This week I am joined by Christine Kavanagh, a mother from Cork who has lived through the unimaginable - losing four sons, three of them to drug-related causes.

In January of this year, Christine lost two of her sons, Dillon and Damien, just fifteen days apart. They were laid to rest in a double funeral - one open coffin, one closed. Another son, Leon, died of a heroin overdose in 2021. Her pain is immeasurable, but Christine has chosen to speak out, not stay silent.

In this deeply emotional and powerful episode, Christine shares her story of grief, addiction, and resilience. She opens up about the devastating impact of heroin addiction, the lack of mental health support, and the urgent need for harm reduction services like supervised injection centres in Ireland - services she believes could have saved her sons.

We also talk about her ongoing strength: returning to work just three days after her sons' funeral, raising her grandchildren, and becoming an advocate for overdose prevention and addiction recovery.

Christine’s voice is one of love, pain, and fierce determination - and her story is one I will never forget.

This episode is dedicated to Dillon, Damien, Leon, and Ross.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Old Mill Confectionery - Handmade Irish cakes and treats, established in Cork over 40 years ago. Christine shared how their team went above and beyond while catering her sons’ funeral - a gesture she’ll never forget. You can find them on Instagram: @oldmillconfectionary

[00:00:28] – This Pain Will Never Leave Me

[00:01:26] – Why I Keep Going for My Family

[00:01:54] – Losing Ross to Epilepsy

[00:03:13] – Leon’s Struggle With Addiction

[00:08:34] – Campaigning for an Injection Centre

[00:25:06] – Two Sons Buried Together

[00:24:03] – They Were Sick, Not Bad

[00:21:27] – Helping a Stranger on the Street

[00:22:09] – Flashbacks and Street Advocacy

[00:30:01] – If I Can Save One Family

Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda @brendasbits

Contact: [email protected]

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