Grief Share at your local church

Eventually we all experience the grief and tragedy of a personal loss, family, friend, or neighbor. Leigh and I can speak from experience about this, not only from the loss of family and friends, but also from the loss of our son, Mark, on June 1, 2019. He was taken too soon from us, from his family and friends. There is one word of hope and advice we could offer to those going through this continuing grief journey:  

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

This needs to be shouted from the rooftops and broadcast through the air - just when the grief seems to be taking over, and all is hopeless, you are not alone.

There are many groups available to help us through this journey. One is at Grief Share. This group usually meets in churches, and for many is a readily available local source. 

Why recommend it? Good question. This is a faith based meeting where one can speak plainly, or not at all, and give and receive guidance that meets that day's needs. It is also a local resource to many. 

Here's how to find out which groups meet near where you live. Grief Share offers a searchable directory of groups at this site:  Find A Group. For example, if you live near Albany, NY there are 9 groups which meet during the week. These schedules do change so it is best to check the Find A Group link.

Leigh and I hope this helps you along your journey. God bless and keep you.

Lessons Learned and Shared

 Life has a way of happening - sounds rather trite, doesn't it? Yet when we engage in conversations with others, our stories begin to take on a clarity, and a purpose, that is undiscovered until we share the adventures, some of which were fantastic, others of which were tragic. 

Our son, Mark, passed away seven years ago. This seems like just yesterday, and forever ago. In the course of a doctor's appointment, the provider and I shared our stories about loved ones passing from overdose and addiction.

It seemed only right - a great way to honor our Mark - to offer to this gentleman Leigh and mine shared experiences from leading the group Missing Angels. 

Has this been a difficult journey? YES IT HAS! The good that could come from this tragic event has to come from supporting others who have lost a loved one to addiction.

Mark's Voice must continue, and must be heard.

Grief Strikes When it Will

This may not seem self-evident; grief will take a hold of us anytime and anyplace. Perhaps nonsensical, or overstated, until this deep level of unshakable grief is experienced, and then it becomes very, very real.

Monstrance for displaying the Eucharist

Leigh and I were at Mass on Saturday at St. Mary's RC Church in Holley, just minutes from where we live. This is our home Church, and we love the Mass, the Eucharist, and the priests. Each Mass can be dedicated to someone who has passed, either family or friend, as a reminder to us to pray for that person's soul, and for their family. Peace and comfort for the loss of a loved one is a very common prayer, as is praying for their soul should their soul be in purgatory.

Leigh and I were discussing having a Mass said for our son, Mark. He passed on June 1, 2019, while we were away from home. Not two sentences into this conversation and WHAM! it felt as though someone had punched me in the gut, and then the tears started. 

Imagine sitting in Church, at the theater, at a family gathering and such abject grief hitting you like a brick! Some would say grief will dissipate over time - for them maybe - but for Leigh and I - not until we see our Savior and our Mark will we experience true relief and healing.

 

The Town Herald - Again

 The 'opioid crisis' has its roots in the 1990's according to some sources. Opioid use has been with us for centuries - the first 'opium dens' had their roots in the Far East, Afghanistan or Pakistan, and eventually made their way to China, and then the West. Opioids do have their place - pain relief - which helps some, and destroys other.

Senator Chuck Schumer is at it again, but this time, instead of just mouthing platitudes, may be on track to start meaningful sanctions against the two biggest producers and exporters of synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, car-fentanyl, ketamine, etc., Mexico and China! (The State Department advises against travels to these countries - there is no surprise!)

We are in a war, a war for the lives of our children. Leigh and I fought hard and long for our son, Mark. Opioids, cheap opioids like synthetic fentanyl, were the victors - this time! It is about time our Federal Government takes the first meaningful steps to stop the import of these deadly drugs.

Economic sanctions should not be the only steps taken - these may prove ineffective. A war is not won with sanctions or appeasement alone - ask Prime Minister Chamberlain. There are times when real patriots must take their stand - stand their ground and defend their loved ones!

The Senator's proposal has passed the Senate, and the House should take up this bill. It is about time! Here are links to the news - https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/schumer-urges-house-to-take-up-bill-that-imposes-sanctions-on-countries-that-fail-to-crack-down-on-synthetic-opioid-production/ and a Western New York/Orleans County perspective.

Please pray these measures are enacted into law, and that they are effective. It is time to take the fight to the exporters of these poisons!

The Price of the Gold Standard

 The medical Gold Standard for treating opioid addiction is with the use of medications, like Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone). Cash prices for this prescription medicine range from $87 to $209 CASH, after having paid for a doctor's visit to a doctor who is qualified to dispense Suboxone. 

Do you think maybe the doctor charges extra for this service as extra training is required? For the love of Pete (whoever he is!) - what extra training? 

Oh yes - another Government mandate - there are too many of these boondoggles!

Folks with an addiction who want to change their lifestyle and habits, all too often find it less expensive to continue using. It is not a matter of will power, personality, or any other factor - money, money, money. 

Cash to pay the doctor. Cash to buy the medicine. Cash for a repeat visit. Cash! Cash! Cash! And then cash to buy more dope.

So much money has been allocated over the years, and is spent continually each year through law enforcement funding, attorney general funding (AG James and Narco Ring), local attorneys, etc. etc. etc. to combat the OPIOD CRISIS. (The Real Cost). $5.5 Billion in the Federal budget last year, $1.5 billion this year.

Using GOODRX.com, $1.5 billion would provide 44,117,647 doses of Suboxone each year - FREE. This number does not include the monies spent at the state level each year as noted previously.

Isn't it about time that someone in charge takes harm reduction through medicine to the next real level?

How many more need to die!

Has it been that long?

June 1, 2019

Has it really been that long since you have been gone? It seems just like yesterday. We shared this the other night as we lay together in bed. How long has it been? The pain and grief has not diminished - not one bit - still aching, burning. 

Some days are somewhat okay, others are just plain horrible. We pray for peace and comfort, only finding grace in the promise of a joyful reunion in the future.

Has it really been that long?

 

Suffering for God

 

The saints, true saints, have a different perspective on suffering than us 'mere mortal' Christians. Saint Padre Pio said that only through suffering can our soul say with certainty that we do love God.

Does any one of us truly seek suffering? Suffering comes our way in living our life with all the bad moments. Some suffering continues for years, especially with the loss of a loved one to addiction or disease. 

It could be that saints are given a gift of more tolerance for suffering. When trials come which cause suffering, this may be God's chosen method to prepare us to become more like the saints and martyrs.