In Memory of Christopher Flanagan

Where do I start with this guy. Christopher was taken way too soon from us. He was such an amazing person, loved everyone, helping everyone, such a huge heart and soul. He was struggling with a drug addiction and like many people struggling with addiction he was scared. He was scared of getting clean, scared of what people thought about him, scared of losing the one thing that actually made him happy. (heroin) Chris decided one day he wanted help. He told his mom Michelle that he wanted help and she right away helped him. I work at Valley recovery treatment center in Newhall CA which is an all mens facility and chris came to us in December 2016. I remember when he first arrived he would not get out of the car and was in such a cranky normal chris mood. His mom came in, toured the facility, spoke with Arthur and I and just hung with me at the kitchen table talking about chris until he was ready to come in. Arthur went out to speak with chris and he was not having it.. telling him to "fuck off". I told michelle that i thought me and chris would get along and he would love it here. Hours went by and chris finally decided to come in. I did his intake and he was very moody but we got along just fine. After time went by chris really started to open up to me. I knew this kid was amazing since i first met him. He was such a problem child at our facility totally against 12 step, not wanting to participate, go to meeting, wanted to do his own thing because he was "the Boss". Little did he know I was the boss of this house... (not really) Chris and I would joke around who is the biggest bitch and became so connected he was like my brother from another mother. Anyways.. i can go on for days about him ... he ended up breaking out of his shell, listening to staff and our advice, totally changed everything about him... really really wanted to get clean and stay clean. He completed 30 days and graduated our program! It was such an emotional graduation his mom attended we all cried and laughed and chris was on his way home. Mom got to take her baby boy home clean and sober. That wasnt the end for chris though.. he would always come visit, he was "junior" staff, an alumni at VRC and family to us. I kept in touch with him, spoke with him weekly.. he would call me in the morning to tell me he did his own daily reflections and he was going to meetings. This guy so against meetings even started his own meetings in Lancaster. I was blown away by the change and growth in him. I knew he was going to stay clean. Whenever i called to check on him he always said i knew when he was having a bad day ,or "did my mom call u" haha i kept him in check. chris recently found out two of his friends had passed from overdoses, he was devastated. I talked with him and helped him through it. I called him two days later and he was in such a good mood, told me he got a promotion at work, he was in love, and his life finally was starting to fall into place. I dont know what was going through chris's mind when he passed but he knows that so many people out there love him and will never forget him. he was someone who left an impact on ur heart when you first met him. I love you chris so much and im so sorry you had demons and struggled with this horrible addiction. Please look down on us and guide us. we love you!! 
 Thats my short story about chris, im sure everyone has an amazing story to tell about him. Please lets help his family through this tradegy and keep his spirit alive. Please donate . Anything helps.