changed and were uprooted. Again, there is a part I won't discuss due to protection of the innocent--but to make a long story short--her life was spiraling downward at rocket speed. She got evicted from her apartment. Had the worst kind of people hanging out there 24/7--no one was paying a utility, no one was paying for rent. Her car, that she still owes her grandma for, was missing---I still don't know where it is, other than some guy wrecked it and even hit another car. The only reason that I know that is because her insurance company sent her a letter that she had let her insurance expire.

During this time I had to focus on my job and the extra tasks I now had at home, due to her choices. We had a HUGE trial coming up. Beyond huge. It was a week long trial on a case that had been pending for 2 years. It required my attention and my bosses attention for a month. During that month, my boss and I would spend evenings late at the office with our client, who is the sweetest lady. She is a faithful servant of God and the more time we spent together, the more she was learning about the things going on in my life. She messaged me one night and wanted a picture of Addi and she wanted to add her name to a prayer group. I said "Well, sure, that is sweet." Literally for two months and still even today, I would get these random texts at the oddest times that would say "Don't respond...I just want you to know that Addi is covered in prayer. God is going to work a miracle in her life." I would thank her for her texts but my faith was diminished that she was going to make it out alive.

She was sick with staph infection. She was not making any changes she needed to be making to get her "life" back---she was lost. She was in a spiral so far down that she resorted to shoplifting. She was actually caught shoplifting at a store by one of her best friend's little sister's and she ignored her. She now feels terrible about it and is writing her an apology--but that is how desperate she was to get heroin. She was stealing from Joplin to Branson and poor Target--she got her purse confiscated there twice. This was behavior that was not like her. She was not a shoplifter. This was a new low in life.

I called my friend Vicky who works at the City of Joplin. Vicky used to work with me and Addi at a law office in town. She became a surrogate mother to her of sorts. They both thought I was a negative, critical butt head to work with and found comfort in each other having to work with me and Cruella (my nickname for my boss, that she knows is just for fun). When that law firm split up, Vicky went to work for a city court---and so we have kept in touch. Joplin city Court, unfortunately, have had Addi on tickets for a myriad of things from larceny to domestic fights to just general drama that circulates in an addicts life. She received two sunmons' in the mail at our address.  At this point, I just wanting to know how many she had pending. Vicky and I talked and she told me the court dates. I told her that I doubted my boss would represent her on them since I was at the end of my rope. This was March 7th.

That night also, Addi, by agreement with a friend named Jane, to go to dinner and talk. Jane is another "surrogate mom" of Addi's and the mom of one of her friends. Jane also loves her dearly and has also refused to give up on her. She felt Addi wanted out of the situation she was in--and as they talked, Addi agreed to go into treatment the next day. As stated in my previous blogs--that never happened that day. Rather, she chose to get high with her boyfriend.

At 7:20 am on March 8th, I got a text message from Vicky. It said "Addi has been weighing on my heart all night long. I've been praying for her relentlessly. I feel God is going to move in her life." I thanked her, and said "I sure hope so".

Our friend Jane was headed to get Addi to take her to treatment. She wasn't going. She took her friend Clancy with her too to try to talk Addi into doing the right thing. Bottom line was she was not going and boyfriend didn't want her to go. They had other plans. Well, I was on the phone with a friend of Addi's who was helping me during this time with moral support, and a girl who WAS Addi a year ago so knew the urgency. She was in trouble just a year ago and she was just as sick.  She said, "Stephanie-she is going to die if she doesnt get help today. I can feel it. I'm going to do something." So--a well check call was placed to Joplin Police Department. Upon their arrival, they became suspicious of boyfriend's behavior by him reaching into a drawer---they called in drug dogs and more police and that was that. They found drugs. Heroin and Morphine if I do believe. They arrested them.

This whole time, I'm at the law office, and I'm kicking into gear. I called the local PA and said "My daughter was just arrested. She is dying. She is so far addicted to heroin that if she is released she will die. She has staph all over her and this is it. This is my last chance to save her." Come to find out, she was over the county line. She was in Newton County. She was taken to Joplin City Jail and then would be headed down to the Newton County Jail---and guess who would be in control of her there? Vicky's husband. She is married to the Newton County Sheriff, Ken Copeland. When the Jasper County Prosecutor found out that the case would be in Newton, he also called the Newton County PA to get us some help. So then, I called the Newton County Prosecutor. I told him the same story. He didn't know anything about my story. He knew nothing about my daughter. We talked for a long while about the problems she has had-- and he listened. He said, "I will ask for a high bond on her, but you can't get her out or it won't help her. It won't do any good for her if you do." I said "I can assure you that none of us will bond her out. She will die within days if she is out."

