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Shine on, Jake

 
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Shine on, Jake - 1/4/2008 4:05:41 PM   
louie

 

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It took me a couple of days to work up the courage to begin a thread, so...here goes.

My older son, Jake, died in July, 2007 of an accidental drug overdose. He died on or around the 19th or 20th, but his body wasn't found until Monday, July 23.

I am just going through the motiions in life, now. (Some of the motions, anyway.) There is no joy in life, and I am still in a place where I need to find a reason to get out of bed each morning. Usually, the reason is because I am supposed to get up, go to work, do the shopping, fix dinner, and so on. I have no hope, aside from the hope that there will be a rich and peaceful life for me (and my family) in the future.

Jake was a beautiful, intelligent, delightful, tortured young man, who fought his addictions for years before succumbing at the age of 24. He had been clean and sober for 2 years, relapsed and died in less than one week.

I miss him so horribly every minute of every day. I have a younger son and, while I love and cherish him, it doesn't help because I still have the gaping wound in my soul from my other son.

I started a candle group under the initials JMC for him. I have an actual candle on the mantle in my house, next to Jake's picture. I like to think that when I light it the flame grabs his attention from heaven, so he will know that while we go through the motions of living and observing holidays he is always in our hearts.

Peace,
Donna

_____________________________

Death cannot kill that which lives forever.
William Penn
Post #: 1
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/4/2008 4:23:49 PM   
Hildegard

 

Posts: 2473
Joined: 8/30/2006
From: Chicago
Status: online
Dear Donna, thank you for the courage to share this painful story, still so fresh and raw in your heart. I am so very sorry for the loss of your son! Judging from what other mothers have written about losing a son your feelings are quite normal. Jake remains close to you. I think he would want you to remember him with all your love but also searching for peace. With the passage of time the hole he has left in your family and in your heart will fill with fond memories and become less searing.

I'll be glad to light a candle for Jake and to remember him and you in my prayers.

Wishing you comfort and peace,
With much love,
Edda

_____________________________

Peace and joy!
Post #: 2
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/4/2008 4:29:46 PM   
J1937

 

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From: Austria/Europe
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Dear Donna,
My heart goes out to you as I read your post. Please accept my sincere condolences. Tonight I can do no more than light a candle for you and your dear son and keep both of you in my prayer. I am sure someone who knows how to do it will start a candle group for you. Do come back here!
Love and blessings,
Juliana
___________________________________________________________
"Death brings life to its goal...The goal is perfect life" (Thomas Merton)
Post #: 3
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/4/2008 4:31:59 PM   
J1937

 

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Sorry, Donna, I just saw that the candle group is JMC.
Juliana

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"Speak Peace in a World of Conflict" (M.B.Rosenberg)
Post #: 4
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/4/2008 5:35:42 PM   
buttington

 

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Thank you Donna for finding the courage to tell your story to us.
Every parent will understand your pain, and I send you Love and Hugs to help comfort you a little in your grief.

I will light a candle for you and your family, and your beloved son, who is undoubtedly watching over you now.

Blessings, Jude

_____________________________

Love is the only way
Post #: 5
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/4/2008 5:37:39 PM   
Marie M.

 

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Donna welcome to the forum. I am so very sorry for your loss. I will light a candle in Jake's memory and for your family and keep you in my prayers.
I have lost my 23 year old, oldest son to an accidental overdose 4 years ago. I understand what you and your family must be going through. My heart goes out to you. It has been a long road to healing, my personal focus of my son now, is the person he was, not the tragedy that had took him, and many prayers and supporting people.
Please stop back here there are others that understand a loss and will support you, listen and genuinely care and understand.

God Bless you  
Marie
Seneca's Mom 
Post #: 6
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/5/2008 5:47:48 PM   
Vicky

 

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Donna, Welcome to the Forum. I am so sorry for the loss of your son Jake. I wish that we could just get rid of all of the drugs. They destroy so much. I am so sorry that drugs touched your life in such a terrible way.
 
I love the way you relate to the lighting of a candle for your son. What a sweet way to connect with him. I hope that each day gets better for you, but I know that you will always have a missing place in your heart.
 
Bless you and I will light a candle for you & your family.
Post #: 7
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/5/2008 7:11:06 PM   
Thankful one

 

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Donna,
I am so sorry to hear about the tragedy in your life. Try to take good care of yourself during this difficult time.

I lit a candle under the group JMC. I will keep you in my prayers that you may be blessed and know some comfort from God.
Thankful one
Post #: 8
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/7/2008 11:17:08 AM   
louie

 

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Hello, all.

Today is my birthday. I am trying to be grateful for another day, yet there is a part of me wishing for the phone call that will never come. I would give anything to hear my son's voice again, to hold him in my arms.

The knowledge of my son's death is always with me. I have read and heard people say that they were halfway through dialing the phone number of a loved one when they remembered the loved one had died. I think to myself - how nice it would be to have a few seconds of respite...But, there it is every moment of the day.

The knowledge of his death is not the challenge. Acceptance is. I am still feeling as if there has been a cosmic error that needs to be corrected. I don't want this to be my life, and I rail against the fact of his death in the quiet times I have. It has been 24 weeks and 4 days since the last time I talked to him. Maybe this is a way of keeping him in my world. If it's only been XXX weeks, he can't be that far.

Now I know why this is called grief work.

_____________________________

Death cannot kill that which lives forever.
William Penn
Post #: 9
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/7/2008 1:25:47 PM   
buttington

 

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Donna, what you are feeling is very natural.

Grief takes as long as it takes. Be gentle with yourself.

