Mary Kate loved the ‘60s: the colorful clothes, the message of peace & love, and the rock music like Pink Floyd. Her mom, Carol, said her daughter was born in the wrong decade. Everything changed when Mary Kate started losing weight and her parents found out that she had been using drugs. They were able to check Mary Kate into rehab, where she was sober for 15 months before she was found passed away in her sober-living residence when she was 22. It has been a tragic journey for Carol who has coped by reaching out and helping others.

Carol shares this message with others who have lost someone close to them called The Departure Date, Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away (James 4:14): “You, as all of God’s children, live one final breathe from your own funeral. Which, from God’s perspective, is nothing to grieve. He responds to these grave facts with this great news: “The day you die is better than the day you were born” (Eccles. 7:1 NLT). Now there is a twist. Heaven enjoys a maternity-ward reaction to funerals. Angels watch body burials the same way grandparents monitor delivery-room doors. “He’ll be coming through any minute!” They can’t wait to see the new arrival. While we’re driving hearses and wearing black, they’re hanging pink and blue streamers and passing out cigars. We don’t grieve when babies enter the world. The hosts of heaven don’t weep when we leave it.”

By speaking out for her daughter and the stigma of addiction, Carol and her husband, John, have been featured in several publications and videos (Use CTRL + link):

It can happen to anyone

Families mission to fight opioid addiction

Family honors daughter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jlTEI7OQqk

If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire at [email protected]

http://grievingoverdosedeath.libsyn.com/

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