She arrived at the Joplin City jail and was informed that Newton County had 24 hours to charge her, or she would be released if they didn't. Literally, on the 23rd hour, Newton County charged her with possession. The JPD told her that she was being transferred and that her bond would be $10,000 cash. One of the jailers said Addi goes "That is because of my mom." The jailer said "No, I don't know your mom, but the Judge sets the bond." She said "Trust me. My mom did this."

She had just told her brother two days before that she was "in a dark hole and cannot get out." He felt she was dying and/or suicidal. He was terrified. So when she got to Newton County, she got placed in a suicide suit. She again said "Why am I being put in a suicide suit?" They jailer said "Sheriff's
orders." Addi replied "you mean my mom's orders." Again, the jailer said "I don't know your mom,
but my boss said you were to be put in a suicide suit in isolation due to your staph infection."  So into the suicide suit and isolation she went....

The next day was a visiting day, so Vicky went to see her. She and her husband both chatted with her. They prayed with her. Sheriff said, "Steph, I just don't know. I think she's in there, but I'm just not reading her well."  Vicky said "I refuse to give up. I have faith in God's restoration of her heart and soul and body." That night, in isolation...she started reading a book. It was the Bible.

So I had strangers praying for her; faith by these women that "God would intervene" ---a text that morning that "God was going to intervene and by 3:00 p.m. she was in a jail cell. By the next day, she was sitting a jail cell in the county jail that Vicky's husband is the Sheriff. What was happening? My "faith" started sparking interest...and it only gets even more eye opening from there....

I am talking to YOU

So on my Facebook page, I've been sharing pictures of recovering addicts who want to bravely show their fight--and sadly, the faces of loved ones, particularly young loved ones, who died due to drugs. In trying to keep my own feet to the fire, I shared a photo montage of my daughter in her various stages of addiction. I posted it approximately 36 hours ago and it has been viewed by over 200,000 people and shared by 2,000+. Yipes. Yowzers. Holy cow. Did I really do that? She had given me permission several weeks ago, but tonight she called and I fessed up that "Addi, I did it. I really did post pictures of your back and photos." She said "A pic stitch, Mom? You made me a pic stitch?" I said, "Yup. Pic stitch you are, with your chanter uniform, wrecked car, your back and ah yes--the jail photo." She said "Oh well. It is my life and I hope it helps teach others to never touch it." Me- "Yea, well--about that...it has been viewed over 200,000 times." She didn't even seemed surprised. She seems to understand much better than I do--that addiction is HUGE.

I have tried to respond to every post, every encouraging word but it gets harder each day. Thinking of adding some admins who are actual addiction counselors because some that are writing truly need help and I really am just "a mom with a blog."  Some of the messages I get make me ache. I wish there was more I could do to help these families in crisis. I love the way people are sharing their stories and others are encouraging them. That is sometimes the best therapy--is a kind word or encouragement. Some people just need to vent and I can completely appreciate that as well.

I think the thing that is striking me the most is that some of the followers are people she has tangled her life with and I see their names and think "Are they reading because they need help or is it because they want to ensure I am still blogging rather than plotting their deaths by angry mother?" It is those people I want to address:

Your friends are dying. Your friends have died. STOP. Take a look in the mirror and say "Enough is enough." Seek the help you need-and not from the Methadone Clinic. Talk to some of these wonderful people willing to help you and take it. Do you want to die alone because your low life friends cared more about their habit than you gasping your last breath of life? Is this the legacy you want to leave behind? Stop selling, trading, doing and abusing. Stop now. You are at a crossroads. Many of you are one hit away from death. Look at the faces of those that are gone and think about their families and the hell they live every single day. Ask yourself-- would you want your son or daughter live the life you are??? No, I guarantee you wouldn't. Step up and stop now.

I am talking to YOU. Stop this epidemic by changing the person in the mirror. Learn from the pain of these families.

It starts with you.

