Hi, my name is Janet, and I am Luke’s aunt. I am also his mom, Teresa’s, twin sister.

This is Luke.

Luke is 19. He loves fishing, history, playing his guitar, and old Victorian homes. School has never really been his thing, but he has a strong interest in becoming a mechanic or working in automotive technology. When Luke is sober, he is delightful, funny, and bright. He brings a special light into a room. He is deeply empathetic, caring, and genuinely dislikes seeing anyone hurt.

Luke has been living with addiction from a young age. It has only been in the last couple of years that our family fully understood how serious things had become. Since then, Luke and our family have been doing everything we can. Luke has attended AA, NA, and SMART Recovery meetings. He has been in therapy. He has recently found a church he enjoys and, most importantly, he has said he is ready for rehab.

The problem is that addiction does not politely wait.

Right now, every crisis ends the same way. Someone calls 911. Luke is taken to the hospital. He is discharged almost immediately. And the responsibility for keeping him alive and safe falls back onto Teresa. She barely sleeps, constantly worrying about withdrawal seizures, violence, or what the next crisis might bring.

Rehab is no longer optional. It is the only real chance Luke has right now. It would give Luke the time, space, and medical support he needs to heal, learn, and grow. It would also give Teresa something she has not had in a very long time: rest.

Teresa has done everything a mother can do. She has loved him fiercely, supported him, and provided stability while encouraging change. But the current health care system keeps sending Luke home without the long term care he needs, placing the full burden on her. It is simply not sustainable or safe.

Asking for this amount of money is hard. Without private care, Luke is facing a wait list of six months or more. As his aunt, I am terrified of what might happen if we wait that long. I do not want to imagine a future where we look back and wish we had acted sooner.

Luke needs access to a reputable rehab program immediately, one that can safely manage Xanax detox. Not all facilities can do this, which limits options. Our hope is to keep him as close to home as possible, ideally near London, Ontario, rather than sending him far away.

Any amount you can give truly matters. Your support tells Luke that he is not alone. It tells Teresa that she does not have to carry this by herself. And it sends a clear message that addiction does not get the final word.

All funds raised will go directly toward Luke’s rehab stay and any necessary aftercare, therapy, or continued treatment. Research shows that recovery is not a one time battle, but a moment by moment commitment. We want to give Luke every possible chance to keep his love and light in this world for many years to come.

The cost of a 30 day rehab program ranges from approximately $20,000 to $30,000. Depending on medical and clinical needs, Luke may require a longer stay of up to 90 days or more.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for standing with our family. His life is worth saving.