Our son's journey through recovery...

Hi, our names are Dan & Leslie and we are the parents of a life long addict.

Chris has tried several times in the past to begin his journey to recovery, without success. We have stood by him to the best of our abilities and have recommended rehab frequently. He hasn't been ready for that. Until now. He has lost everything and everyone in his life bc of his cocaine addiction. He has relapsed often due to lifelong traumas and is in need of a team of professionals to come alongside him to show him the root cause of his behaviours and give him the tools to do life in a healthy manner.

We believe with his will to renew his life, along with a chance to attend an individualized rehab program, he will be able to begin making his life what he has always wanted it to be. That is a solid foundation for a sustainable future without falling into the traumatic shadows and continually running from his pain and suffering he carries.

We would like to elaborate on the motivation we feel Chris is experiencing due to the loss of his brother, Devin, 5 yrs ago, from addiction as well. He also carries extreme pain and disassociations due to the trauma he runs from. He has been unable to take part in the lives of his 7 biological children and 3 step children who struggle without a healthy father in their lives. His motivation has proven to be a factor in his quest to overcome and conquer his weaknesses, so he can return to his children strong and with skills that will continue to hold him conjointly through hardships.

UPDATE #1 Nov 27

enroute to rehab this morning, I received a call from Aurora Recovery Centre in Manitoba saying the girl that made the financial arrangements with us was fired on Friday! She made an agreement with us for pmt as previously shared on the original gofundme, that was in fact declined by the "powers that be"! they would NOT honour that arrangement and said he would be turned away at the gate upon his arrival if we did not adhere to their policy. VERY unprofessional! BUT ... so glad this happened! Once we were able to breathe again, we went back to our original treatment centre that we had researched which had amazing reviews and a program conducive to Chris's needs. Here is an excerpt from their website...

Costa Rica Treatment Center helps families and adults of all ages suffering from a number of mental and behavioral health challenges. We are one of the most respected addiction treatment centers in Latin America and pride ourselves on offering a full range of mental health and addiction treatment services. Our drug and alcohol rehabilitation center is committed to providing professional and supportive services that improve the quality of life of those who choose us. We look forward to serving you by helping you achieve the results your loved one needs.

Our residential treatment program is truly comprehensive and offers clients an experience unlike any other treatment center. Our dedicated multidisciplinary team evaluates the client’s individual history as well as treatment needs and develops a personalized holistic treatment plan focused on healing the mind, body, and spirit. We offer 30, 60, 90 and 120-day residential treatment programs although many clients sometimes choose to stay longer. Although each case is completely different, our results show that the overwhelming majority benefit the most from our fully comprehensive residential treatment program. Our holistic approach is evidence-based and proven.

So... after spending a few days with his grandparents, Chris left from Winnipeg to San Jose, Costa Rica for rehab! The monthly fee is less than many we researched in Canada, and they had immediate availability! The cost is $7700/mth and his goal is to stay for at least 3 months, which is $23,000 in total! It all depends on how much we are able to raise through this gofundme and some fundraisers I'm working on. We have raised enough for almost 1.5 months already!

It's been a long, hard journey for us to be his parents. his family. Watching the dangerous life choices he made without any consideration for us. Just driven by the almighty dollar. It took him down roads that should have cost him his life. Yet he is still here. That has happened over and over again.

Anyone who's familiar with addiction and how devastating it is not only for the person, but the family and friends of the person stuck in the selfish cycle, knows what I'm talking about. He has severed ties with most family. A lot of friends. Gone. Want nothing to do with him. His kids are growing up without him in their lives. It's been getting worse over the last 30 years. completely out of control. Like he said to me last week "a year ago I would have given my right leg and said I was ok with who I was. I didn't think there was a problem. It was others that had the problems. But now, he says, I leave my ego at the door! I know it's me! I need to change! I don't like me! and I understand why other's don't either now."

Chris could get clean whenever he wanted to in the past, but he was missing the therapy. The professionals to come alongside him to deal with and move through the trauma in his life. The trauma that has made it impossible for him to grow as a man. a father. to be a productive part of society. to heal. to love others and himself. NOW, after having lost everything. After having slept under a Winnipeg bridge on a cold rainy winter night. After detox. After embracing his current reality of being the most broken he's been in 43 years of life. Now he's ready. Ready to do the hardest work of his life. In a recovery centre that's above average. Not one that has created a program and it's clients need to just "fit into" it. One that does a deep assessment of exactly what it is he needs. to heal. to forgive. to love. to be accountable for.

Not everyone reading this will believe it's even possible for Chris to achieve this. That he's too far gone. That this is just a vacation to an exotic country. And that's ok. Let's just watch and see. I believe in miracles! He's a man that has suffered much. and caused much suffering to others. but he's alive and deserves a better life. But he's the only one that can choose for that to happen. NOT even God can choose that for him. We all make our choices. every. single. day. So Dan & I will continue to support Chris as we know many of you will as well ...

just think of all the addicts out there that will benefit from him finding his purpose and having the ability to finally put his trauma behind him and take what was meant to destroy him and now to offer his story to others helping them find their healing! That's what we're believing for!! That's his heart's desire.

UPDATE on Dec 13...

Chris is 2 weeks into his rehab experience and it is going so well!! I know it's only the beginning, but it's refreshing for us as his parents to see him go deep to deal with the trauma and the mindset that caused this lifelong addiction of cocaine! In the midst of that he's busy working on a game plan for what he will do when rehab is over. Where he will live, where he will work, sober living house, etc. Still a long journey, but headway is being made! 

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For years Chris gave up everything ... for one thing.

Now, he's given up that one thing ... with the sole purpose of gaining everything back.

If you choose to come on board with us to help make that happen, we say THANK YOU!!

If it's not possible, but you could share this with others, we say THANK YOU!

If you believe in the power of prayer, and choose to pray, we say THANK YOU!!

Dan & Leslie Klassen