One Bad Choice

I have made a lot of poor decisions in my life. A lot. Most of us have. I remember going to parties in high school and drinking wine coolers until I threw up. I can honestly say though, I was never even offered any drugs until later in life. Way later. I had never even been offered marijuana. Maybe that naivety cursed me in a way, because when my daughter became a drug addict, I was blindsided. I think what is the most alarming now at this time is that someone can offer YOUR high schooler drugs, and they make one bad choice to try it, and they can die. DIE. Think of that for a minute. Your 9th grader is at a party and someone offers them a pill, a smoke, an injection--to just "try." Bam. The substance they tried, kills them. It's happening all over our country. It's happening in our town. Isn't that terrifying?

We must pound into the brains of our kids that ONE BAD CHOICE can kill them. We must teach our kids that their lives are in their own hands during moments of peer pressure. Further, as parents-- we need to LOCK UP MEDICATION to prevent our own children or the people who enter our homes, having access to medications.

Recently I was talking to a mom about the necessity of locking up medication. You just cannot take the chance that your post surgical meds are safe around teens. Your child may not be the type to take your pain pills or muscle relaxers--but someone else's kid may take the time to look through your cabinets in hopes of finding pills. Pill snoopers are ruthless. They will invade your privacy without remorse. My husband gave a kidney to his stepfather--a KIDNEY...and someone took his pain meds. He had been trying to resist taking them but the pain was getting unbearable and the doctor told him he must take them or the pain would increase and be unable to keep under control. When I finally talked him into taking the meds, they were gone. One muscle relaxer remained. All pain pills gone. This was during my daughter's first year of college, but she and her friends had been at our house. Talk about angry. My blood was boiling. It takes a special kind of jackwagon to steal a man's medication who just donated an organ to save his father's life. Now, I look back and realize that Jackwagon may have been my daughter.

As parents we want to believe that no one would take our meds and that our kids have sense enough to not invite someone into our home who would do such a thing--but you just never know. Lock them up and then there is no question, no opportunity so that if they decide to make a bad choice to take them--they aren't tempted by seeing them sitting in a cabinet. I'm talking muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, pain pills and especially if you are ill with cancer--do not take the chance to leave any meds freely accessible.

I've heard so many stories lately of school age kids peddling pills at the local convenient stores. Xanax and Valium they are taking straight from their parent's cabinets. Meds such as Flexiril Valium, Xanax, Ambien and pain pills. Lock 'em up.

I've been pondering so many things lately that have been messaged to me. My head is spinning with ideas and ways to keep you informed. My page started out as just a mom with a blog. I'm not a substance abuse counselor, or educated in the line of counseling--I'm simply a mom with a drug addict daughter. I want others who are qualified to help people, to speak up, so I can pass on the information. If I could cure this epidemic, I would...but I can't. I can't even cure it in my own household. What I can do, is make my story an open book so that YOU can learn from my mistakes. Hopefully you can see the warning signs I missed and take advice from things I didn't do. I didn't lock up my medication. I do now.

Thank you for your encouraging words and messages. They mean so much to me. Together, we can make a difference. I do believe that.

Kids that are reading this (and by "kids" I mean birth to age 30)--please be aware of the dangers out there right now. It can kill you after one try. Please don't let "one bad choice" become your parent's biggest nightmare. Don't allow the pressure of a "friend" to cause you to lose your life.

Please, please, heed this warning.

Stop this Madness...A Plea for Help

I know this is nothing more than a blog. Nothing more than my thoughts on paper---but to me, it's so much more than that. I'm passionate about this topic. I've watched too many friends bury their children. I've watched too many people bury their loved ones. I've watched too many people battle to stay alive and I've watched too many families destroyed by drugs. I may be annoying you all by pounding this in your brain--but IS ANYONE LISTENING???

My daughter is 28 days clean today, by the Grace of God and the Newton County Jail. She feels great, is happy and is doing fantastic. She is not on any medication of any sort and she is coping just fine. She regrets she didn't try to cold turkey route before and regrets she ever used the Methadone/Suboxone route. She's learning that a separation from negative influences, powered by the will to change and a great support group around her is a much better route for her than replacing a drug for a drug. Will she make it? Only time will tell. Today, I feel pretty good abut it. I feel she has the desire to live and learn. Again...only time will tell.

This little area of SW Missouri is taking a beating. 2 deaths in one week Why??? Why is this happening????  Do you kids, walking this addiction tightrope, see that your friends are dying? Do you even care? Is the importance of getting that "fix" more important than the life of your friend? I do not understand it. In fact, I'm angry about it.

