A Family Crisis and a Happy Ending
Every person, every family, has times of crisis. It’s how we deal with those times that either make or break the individual or family unit involved.
As with all things, every person involved views the situation from a different perspective. Today I would like to share a very personal family crisis with you, which I hope will be a source of education, encouragement, and inspiration for you.
The Crisis:
June 2, 2016, we received a telephone call from Melissa, our daughter-in-law. The previous night Brian, our son, had been “acting strangely.” Thinking it was a reaction to a new medication, she took him to the Emergency Room for evaluation. The test results were not what she or any of us would have anticipated. Brian had a high level of alcohol and marijuana in his system. When Melissa questioned Brian about this, he admitted to the alcohol use but three times denied the marijuana use, even though the tests were conclusive. Because of the lying, not the substance abuse, Melissa took Brian to a hotel, dropped him off, and called us to go pick him up.
When my husband, Rick, and I picked Brian up, he was embarrassed and remorseful. But he was also glad he had “gotten caught.” He admitted to drinking secretly for 2 years. He said he had tried to stop multiple times and couldn’t. He was afraid to admit the trouble he was in, afraid Melissa would leave him, afraid of being so out of control. But now it was out. We all knew. and he could seek the help he knew he needed.
Brian lived with us for 3 months, while attending Alcoholics Anonymous every single morning and attending a Substance Abuse Program 4 hours every afternoon. He called home every morning to speak with Owen, who was 2 at the time. Brian drove the 311-mile round trip every single weekend during that 3 month period to spend the weekend with Owen and Ella. Melissa left the house for the time he was there. Because she didn’t trust Brian with the children just yet, I accompanied him every weekend.
Brian has remained sober and clean since the day his secret was discovered. He had done everything he can to begin to rebuild trust and repair the damage he had done to his family.
Once he completed his intensive treatment, in early September, Melissa agreed to let him come home.
There was still a lot of repair work to be done on their relationship – and, indeed, the determination was yet to be made about whether or not the marriage could be saved.
My Perspective:
Addictive personalities run in my family. My father was an alcoholic (recovered the last 20 years of his life), and his father had problems as well. Knowing that there is a genetic propensity for alcoholism, both Rick and I were always very aware and concerned about this in relation to our children. Although we don’t drink often, we never did in our home. Yes, we felt like hypocrites, sneaking off to a restaurant to have a margarita with a Mexican dinner, but we also believed we were protecting our children until they were old enough to make wise choices.
Brian was an excellent student at school, he was actively involved in our church youth group, he was your typical good kid. My point is this.…. anyone can get mixed up with alcohol and drugs, especially if there is a genetic propensity.
“What do shopping, sex, gambling, and eating all have in common with drugs and alcohol? Each may be the object of addictive impulses and desires. As far as the brain is concerned, they all have the capacity to satisfy a craving or biochemical imbalance in response to stress or behavioral triggers – at least for a moment. Uncontrollable urges can be highly destructive and lead to a laundry list of problems….” -Edward Geehr, MD
Here is an excellent article by Dr. Geehr: Do you have an Addictive Personality? If Alcoholism runs in your family, or if you have questions about your own behavior or those of your loved ones, I urge you to read this.
As part of Brian’s Abuse Substance Program, parents were required to attend multiple meetings with him. Although we thought we had educated ourselves well, we learned so much about chemical dependency, the way alcohol affects the brain function, and how/why it is so very hard to quit. I know there are many who do not believe alcoholism is a “disease,” but a choice. It’s a choice to have that first drink, and maybe the 2nd and 3rd, but when you have the genetic propensity towards alcoholism,there becomes a point when it is no longer a choice, but a need – and disease.
It was truly heartbreaking to watch Brian go through this difficult time. The first night he was here, he sat next to me on the couch. I had my arms around him and he just cried in his misery, saying, “I just want to go home.” It crushed us to see Brian’s hurt and despair, but it also was painful for us because we knew he had a long, painful journey ahead of him, one he couldn’t even imagine.
We supported Brian, we encouraged him, we listened to him. We gave advice when asked, and sometimes when not asked. We felt his pain. We rejoiced with him over his successes and urged him on, reminding him of those successes when he became discouraged about whether or not he still had a family to return to. We prayed with him, we prayed for him.
We supported Melissa in all the ways we could. She is an exceptional woman, and she had a lot to deal with, both emotionally and physically. She was alone, feeling betrayed, the sole caretaker of the house and children, and the only financial support at the time. We adore her, and prayed for her continually. When Brian and I were there, we did all we could to help: dishes, laundry, household chores – anything we could do to ease her current situation.
The Ending…..
From September 2016 through June 2017, Brian and Melissa put a great deal of effort into restoring their trust for each other and their marriage. Counseling, prayer, hard, HARD work.
Last Friday, June 16th, was Brian and Melissa’s 10th wedding anniversary. This year, instead of each of them spending it alone and hurt, as they did last year, they celebrated with a Vow Renewal Ceremony, recommitting their lives to each other, recommitting to their marriage.
It was beyond words for all of us.
The end of a bad year.
The period at the end of the sentence.
The past behind them; the future ahead.
So why would I share such personal information?
There are several reasons I wanted to share this story with you:
- If you are experiencing troubles in life, you are not alone. In the digital world, we try to stay upbeat. No one wants to read about troubles all the time. But we all have challenges. Every single one of us. You. Are. Not. Alone. Seek help if you need it. Seek the counsel of a friend, a relative, a pastor, a digi-friend.
