Today has been one of my best days since I lost Addison. My mother and I were escorted by a FABULOUS TN lobbyist, and new friend Ms. Lindsay Craig throughout, around, up, down, and everywhere in between the State Capitol building today. It was by far the busiest day I have had in the last two months, both exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time.
HUGE thanks not only to Lindsay for ALL her help, but to Endo Pharmaceuticals for allowing me to help in the passing of this bill. I must also thank each person working in the legislative system that took the time to meet and talk with us today:
Senator Doug Overbey
Representative Bill Dunn
Senator Randy McNally
Senator Roy Herron
Representative Mike Turner
Representative Sherry Jones
Representative Ryan Haynes
Representative Glen Casada
Representative Matthew Hill
See how busy we were!!! Lindsay introduced us to COUNTLESS others in the hallways coming to and from our meetings and we were greeted and accepted with such kindness and sensitivity.
I will be testifying for Endo Pharmaceuticals next Tuesday, March 13.
Throughout the day, and especially on our ride home, God has really started to reveal His plan to me through all of this. Though it doesn't make me miss Addison ANY LESS, I will miss him everyday for the rest of my life - there IS a reason for such a tragedy, and it will be used for good. Addison had hoped to graduate with a degree in Psychology and one day become a therapist in order to help others. I am sure that he would have been great at that, and would have enjoyed it, and would have impacted many lives. But what I am realizing is, though he died at such a young age and it seems that he never had the chance to fulfill that goal - through his death and the doors that have been opened for me through the legislative system, Addison is now going to be able to EXPONENTIALLY increase the number of lives that he impacts by "saving their lives." Of course my mother and I are the ones running around everywhere, but it is BECAUSE of Addison, and the TIMING of Addison's death that will allow him to do a greater work than he could have ever achieved on earth. God is going to use HIS life, HIS story, HIS addiction, HIS death, and MY voice to help SO many people.
Changes are coming, and I hope that all of you will continue to share this page, and my brother's name - ADDISON, and be as happy and hopeful as I am today that this WILL make a difference. This is such an opportunity, and it is only the FIRST step, of many steps to come.
Like I have said before, I am not and have NEVER been ashamed of my brother because of his addiction. I am PROUD of him for fighting as hard as he did against it.
PLEASE remember - if we don't TALK about this epidemic that probably has or is affecting at least one person that you know, we CAN'T FIX IT.
DO NOT BE ASHAMED OF ADDICTION!!!!! I am so happy for the emails and messages I have received from so many people sharing their personal stories with me, some of them sharing it for the very first time because the shame that surrounds addiction has kept them silent. PLEASE don't be silent anymore! Talk to your family, talk to your friends, talk to your pastors, talk to me! I answer EACH and EVERY email or message I get because people fighting this battle need to be heard, without judgment, but with care, love, and compassion.
I will continue to let you all know how things are going as they progress, but my final thank you is to EVERYONE on this page, and everyone that has and continues to share it. The awareness that we have created JUST by being here and talking about it is making a difference already. Our collective voices ARE being heard! :)))))
Thank you for ALL the prayers - God has obviously heard each and everyone of them.
Today, more than ever, I can look at one of the many pictures I have of Addison (and though he cannot hear me) I can smile and say "I'm proud of you bro. We are getting ready to do something big me and you; You really are going to make a difference - bigger, and better, and farther reaching than you could have ever imagined...."
HUGE thanks not only to Lindsay for ALL her help, but to Endo Pharmaceuticals for allowing me to help in the passing of this bill. I must also thank each person working in the legislative system that took the time to meet and talk with us today:
Senator Doug Overbey
Representative Bill Dunn
Senator Randy McNally
Senator Roy Herron
Representative Mike Turner
Representative Sherry Jones
Representative Ryan Haynes
Representative Glen Casada
Representative Matthew Hill
See how busy we were!!! Lindsay introduced us to COUNTLESS others in the hallways coming to and from our meetings and we were greeted and accepted with such kindness and sensitivity.
