Subject: Good evening ladies and gentlemen;
PAST THE SEEKER AS HE PRAYED CAME THE CRIPPLED AND THE BEGGAR AND THE BEATEN AND SEEING THEM … HE CRIED, “GREAT GOD. HOW IS IT THAT A LOVING CREATOR CAN SEE SUCH THINGS AND YET DO NOTHING ABOUT THEM?” GOD SAID, “I DID DO SOMETHING. I MADE YOU.”
I was asked here today to talk to you about how my family relates to both yourselves and this recovery centre. I toiled over what needed to be said and varied between actually talking about my family’s life living with an addict, my son, and god rest his soul or even myself. I came to the conclusion that it is not about me, that is actually about you and what you have in your power to do. It is about what this recovery centre actually does here for your family, your friends, your neighbours, your community and more than anything your fellow man who is desperate need of help.
You have all ventured into these buildings and you have all seen and heard what this camp does for its clients on a day to day basis, but what you do not see and what you do not feel, is the gift that it delivers each and every day. It is the gift of hope and love. It is not only given freely to the clients but more than anything it is given to the families. To those that have lived in the darkness or the shadow of the addiction. I call it the collateral damage that is left behind to sweep up the discarded dreams and visions that we all have for our children. It is given to the Mom’s, Dad’s, husbands and wives that have had their marriages stretched to the limit, the countless sleepless nights staying up and worrying. It is the elimination of desperation, exhaustion, helplessness and loneliness that it felt by each and every one of us that has been touched by addiction.
You have all more or less received not only the invite to this open house but received an information package that details the client, the progress and accomplishments. You have all observed the day-to-day regimen that the client follows on their road to recovery. You have met all of the staff and familiarized yourselves with their day-to-day responsibilities. You see before you the only private treatment centre in Central Alberta.
What you don’t see and what is not included in your info packages is the love and kindness that is shown to each and every client. What you do not see is the connection that is established here. Everyone and I mean everyone that enters into this centre becomes family in every meaning of the word. What is not written about and what is not talked about is the extra mile that this staff goes to in showing its patients that they are loved and that they do make a difference.
My son entered this facility a lost and broken soul with no self esteem, ashamed, embarrassed and sad. I, as a father would sit alone and pray at night for help, for I had lost my son and did not know how to get him back. My wife and I had struggled for 3 years, exhausting every resource available at the time in trying to get Taylor help. When we were told that he might be able to get help in a long-term facility but it could take 3 months to get him in, we were heartbroken. We families that have endured this struggle know that when the time arrives when our loved one approaches us for help, it is immediate for time is not on our side. Although Taylor was not quite 18 yet, Jim listened to our story and after talking with our son, decided to admit him. In the five weeks of Taylor’s recovery, we could see our son coming back. We watched his growth and it climaxed on the day of his graduation when a young man stood up full of confidence, humour, pride and exuberance and addressed everyone at the ceremony with his head held high. I cried that day. I could not have been more proud or thankful. My words cannot express the feelings of a mother and father has at that moment but if you were there, you could see it.
What you do not see is the follow up phone calls from Jim just to see how he is doing.
What you do not see is Jim Maclean showing up at our doorstep every weekend with a car full of graduates to pick up my son and take him to meetings, to be followed with a coffee afterwards. What you do not see is Jim and Jim, the first ones to rush into the hospital when Taylor hurt himself to offer their support and to hug and console my wife.
What you do not see is Jim inviting my son back out to the camp to “plug” himself back in and recharge himself, to remind him that it is okay and he is loved. What you do not see is Jim and Jim taking time out of their day to actually sit with my family and actually show a care about how we as a family are doing. What you do not hear about is Jim Maclean driving in from his home to arrive at my doorstep to pick up my son and taking him to the camp with only one concern, to get Taylor help. What you do not see is Jim Gray after losing a loved one himself, racing down to the camp and admitting Taylor on a Saturday afternoon regardless of his feelings at the time and hugging my son in a welcome back after a relapse. When I expressed my concern about the extra costs of admittance, his only concern was for my son. And what you do not hear about is how Jim Gray stood up at my son’s funeral and sent a clear message to the over 600 people in attendance about addiction. His words that day did make a difference. You did not see the burden of pain my oldest son felt at not feeling he was there for his brother and how Jim Gray sat on our couch and talked to him. You did not witness the sense of relief he felt at Jim’s words. You have all heard of the work of the Good Samaritan. Well it is happening here, where despite this being a private center; people have been taken in and helped regardless of their financial situation, straight out of Jim’s pocket. Most importantly what you do not see or hear about is how this camp with its staff have helped a mother and father deal with the most painful traumatic experience anyone has to endure, the loss of their child. They have adopted us and I thank them today for that.