It's time to step up, grow up and do the right thing. I know many of you suffering from addiction. It's not cool. No one admires you or wants to be you. No one thinks "Hey, this is great. He's a junkie. He steals stuff from Walmart. I want to be like him. He watches his friends die." No, no they don't feel that way. People are sick of watching this nightmare. People are sick of these little city dope peddlers killing our kids.

I know it's part of addiction but how can a substance allow you to steal from your friends, lie to your friends, and risk killing your friends? Seriously--someone explain to me how this is a fun life to lead. It's not "fun"...it's hell.

What can we do to get all of these addicts some help? Some REAL help? This area needs a detox facility and treatment center that is affordable If the Methadone Clinic really cares about these people---add on a detox facility and start getting people clean---not sicker. I've got 4 mom's looking for treatment for their children right now---where is it, JOPLIN MISSOURI?? Where can we send these people? These kids need help. These addicts need help. SPEAK UP, We can fund all these clinics to dish out drugs but cannot fund clinics to help get people detoxed safely so they can be clean? That makes a lot of sense. Maybe one of these buildings we have now in Jasper County that aren't being used should be turned into a detox center.

If you have a treatment facility please message me or list names and numbers for people to reference. We need help for people NOW. Don't refer them to another drug clinic either. Who is out there, willing to help these people become drug free?

Please don't let another one die. Please!!!!!

Answering Some of Your Questions...

I get messages every day from people I don't know personally but am starting to get accustomed to bonding with strangers in an electronic era. Several people have asked me questions that I didn't have an answer---so I went to the source to ask the people who would know best--a recovering addict. Also, some have asked me some personal questions that I have not yet answered. I am pretty open, but one of the questions, I will not answer is "Where is your daughter?" I will update you on her progress but I want to keep her treatment program private.

Here are some of the questions and answers:

1. "What was the event that occurred that made you figure out your daughter was on opiates?"

That was not a light bulb that immediately turned on. She had several car accidents in a short period of time and the first two, she was tested for alcohol (which I thought alcohol was the thing to fear) and passed a breathalyzer. She then had a terrible wreck that could have killed her--but that time she was drinking...so then I was convinced alcohol was the issue, but something was definitely "off." I started noticing white residue on her dresser and kept thinking it was baby powder. (I later discovered it was crushed pill residue). I saw scrapes or lines on her dresser--I thought it was from laying her curling iron or straightener on it. One day I found a straws, near by the white baby powder. I still didn't catch on. Then when cleaning out a drawer, looking for some answers to my suspicions of what was going on, I found empty pill bottles in a drawer and all the labels were peeled off. I made her take a drug test and she passed. A urinalysis is hard to catch opiates. You almost have to give them a test immediately upon consumption I learned. The biggest red flag to me was her lack of interest in life. She slept a lot, was careless with her belongings, breaking phones, losing phones, losing things of value, disrespecting our home and our personal belongings and very withdrawn. I still had no idea what was truly happening. Her eyes had a certain look and so one day I googled "my child's eyes look funny. I suspect drug use." It gave me the term "pin point pupils" and I knew that was "the look." She denied it and at that time refused to take a drug test. If your kid refuses to take a drug test-- its for one reason only-- they are going to fail. She used the "I cannot believe you don't believe me!" and the "I will just move out if that is how you think of me." She did move out.  So there wasn't one singular defining moment...there were a bunch. I just didn't know how to recognize it. Now I see it, but hindsight is 20/20. The heroin didn't start until she had moved out. I was not aware of that full extent for even longer. When I became aware of IV drug use, she was not living at home and basically I had little control to see her each day. "Spider bites" was always the explanation for injection sites. I caught on to that pretty fast. No one is bit by a spider that often. Duhhhh, right? I learned in family class that "spider bite" is the most often used excuse.

2. "What signs would you tell parents to look for?" I asked two women in recovery to answer that question. Both said "Change of friends and hobbies." If they suddenly stop participating in activities they have enjoyed in the past, that is a big red flag. If all of a sudden your child in band, kid on the baseball team--wants to quit--ask questions. Encourage them to keep playing and doing the things the love. Keeping them involved in healthy activities is so important. Keeping them connected to good friends is so important. Keeping an eye open on a switch of friends, is crucial.