I will be testifying for Endo Pharmaceuticals next Tuesday, March 13.
Throughout the day, and especially on our ride home, God has really started to reveal His plan to me through all of this. Though it doesn't make me miss Addison ANY LESS, I will miss him everyday for the rest of my life - there IS a reason for such a tragedy, and it will be used for good. Addison had hoped to graduate with a degree in Psychology and one day become a therapist in order to help others. I am sure that he would have been great at that, and would have enjoyed it, and would have impacted many lives. But what I am realizing is, though he died at such a young age and it seems that he never had the chance to fulfill that goal - through his death and the doors that have been opened for me through the legislative system, Addison is now going to be able to EXPONENTIALLY increase the number of lives that he impacts by "saving their lives." Of course my mother and I are the ones running around everywhere, but it is BECAUSE of Addison, and the TIMING of Addison's death that will allow him to do a greater work than he could have ever achieved on earth. God is going to use HIS life, HIS story, HIS addiction, HIS death, and MY voice to help SO many people.
Changes are coming, and I hope that all of you will continue to share this page, and my brother's name - ADDISON, and be as happy and hopeful as I am today that this WILL make a difference. This is such an opportunity, and it is only the FIRST step, of many steps to come.
Like I have said before, I am not and have NEVER been ashamed of my brother because of his addiction. I am PROUD of him for fighting as hard as he did against it.
PLEASE remember - if we don't TALK about this epidemic that probably has or is affecting at least one person that you know, we CAN'T FIX IT.
DO NOT BE ASHAMED OF ADDICTION!!!!! I am so happy for the emails and messages I have received from so many people sharing their personal stories with me, some of them sharing it for the very first time because the shame that surrounds addiction has kept them silent. PLEASE don't be silent anymore! Talk to your family, talk to your friends, talk to your pastors, talk to me! I answer EACH and EVERY email or message I get because people fighting this battle need to be heard, without judgment, but with care, love, and compassion.
I will continue to let you all know how things are going as they progress, but my final thank you is to EVERYONE on this page, and everyone that has and continues to share it. The awareness that we have created JUST by being here and talking about it is making a difference already. Our collective voices ARE being heard! :)))))
Thank you for ALL the prayers - God has obviously heard each and everyone of them.
Today, more than ever, I can look at one of the many pictures I have of Addison (and though he cannot hear me) I can smile and say "I'm proud of you bro. We are getting ready to do something big me and you; You really are going to make a difference - bigger, and better, and farther reaching than you could have ever imagined...."
We also lost my niece Jan. 5th this year to an over dose. You are way ahead of what we are trying to do! What can we do to help you? We are here.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sherry - my grandmother told me about you and your niece - I'm so sorry. I'm so happy to have so many supporters and so many people to talk to, but I absolutely hate what we have in common. What you can do is just keep sharing Addison's Facebook page, just hit the share button every time you get on Facebook and let everyone know to keep spreading it around. Then you can tell everyone you know that is not on facebook about this blog, because I post the same information on both. Sometimes I am informed on certain people in the legislative system that need emails from other people that support my mission and have suffered from this battle as well, but keep everyone informed about stuff like that. Just pray for us, and everyone one this page and the facebook page that Nashville continues to listen to me. I had such a great response on my last visit, and now that I have my foot in the door I think it will continue to be a success. Feel free to share anything you like about your experience on either page. It is a place where people can talk about addiction without any judgment and are treated with care and compassion. Talking about it, and leaving the SHAME behind is the only way we can get this fixed. Hiding behind being embarrassed doesn't solve anything so please feel free to be open about anything that you are concerned about and know that no one will come back with an ugly response. Both pages have become a safe place for people to express how they feel and what they are going through - its sort of like an extended family in a way. Thank you for visiting and supporting both pages, we WILL get this solved I promise you of that. Keep sharing - and keep praying and I'm so sorry for your loss I truly do know how horrible it is.
ReplyDeleteJessica