- If you are the slightest bit concerned about the possibility of someone you love having a substance abuse problem, please ask them about it. I suspected Brian was drinking because I could smell it on him. I asked him if he was allowed to drink when taking his current medication. He emphatically told me no. I didn’t believe he wasn’t drinking, but I let it go. I shouldn’t have. I asked him later, when he was living with us, if he would have told me the truth if I had persisted more. He said he probably would not have because he wasn’t ready to admit it yet. But who knows? If I had pushed more, would he have “become” ready?
- Beating an addictive disease is not something one can do by themselves. One must get help.
- Our happy ending would not have been possible without our faith in God, and His intervention. We give HIM the praise for this restored marriage.
I hope this story has been encouraging to you, inspiring perhaps, but most of all given you some information you might need one day. Believe me when I say… you never know.
(Shared with the permission and blessing of Brian and Melissa.)
Comments (18)
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Karen, this is very moving and insightful. So glad it led to a happy ending filled with love and forgiveness for the future.
Thank you, Diane.
Karen I have a daughter that has a very bad drinking problem. I tried to get her help but she has never admitted there is a problem. Her husband is the supplier and neither one will seek help or admit there is a problem. She has removed herself from society and not even driven a car (glad for that) in over 4 years. Husband does all the shopping. They don’t eat much, smoking and drinking is about their life, no friends. It has recently came to the point she has turned off her computer. No connection with the outside world. I try to keep in contact and some days she will answer phone but most days not. Thankful no children involved. She is lifted up in prayers daily by many. Praising the positive outcome of your story. My scrapbook classes from you and Melisha are my therapy. Thanks
Thank you for sharing. I have sent you a private email.
You are very brave to share your story with all of us. Hopefully your story will help someone else make good choices in their life. It is easy to judge a situation when it is someone else but real character comes into play when adversity hits at home. Your son is very lucky to have such a supportive family around him. Sending positive thoughts to you and yours.
Thank you, Steph. You are right. Brian has shown his true character through all of this. Thank you for your good wishes.
I’m so glad your son and family have a good “ending” for this crises. Of course, for all with addiction issues, it can be a struggle off and on for quite a long while. But it sounds like your supportive family and his maturity will carry you all through. I am hoping deeply for a similar happy ending for our grandson who is deeply involved with drugs and alcohol. He has been through expensive treatment twice and many other helps. His parents are loving and supportive. I don’t yet know how it will end. I keep praying and loving without enabling. It is very hard on everyone who loves him.
I’m sorry you and your family and grandson are going through this, Peggy. I pray the same happy ending for you all. Thank you for sharing.
This is powerful! 2nd chances that too many don’t/won’t offer. As I heard in a sermon once, it’s only halftime. This isn’t mamby-pamby Christianity, it is Jesus helping in rock-bottom, real life…it is true forgiveness. It is the power of love through thick and thin, love that can only come from the Author and Creator of Love. Thank you so much for sharing, Karen!
Well said, Karla. Thank you.
You did a wonderful sacrifice to share this story. I know it will make a difference in someone’s life. If it helps only one person, it will have been worth it. I had trouble with my oldest daughter being on crack. She was living with me at the time and I felt sorry for her because I thought she had a bad cold Her nose was running constantly. When I found out she was using crack I did what I saw on TV and demanded she move that day. Drug addicts are not to be trusted; they will steal from you. I told her to come back when she was sober. Amazingly, her and her boyfriend got off of it themselves. Her boyfriend got busted for crack possession and was sentenced to 3-6 mos in a drug facility. She came to my door the day he left. We both cried and hugged each other soooo tightly. When he got out, they got married and had my grandson. Thank goodness that was after the crack period. He was a healthy baby. We were blessed. Was I right in sending her away immediately? I don’t know I thought that was what a parent was suppose to do. Tough Love. I don’t know if it helped them to get sober or they just did it on their own, but they got clean and that’s all that mattered to me. There relationship did not last. She dated another man who beat her up and left her for dead. She and my grandson ended up in an abuse shelter. That was the best thing that could have happened to her. She’s in therapy and an excellent mother now. Finally, she has become a responsible adult and I couldn’t be more proud of her. All families have their issues, but we must remember to love one another and to forgive. God Bless you Karen and your son and his family. Your stories give us all hope!
Thank you for sharing, DeLoris. It’s hard to know what to do, isn’t it? And we can second-guess ourselves forever. But the important thing is that your daughter is on her way to a healthy lifestyle now, and that is wonderful! Your story will give hope to those experiencing similar circumstances. Thank you for being vulnerable enough to share.
Thank you for sharing this very personal story, so that God can use your experience to change the lives of others; and thank you to Melissa & Brian for allowing you to share their testimonies. They are truly a testimony of God’s working in their lives – what would we do without Him?!!
Thank you for sharing, it made me cry, with sadness, and happiness, so glad all are doing well, and pray for continued love and support for you and your family.
Thank you, Tracy. We all appreciate your good wishes and prayers!
Thank you for aharing. Manu of u’s have troubles but dont talk about it. I found great help with AA and alanon
So true, Adriana. Thanks for sharing that you have had a good experience with AA and alanon.
[…] you read my previous blog post A Family Crisis and a Happy Ending? I am happy and very thankful to give you a follow-up on this. Brian has been clean and sober […]