One of the girls said also that if your child is always wanting to spend the night with a friend rather than be home, to pay close attention. She said its scarier facing your parents when you are high because you feel more guilt, and other parents wouldn't recognize odd behavior. She would advise to keep it balanced and ALWAYS know the other parents and make contact with them to ensure they are staying there.

Her exact advice was:

"For me my gosh I look back and think my goodness, the signs were so evident. I quit all sports...which I had played since 4. Big big big sign. When your teenager suddenly always wants to stay the night and do things with their friends....away from home. That's huge I think. I used to love having friends over- until I started dabbling in drugs. Then I wanted to stay at friends houses. Something about being high going back to a friends I felt I could do over my own parents. Plus I decided they were boring. Lot of parents mistake this as "there a teenager and just want to go be with their friends" this is true but if they can be with their friends at their friends homes, why not  yours? They should ask themselves that.  As a teen my parents thought I was great! But I knew what to do say and how to act in order to appear like everything was great. I lived it."

"Consequences" was another word used frequently. Like most parents, we believe our kids and want to think they tell us the truth. If you catch them in a lie, or they aren't staying where they said--ground them. Take that cell phone and cut off social media. Consequences were not something I gave my daughter enough of early on. Her behavior change was so rapid and on the heels of losing her biggest male father figure at the time (her Papa)--that I gave her way too much slack. Consequences are hard to enforce, but can save your child's life.

Know their friends. Really know them. Have them over. Talk to them.

Watch your child's social media. Watch their friends lists, watch their posts and look at pictures. Something kids of this generation do-- is air their behavior to their friends. Ask them questions about posts.  Have the passwords to their accounts and passcodes to their phones. It is NOT invading their privacy. It is keeping them safe from the ugly realities of this world. You are footing the bill. They are living under your roof. You have every right to know what they are doing. In fact, you owe them that "nosiness." Someday they will be grateful for it. Pictures tell a thousand words too. There have been times I have seen a picture pop up on a Facebook account and thought, "dang it. He looks high" or "Her eyes have those dark circles" and I have seen the pin point pupils on many kids on my own Facebook. It scares me to death for them. Note to reader--if I am talking about you and you delete me, I am telling your parents. :)  I'm not kidding. I will call them. I'm talking to you. Start talking to me if you feel comfortable. I will be happy to help you.

I look back at my son's Facebook and so many people added him that were adults that he didn't know just because they were high school football fans. 99% were fine--but that 1% was selling and giving drugs to kids. When we found out about this man, my son deleted him or blocked him.  If an adult doesn't know your child personally--they likely don't need to be "their friend."

3.  "What is the reason you believe kids start taking drugs? What causes them to ignore that voice in their head telling them it is wrong?"

My "experts" say:

" I think that category is so broad, so many kids try drugs for different reasons. Honestly I think it has a lot to do with personality of the kid in what actually starts them down that road. Me personally, it was boredom and truth seeking".

"Negative influences. Usually of the opposite sex, wanting you to "just try this."

"Low self-esteem makes most try it because they don't have the courage to stand up and say "no."

"Peer pressure. If someone at a party brings out pills or pot, or drugs, you feel pressure to do it. If you have been drinking, your inhibitions are not appropriate for making decisions. You may try something you wouldn't have."

Its important that we keep the line of communication open. I posted earlier about a family who put a sign in the yard where their daughter died from an overdose.  That is powerful. It keeps people talking That is what needs to happen. Start talking. Ask questions. Don't think it cannot be your child.

On a good note, my daughter has 26 clean days now. I just got out my calendar to make sure my days were accurate. She said she feels fantastic. She is completely free of any opiate, drug, or "opiate blocker" (suboxone and methodone, which we all know I think is a joke). That is for another blog (again).  She is in great spirits and I love the therapeutic setting. She called yesterday for me to send her some riding boots for equine therapy. She is doing well. Day by day. Minute by minute. She can do it. I have faith in her again. God has restored my faith. I've not been a particularly religious person---but I WILL tell you...God can work wonders in your life if you will let go and let it happen. I believe in the power of prayer. Thank you for yours.


As for your questions--keep asking them. I will try to get answers for anything you ask-- I may not know the answer, but will ask someone who does. Keep talking to your kids. Keep speaking up. The conversation has started. Let's keep it going.