Matthew's Gift

Anyone living with an addict in their lives would likely tell you that alcoholism and drug dependency affect more people than just the abusers themselves. While Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States, millions of others abuse other substances such as heroin, cocaine, marijuana (pot), methamphetamine (meth), perscription narcodics and more. But there is help and there is hope available even though only a small percentage of addicts seek treatment each year.

My Matthew received help for addiction at Wilmington Treatment Center for the maximum  amount of days that health insurance would pay. He begged me to find a way for him not to have to come back to his hometown where he knew drugs would overcome him again. He begged us to send him to  New Life Launch Pad Healing House. So his family banded together, scrapped up the money and sent him there. It was during these months that I finally saw my happy healthy son come back. I scoured his housemates Facebook pages for the happy images of my son. I was able to rest peacefully at night knowing my son was safe and alive.

Unfortunately, this opportunity was not cheap. After close to 6 months Matthew was feeling the pressure of the cost and never having money to do anything and he slipped out of recovery and had to come back home. At home he would try so hard and promise me he didn't want to break my heart that he loved me and wanted to make me proud of him.But Heroin is the boss in it's relationships and even Matthew's extrememly stubborn personality couldn't control heroin. He lost his battle with the drug on April 6th, 2016 at the young age of 21. 

During Matthew's life he shined at everything he did and I was proud of him like every mother is, even during his struggles. Now Matthew is giving me strength from above to help him do what God has planned for him. I always told him, "Your name is Matthew, God's chosen one, you are meant to do great things" and now he is going to do the great thing God had chosen him to do, Provide money for his friends to be able to live at LaunchPad,

receive the support they need, go to school and get  the education they need to get as far away from the drug abuse path as possible.

So I humbly request your help in making a difference in Matthew's honor by donating so we can provide scholarships to Matthew's housemates  that made him so happy or other friends in neeed of the support so that we as a community can prevent our youth, their family and their friends form experiencing the control of heroin and other substance abuse.