Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Give Me Strength

Well the past day and a half has been extremely draining on me. More of an emotional drain than a physical one. My best friend's sister has moved up here with her 3 kids and is now living with him . She is down on her luck and needed a place to stay while she gets back on her feet. There is nothing wrong with this and my friend has stepped up to the plate and done what any good brother would do. He has accepted her and the kids in to his home. To help paint this picture my buddy is married, has 2 kids of his own, 4 dogs (3 labs and a mutt) and 2 snakes. Needless to say the house is now officially bursting at the seams. Now many of you may be saying to yourselves "that's not too bad", but I'm not finished. We have since learned that his sister is addicted to prescription pain medication and has been diagnosed as being bi-polar. In the 3 months she's been in town he's had to bring her to the ER 3 times so far. He is trying to get her the help she needs and has her enrolled in an intensive outpatient therapy program to help with the addiction. Needless to say he and his immediate family really needed a break from this situation and have left town for the Christmas holidays to spend time with his in-laws. After speaking with his sister's counselor it was decided that she should not go back and visit as this is where a lot of her problems begun. So he has taken his family and his sister's kids with him on vacation and left his sister here alone. Being a good friend I offered to check in on her from time to time to make sure she wasn't completely alone during the holidays. This is where my being emotionally drained begins. Last night I went to check on her and discovered she wasn't alone. She had a "friend" from therapy at the house. Come to find out this individual is a drug dealer and only 19 years old. Of course I didn't know about this kid's history when I called and talked to my buddy, but once I told him he asked me to go and tell this individual that he wasn't welcome in his home. I went back to the house and his sister had stormed out with this piece of shit kid in tow. She wouldn't take my phone calls and apparently threatened to go on a binge because she felt her brother didn't trust hergo figure and was trying to control her life. Anyway, around midnight she showed back up at the house and we talked. I asked her to come and stay with me during the evenings while her family was out of town. She refused and left. Well around 4am I hear a knocking on my door and sure enough it's her. Now, I was glad she was OK as I was worried she was going to do something to hurt herself, but today has been trying. I drove her to her therapy and then to the clinic where she was ordered to submit a urine sample for a drug test. We won't know the results for a couple days. She has decided to take us up on our offer of staying here in the evening with us until her family gets back in town. I am just praying that God will give me the strength to handle this situation. So, if any of you happen to be praying please throw in an extra one for my family, my friend's family and his sister. Good night.

10 comments:

  1. Hey brother. Hang tough. Lay ground rules that accompany your hospitality and stick with them. I hope things work out for you. Give me a call if I can help with advice.

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  2. Thanks Bro. I'll definitely take you up of the offer if I need to.

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  3. sending prayers for sure! Addiction is a terrible thing to deal with. I have a sister thats on meth. We try to help, but sometimes it is so hard, because she doesnt seem to want to help herself. Hang in there, sometimes just seeing how the "other half" (the NONaddicted half) lives will help!!! GOD BLESS YOU for caring!!!

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  4. Hi Chris.. One of the 'group' and just wanted to say HI. Sounds like you are one of us that wants to help and some times it backfires.

    We had a 16 year old troubled kid come to our house because he needed a safe place to stay the night. He spent that night, the next, and a then a few years worth. After getting into a bunch of trouble he left for the Army. He is now back from Iraq and on his 3 tour. Yep, he came to spend the night.. then grew roots, and calls us Mom and Dad. If we hadn't offered him a safe place to spend the night.. he very probably would be dead now.

    You are doing a good thing... tough but good!

    You will be in my thoughts and prayers over the Holidays!

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  5. I just lost my entire comment,,,grrr

    In sort, I am praying for, her brother, and her. My sister is bi-polar and its hard to deal with anyway let alone add in addiction.

    She might have to admitted to a facility to help her with the addcition.

    Hang in here!
    martha... dang thing wouldn't let me sign in.

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  6. Mom - Thanks for the prayers. I can use as many of them as I can get.

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  7. Ann,

    Thanks for the thoughts. I know it's the right thing to do, but sometimes the right thing isn't always easy.

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  8. Martha,

    Yeah, the emotional highs and lows that she goes through is just magnified by the addiction. Hopefully, the therapy and being surrounded by positive people will help. Thanks for the thoughts.

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  9. Chris, the right thing is definitely very hard sometimes!!! Hang in there!!!

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  10. BTW, I'll be keeping you, your family, your friend's family and his sister in my prayers!!

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