These early days are the hardest
From Claire Perkins –
Dear Judi and Karen,
I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful children to drugs. My son was 26 when he died of an overdose 5 1/2 years ago. The first months are horrible – I remember them well. People who haven’t been through this with their own children just don’t get that they were not just “addicts” or “homeless” or “bad” people – these were our babies and we loved them and cared for them despite the way drugs changed them. I know that my words could never take away your pain. I just want to reach out from 5+ years out and say to you that these early days are the hardest, that it will get better with time, that I know your children were wonderful, loving souls so full of potential, and that your love for them (and theirs for you) will never die. What helped me the most was to be able to tell my story to people who were supportive and non-judgmental and to write, write, write in my journal. I also found healing through art – somehow it was easier to express what I was feeling through drawing and simple magazine collage than through words. I’m not talking about the kind of art you’d frame and hang in a museum – I am talking about raw expression of anger, guilt, grief, pain, helplessness. I found it extremely therapeutic. I send you love and hugs as a companion on this difficult journey. May you find peace.
