Noah's Rehab

   I am Kristen Williams, homeschool mom and part time nanny and part time housekeeper.  My twenty-two year old son, Noah, is in rehab for an opiate addiction.  
   Noah, my two teenagers, and I have had a lot of change over the last six months. The four of us were living together and Noah was helping me get on my feet financially. 
   On March 5th, I found out that he had an ongoing addiction to Roxycotin.  He had been battling with it for three years and had attempted to quit several times on his own with some success, yet always went back to using.
   He detoxed at home and was pretty sick for several days. A family member found a free rehab with a bed immediately available but he was denied because he has insurance. We though it was only a small roadblock because insurance is a good thing and will cover rehab.  We learned that because he was "clean" his insurance would not cover full hospitalization. If he tested positive (which is possible for up to three days after using) perhaps they'd approve it.
   Noah had hope and courage because his secret was exposed and he was being held accountable and supported for the first time in his struggle with pain pills. But the twisted reality was that if he used again and snorted or popped pills and tested positive on a drug test, he was eligible for assistance. That terrified him! It terrified me!
   After several weeks of insurance nightmares he was approved for a few days full hospitalization (which ended up only being one!) to follow up with  three weeks of intensive outpatient treatment  with a $30/ co-pay  daily and then move on to Sober Living for 6 months or more at his own expense. 
   He shared with me before he left that he would switch to "lesser" things like marijuana and alcohol but it's the same addiction or escape from the real issues and he realized he can't keep up this vicious circle. He was broken and knew he needed professional help.
   Noah has found a rehabilitation center that is helping him. The staff have described him using the phrases "highly motivated" and "refreshing attitude".  He is on an opiate blocker called naltrexone and will be for at least a year. He is learning important tools to help him stay clean now and in the future.
   Those of you who have spent time with me and my children know that we are usually the ones helping others, not the ones asking for help.  Today we NEED help.
   This is torture because I know that everyone suffers in some way and in far worse ways than we are now. Noah asked if I am embarrassed of him and I said, "No, I am proud of your humility and courage."
   Truthfully I am heartbroken that I could not spare him this struggle and that I cannot provide financially for his help.
   In vacation bible school I taught a Scripture lesson about carrying each other's burdens. I had the kids pick up a backpack that was full of stuff but manageable then I had them try to pick up a backpack that was full of bricks- they couldn't! It took two or more to lift that burden. The backpack actually fell apart.
This financial burden is impossible for Noah or I to carry. We need help.
   I was able to get a credit increase on my only credit card and pay the initial $900 co-pay but that card is now unusable. My income is  not much and goes to our living expenses. Noah has negative finances due to the consequences of his drug abuse. We need  $1980 in approximately a week and a half in order to keep Noah in rehab. At that point, he will be well enough to find a job and pay for his own continued care.
   If you are able to help in any way I , we, thank you with all our heart.