Happy Easter Saturday

WARNING:  This is a long story, if you don't have time or inclination, don't feel you have to read it, but it was something I just had to do to, part of the process of relieving what has been a very emotional and stressful 2 days where I wasn't able to post a Blip or even take a picture.

Kind of an uninspired Blip, but  just glad I took some pictures today.  A sweet breakfast bread is an Easter tradition in our family and the only one that is popular with the younger members.  I usually make them as round little loafs but today tried to make little bunnies.  I'm afraid they look like embryo bunnies, but I'm sure they'll taste as good as usual.

Wednesday Ben called to tell me he had some not so good news.  He had a recurrence of his substance use disorder.  It was relatively short-lived (just 2 weeks) after a year of sobriety.  He told me he wanted to get into a detox  treatment facility and he had made some phone calls to see what his insurance would cover.  He wanted to come to our house before he checked himself in.  He did come on Thursday morning and he was in pretty bad shape - I shudder to think what might have happened if he had gone to his apartment alone.  We headed right to the ER to get him medically cleared.  Well, the wheels of the Emergency Room turn very slowly when you are not having a heart attack, a baby or bleeding.  We spent all day there waiting and trying to get clearance from the Detox hospital and his insurance company.  The "fly in the ointment" was that he had to be admitted by 1 p.m. or they wouldn't take him.  At 1:30 when all the requirements had been met, it was too late, but they assured us that if we showed up early the next morning (Friday), he would definitely have a bed at the Detox hospital.  We live about an hour from the hospital.  We came home and Ben was still in horrible shape - We found out Fentanyl was in his system along with heroin and cocaine.  The Fentanyl was unknown to him.  Jon and I kept an eye on him all night and by Friday morning he was in better shape, but starting to withdraw from the substances in his system.  To make this long story shorter, we were back at the Emergency Room and able to get him admitted by 10 a.m. and now the healing begins again.  He is grateful to be there, grateful that his employer told him to "get straight" and he would be given one chance to do it again.  They do value him and the fantastic job he has done and have plans for him to be even more successful.  

Today at 3 p.m. he had seen a counselor and slept a lot.  He had not received any medications to help with withdrawal but hoped to get them by 3:30.  He did a few things better this time, putting the brakes on early, connecting with people that could help and getting into detox, realizing he had to work harder and attend more "meetings".  What he does from here will be crucial.  

Much of this was easy for me because I care for him like he was my son and I do believe he wants to be better but much of it was very difficult because it's difficult to relive this disease and the grip it holds for those who suffer.

If you have read this far, thank you but if you haven't I understand why not.  It has released some of the stress for me to recount it.