Devastsating News Just Now

[SiouzQ.]

My daughter just called me to tell me that her best friend from high school (the one she used to get into a lot of trouble with) just OD'd and died from a heroin overdose last night. I'm just so devastated for my daughter because she is in a lot of emotional pain; she has been clean and sober herself through AA for the last three years (however with one relapse with this same friend). I am so very grateful that my daughter cut off contact with this friend when she knew that hanging around her would endanger her sobriety, but that must be so very painful to have done that to save herself. My daughter has lost about four people she knows to drugs and alcohol in the last few months ~ her former roommate died about two months ago from a suspected pill overdose a few months after she made her move out of the house.

It's a lot for a 22 year old to handle and it strikes fear in my heart She has been doing so well, but the other week she ended up in pysch ER because she had been having problems with her medication and was experiencing severe depression due to her bi-polar illness.

It's hard to know what to do except just be there for her and reinforce her doing the right things to keep herself safe and clean. I keep thinking about this poor girl's family; her parent's have been raising her infant son ever since the boyfriend was arrested for child abuse soon after the baby was born, and the girl couldn't function enough to be a mother to her baby. It has been such a sad, sad situation all along and now this...

Please keep my daughter in your thoughts that she is emotionally strong enough to weather another round of sad news.

[danna]

SiouzQ.....sending my best thoughts to you, your daughter and this girls family. So hard to stay strong in these times,
but you are right there is only so much you can do...letting her know you are there for her is one of the best ones.
Remember to take care of yourself.

[Float On]

SQ, prayers for your daughter that she will gain strength and determination through this time.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

What sad news. You're right, about all you can do is keep supporting and reinforcing your daughter's own recovery. May she have the strength to continue her new path.

[SiouzQ.]

I have decided to go to an A-Anon meeting today. This is bringing up so much emotion for me because it very well could have been (or could be) my daughter. I am still working through all the crap I went through from the time she was 13 to now and know all that stress changed me in fundamental ways. I do think I have and still may have PTSD; I can't stop thinking about the dreaded phone call those parents got last night and I much I feared (and still fear) the phone call in the middle of the night that brings the worst news imaginable.

[iris lilies]

I hope that you and your daughter can achieve peace, that inner turmoil will go away and that you'll find some meaning in this tragic event, difficult though that will be.

[lmerullo]

Prayers, SQ...

[razz]

Thinking of each enfolded in love - you, your daughter and her friends. and their families. Sad to see this degree of pain.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Wishing the best for you both. Rob

[Florence]

How sad for everyone.

[Gardenarian]

SO sorry for your daughter and her friend and her family.

[SiouzQ.]

I just clicked on our local news site and the news is getting worse. Two men are being arrested for moving the poor gir's body and dumping her and hiding her under a bush. I just texted my daughter to warn her about the story and that it is very upsetting but wanted her to be prepared so she didn't just run across it by happenstance. There are a lot of unanswered questions at this point but my guess is that she OD'd in the company of these men (dealers?) and they freaked out and tried to get rid of the evidence. So horribly tragic. I haven't heard from my daughter since this morning, as far as I know she is at work.

[cdttmm]

Oh SiouzQ that's just terrible. But I'm glad you saw the story first and were able to warn your daughter as this is probably very difficult for her. Sending you and your daughter positive vibes.

[Kestra]

What a tragedy for everyone involved. You and your daughter are in my thoughts.

[catherine]

This is horrible.. I'm so sorry, SQ.

I have tons of addiction in my family, but heroin is so frightening to me. It seems so unforgiving. I pray for both you and your daughter.

[mschrisgo2]

Prayers for everyone involved.

[Karma]

Al-anon is a great place for you to be, you can't do anything about this or fix your daughter. You can pray that this will help her realize that she is on the right path.

[SiouzQ.]

My daughter seems to be doing pretty good through this tough time; she went to her friend's memorial service on Wednesday and grieved with the girl's family and friends, spoke loving words about her friend and how much she meant to her, went to a special dinner, and ended the day at an AA meeting. As she said to me, the only way through it is to go through it and cry and feel and accept.

I am doing okay too, though I find myself thinking a lot about this family and what they are going through. The Al-Anon meeting I went to the other day was good; I found myself finally making a connection about something I have been going through the past few years and how it is most likely the by-product of being a mom to a kid who was addicted to drugs and mayhem. I think I may be ready to deal with some of this stuff.

There was a beautiful rainbow the evening of this girl's memorial service and I can't help but think that she is up there somewhere in a better placer, maybe finally at peace. As much hurt her parents are feeling, at least they now know where she is; I can't help but think that there is a peace of mind for them too. It's finally over for them.