Kim and I have sat out here and watched other patients and their families upon their graduation talk. We have witnessed the good that is carried out here. We have heard and seen new lives emerge and more than anything we have seen families’ leave with glimmers of light in their eyes, their faces beaming. If Taylor were here today and if you were to ask if I would bring him back despite everything that has happened in our life, my answer would be “in a heartbeat”. Taylor loved it here, he felt he belonged here and when he needed to be removed to a safe place; this is where he would ask to come. Central Alberta Recovery is a gift that should not be wasted but should be endorsed and supported for at this place people in need are being saved, families in desperation are being saved, marriages are being saved, fathers are being saved, valued employees are being saved, communities are being saved and more than anything this place born out of love is in a small way showing the world that yes, there is still goodness at the heart of man.
The dictionary describes stigma as, “a mark of disgrace, and an unfavorable reputation”.
This common public misconception outside of the direct families involved and the medical profession must be erased. This is a treatable disease and must only be looked at as such. This is not about the morally corrupt and weak. It is only through education and public awareness through open houses such as this can we remove this stigma that prevents many addicts from getting the help they need. If you do not know, read up and learn. Ignorance is a weakness and only holds a close association with the addiction itself.
It is part of the problem not the solution.
The dictionary describes tool as, “any device or implement used to carry out a particular function.” This program teaches the patient on how to use certain tools in order to function in a positive, contributable way in life. It provides the patient with safeguards, analysis of situations, self worth, avoidance and abstinence. It uses these tools to fix what is broken in a kind and loving way. What the client does with these tools is up to them, just as each and every one of us does in every day life. It assimilates the client into the everyday world in which we live. Today when you leave here, know that you now have one more tool in your chest to battle this disease. It is called Central Alberta Recovery Center.
The dictionary describes hope as, “feeling of expectation and desire for something to happen”. As a parent, need I say more? After years of struggle, heartache and defeat, I cannot tell how important this word is in one’s life. Addiction is an illness like any other that only has one outcome. This center offers a cure to this disease where once it was felt to be incurable.
The dictionary describes gift as, “a thing given freely, to endow”. This center is the gift but you have the power to give; only you can be the bearer of this gift. Help a family today, help a person in need today, for although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.
This is your gift.
Please use it.
What is family? The dictionary describes family as a social unit consisting of a man and woman and their offspring, a group of people sharing a common ancestry, all the members of a household, a group of like things & class. Everywhere we look we see family, our neighbours, our city and towns, our business, our friends and even here at this camp for that is what it is out here, a gathering of people under one roof, with one common goal bonded by love. It is not only our right and our responsibility to nurture and protect these many families that we belong to, but it is our duty.
I have seen what this recovery center can do. Addiction today grows exponentially to the point where it has touched us all in one way or another, in numbers never seen before and in ages that are unimaginable. Our government is doing all it can but the system is overloaded to the point where there are waiting periods for treatment. Care must be immediate like any other disease and this recovery center provides yet another necessary and vital response to saving lives. When you leave here today, know that you can make a difference and that it can be made right here in your own back yard. We must cross the bridge that separates public addiction treatment and private addiction treatment. This is a war that must be fought as one with one common goal, to save lives. We need to educate starting at home, remove the stigma attached to addiction and recognize it as a disease.
We need insurance companies to cover treatment and most importantly we need our government to assist private treatment centers in offsetting the huge costs associated with the recovery process. To tell a family that there is a 2 to 3 month waiting list is not only heart wrenching to the family in need but to the counsellors who have devoted their lives to helping people. I know, for I have lived it. For the community, every addict in recovery decreases the associated crime rates, the breakup of the family unit, the divorce rates. As a community, how many tax dollars are spent towards addiction related situations like vandalism, theft, assaults, and break and enters, the criminal justice system, policing, health care, special education, child and family services and income support programs. Compare this to the costs of subsidizing or at the very least getting a life in need the help they desperately seek. You cannot even look at it as one life saved but that of many, for the addiction spreads it fingers out to touch anyone related to this person.
I have witnessed what addiction can do and I have held my son in my arms while it took his life. If I can prevent the pain and suffering that we had to endure for just one family, then my mission is complete. Recognize the goodness here, see the difference that can be made and as a family let us make a difference. Please support this facility and the difference it can make.
The bible states “Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone.”
“Use every chance you have for doing good.” “Whenever you possibly can, do good to those that need it. Never tell your neighbor to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.”
Spread the word, support, acknowledge and help to ensure that at least one life, at least one family, at least one child, regardless of age, for we are all someone’s child, will have hope for tomorrow.
Thank you and god bless…
