Happy, hopeful + optimistic
get it, give it, grow in it
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calif coast
Posts: 3,167
Happy, hopeful + optimistic
I am happy! My 23 yr.old son is IN !!!! My son has a chance. He made a big decision this week. I pray that he sticks it out and chooses life. I am optimistic. I love him and don't want to lose him. Addiction stole my son when he was just a child. Today I am hopeful.
I just returned last night from driving him to a one yr. treatment facility in another state. Being tenacious paid off.
He went to inpatient two times in 2003. Since 2004, I've been steadfast in encouraging him to go for long-term treatment which caused estrangement for long stretches of time.. Exactly one yr. ago we held a formal intervention. In the last 6 mos. he had told me he would go a couple of times as manipulation. Finally, last Friday I told him if he didn't enter this Monday
Feb. 25, there would be NO more offers to finance treatment. That for my own recovery I had to totally step away from his sobriety. I told him about a free Salvation Army program and that I would support him in any way that he chose sobriety in the future, but beyond Monday he would have to do it totally on his own. He finally admitted his life isn't working and made the wise decision to take my offer of extended rehab.
Years ago, before I ever knew my son would become an addict, there was a public service announcement tht I never forgot. It stated,
"DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET BETWEEN YOUR KID AND DRUGS"
Since then I added "WHILE SEEKING MY OWN RECOVERY and DETACHING AS NECESSARY FOR MY OWN SERENITY"
I just returned last night from driving him to a one yr. treatment facility in another state. Being tenacious paid off.
He went to inpatient two times in 2003. Since 2004, I've been steadfast in encouraging him to go for long-term treatment which caused estrangement for long stretches of time.. Exactly one yr. ago we held a formal intervention. In the last 6 mos. he had told me he would go a couple of times as manipulation. Finally, last Friday I told him if he didn't enter this Monday
Feb. 25, there would be NO more offers to finance treatment. That for my own recovery I had to totally step away from his sobriety. I told him about a free Salvation Army program and that I would support him in any way that he chose sobriety in the future, but beyond Monday he would have to do it totally on his own. He finally admitted his life isn't working and made the wise decision to take my offer of extended rehab.
Years ago, before I ever knew my son would become an addict, there was a public service announcement tht I never forgot. It stated,
"DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET BETWEEN YOUR KID AND DRUGS"
Since then I added "WHILE SEEKING MY OWN RECOVERY and DETACHING AS NECESSARY FOR MY OWN SERENITY"
Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Jungle
Posts: 5,435
Spiritual Seeker
Thank you for sharing this. I am so very happy for you and for your son. The public service announcement was by Carrol O'Connor (played Archie Bunker). Here is an interesting blurb on him.
O'Connor married his wife Nancy in Dublin, Ireland (and she later converted to Roman Catholicism for him) in 1951, and their only child, adopted son Hugh O'Connor, committed suicide in 1995 after a long battle with drug addiction. Hugh left a widow and small child behind. O'Connor appeared in public service announcements for Partnership for a Drug Free America and spent the rest of his life working to raise awareness about drug addiction. After Hugh's death, O'Connor successfully lobbied to get the State of California to pass legislation that allows family members of an addicted person or anyone injured by a drug dealer's actions, including employers, to sue for reimbursement for medical treatment and rehabilitation costs. The law, known as the Drug Dealer Civil Liability Act in California, went into effect in 1997.
Eleven other states followed with similar legislation, which has been referred to as The Hugh O'Connor Memorial Law.
In April 1997 the Florida Senate unanimously passed The Hugh O'Connor Memorial Act, which allows people injured by drug dealers to sue for damages
I also remember that public service announcement and it has rung through my mind a million times (perhaps more).
My thoughts any prayers are with you and your son. I hope that the depth of the program reaches him and helps him to find that a clean and sober life is a better life.
big big big hugs to you
Thank you for sharing this. I am so very happy for you and for your son. The public service announcement was by Carrol O'Connor (played Archie Bunker). Here is an interesting blurb on him.
O'Connor married his wife Nancy in Dublin, Ireland (and she later converted to Roman Catholicism for him) in 1951, and their only child, adopted son Hugh O'Connor, committed suicide in 1995 after a long battle with drug addiction. Hugh left a widow and small child behind. O'Connor appeared in public service announcements for Partnership for a Drug Free America and spent the rest of his life working to raise awareness about drug addiction. After Hugh's death, O'Connor successfully lobbied to get the State of California to pass legislation that allows family members of an addicted person or anyone injured by a drug dealer's actions, including employers, to sue for reimbursement for medical treatment and rehabilitation costs. The law, known as the Drug Dealer Civil Liability Act in California, went into effect in 1997.
Eleven other states followed with similar legislation, which has been referred to as The Hugh O'Connor Memorial Law.
In April 1997 the Florida Senate unanimously passed The Hugh O'Connor Memorial Act, which allows people injured by drug dealers to sue for damages
I also remember that public service announcement and it has rung through my mind a million times (perhaps more).
My thoughts any prayers are with you and your son. I hope that the depth of the program reaches him and helps him to find that a clean and sober life is a better life.
big big big hugs to you
get it, give it, grow in it
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calif coast
Posts: 3,167
I am pleased to share that My son just completed one week ( one down fifty-one to go )
of his year long inpatient treatment ctr.
His caseworker called yesterday to report that my son is following directions, a hard worker and admitting that he wants to change his life.
Hip Hip Hooray, today he is getting better; today I am optimistic that his life can be saved.
of his year long inpatient treatment ctr.
His caseworker called yesterday to report that my son is following directions, a hard worker and admitting that he wants to change his life.
Hip Hip Hooray, today he is getting better; today I am optimistic that his life can be saved.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 20
Spiritual Seeker,
I am sooooooo happy for you. This news about your son is great, but you getting healthy is even better. The key here is we need to all get to a place where we are fine no matter what they do. You did everything right, and as a result, he is now in treatment, somethings you said must have made him realize that you meant it.I am sooooooo proud of you and my brother 38, just graduated from a program and is now on staff helping others!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God is soooooo good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sooooooo happy for you. This news about your son is great, but you getting healthy is even better. The key here is we need to all get to a place where we are fine no matter what they do. You did everything right, and as a result, he is now in treatment, somethings you said must have made him realize that you meant it.I am sooooooo proud of you and my brother 38, just graduated from a program and is now on staff helping others!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God is soooooo good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
get it, give it, grow in it
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calif coast
Posts: 3,167
No news is good news. Day 12 today. My son can't contact me for 6 weeks.
It is interesting how my perspective has changed in the last 5 yrs. since he graduated high school. Before I would have been so proud to say my son is away at college.
I've been ashamed because instead he got entrenched in addiction.
I really am proud today to tell others that my son went away to long term rehab. He is exactly where he needs to be. I'm trying to change some things about myself and I am learning that change is not easy. It takes courage and a lot of grit to commit oneself to long-term treatment to recover from addiction.
My son's potential is not lost.
It is interesting how my perspective has changed in the last 5 yrs. since he graduated high school. Before I would have been so proud to say my son is away at college.
I've been ashamed because instead he got entrenched in addiction.
I really am proud today to tell others that my son went away to long term rehab. He is exactly where he needs to be. I'm trying to change some things about myself and I am learning that change is not easy. It takes courage and a lot of grit to commit oneself to long-term treatment to recover from addiction.
My son's potential is not lost.
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