Love Jude

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Love is the only way
Post #: 10
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/7/2008 4:06:03 PM   
louie

 

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Judith,
Thank you for the support. I am trying to be patient with myself, although at this phase I am not feeling much other than the pain.

I find myself questioning what I did and did not do regarding Jake, and wondering what mistakes I am making with my surviving son. Fortunately, he is an amazing person and has the soul of a much older and wiser human. I occasionally ask him how he's doing and he tells me I am not warping him badly, yet. He is grieving in his own private way, and it's hard to guage how he is doing sometimes.

One day at a time.

Louie

_____________________________

Death cannot kill that which lives forever.
William Penn
Post #: 11
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/7/2008 4:09:18 PM   
Hildegard

 

Posts: 2473
Joined: 8/30/2006
From: Chicago
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Dear Donna, Birthday blessings to you! May this coming year bring you peace! The hurt of your loss is still so raw and painful but it will ease with time. Your son is close to you and you can talk to him. You may hear him in your heart.  It is not the same as a usual telephone conversation, but a connection at a deeper level.

Wishing you peace and comfort,
Much love and warm hugs,
Edda

_____________________________

Peace and joy!
Post #: 12
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/7/2008 4:12:30 PM   
louie

 

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Edda,

Yes, he will always be in my heart. I appreciate your wisdom.

Peace,
Donna

_____________________________

Death cannot kill that which lives forever.
William Penn
Post #: 13
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/7/2008 9:49:24 PM   
Marie M.

 

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Donna, Happy Birthday to you. I will light a candle in your son's memory and one for you and your family. 

Marie 
Post #: 14
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/8/2008 1:16:07 PM   
louie

 

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Thank you, Edda and Marie, for the candles. It's nice being able to click on the group and see them burning in cyberspace.

I made it through the birthday. My husband and son fixed dinner and gave me a couple of warm sweaters and a book. They know me well.



_____________________________

Death cannot kill that which lives forever.
William Penn
Post #: 15
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/10/2008 4:58:48 PM   
louie

 

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I feel like a whiner.

I know it hasn't even been 6 months since my son died, and I am trying to be patient with myself (and those in close proximity), although patience has never been one of my strong points.

My family and close friends tell me that I never ask for help, and that I need to. Help with what? (I'm not being facetious...I really don't know what it is that I should be asking for help with. There is nothing that can be done for me. I just need to keep forging ahead and hope that time will help to ease the pain.

My son's addictions created an unbelievable amount of stress in the family, and anyone who has lived through what we have will know what I mean. Addictions sap the personality from the person you love. They rob sleep, peace, joy and contentment. I remember so well what it was like to lie awake in the wee hours, wondering where my son was and whether or not he was even alive, because he would go days, weeks, and sometimes months without communicating with us. I developed migraines and ulcers and a horrible cynicism about life. I feared his death for years before it actually occured. I would imagine him lying dead and undiscovered someplace and that is exactly what happened to him - my worst fear realized.

We had to travel 2 hours to the city he lived in - a huge, major US city where we had to find the morgue and identify his body. We (my husband and I) viewed him, and neither of us were able to identify his remains since he had been in the July heat in his apartment for 4 or 5 days. We identified a picture of a scar on his foot from an incident that nearly killed him when he was 11 years old, but the medical examiner still went with dental records, just to be sure.

They wouldn't let us go into the room where his body was in the morgue, so we didn't get to hug him and kiss him goodbye. I know that was just his shell, but he is my son.

I can't get over my anger at the two people who knew he was lying dead in his apartment, but said nothing. They didn't even make an anonymous call to 911 to report a death, or have a welfare check done. I am so filled with pain, grief, loss and hatred...life seems hopeless right now. I don't know how to talk to the Supreme Being anymore (and, frankly, I've been pretty angry at God, too, so that hasn't really been an issue until lately).

How am I supposed to get over this and 'get on with my life'? Get on to where? To do what?

Please, if anyone can help in any way, I am open to it. I hate life so much right now, and the counseling I've participated in the past few months is not touching this pain. Also, the candles in my group and the prayers that accompany them might help. They can't hurt.

Thanks for listening.

Donna



_____________________________

Death cannot kill that which lives forever.
William Penn
Post #: 16
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/10/2008 6:29:20 PM   
Marie M.

 

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Joined: 3/11/2007
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Hello Donna. I feel for you and what you are going through. It has been a short time. It is alright to vent and unload. I think talking about the situation helps. Donna, what I can say is from experience is some days can be more draining than others, on those days, I try to take it easier on myself. I make sure I am getting rest, if not sleep, eat regularly and I take vitamins. Taking a walk or getting out with family for fresh air can give you a little relief.  When I had lack of sleep the days were longer and more draining. If you would like please email me. I will listen and I understand. Please take care of you. Many here have been praying for you. I am keeping Jake and you in my prayers and will light a candle.

Marie
Seneca's Mom
Post #: 17
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/10/2008 9:06:27 PM   
buttington

 

Posts: 1865
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From: UK
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Dear Donna,
I can't do anything to help with your pain, but I would like to say that what you are feeling is the experience of everyone in grief.
Marie is right, some days will be really bad. Like Marie says, if you feel able, find something to distract you on those days.

Reading your post the thought kept coming up for me, that your son is no longer suffering from the drugs, or in danger from them.
I can certainly identify with your fears for him when he was alive and you need to alow yourself to heal from that.

I will continue to light candles for you. Please do keep coming back to the Forum and talking about your pain when you want to.

with Love, Jude

_____________________________

Love is the only way
Post #: 18
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/11/2008 10:23:49 AM   
Lori

 

Posts: 67
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From: Iowa & Austin, Texas
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((((Donna)))))

My deepest condolences on the loss of your Jake.   It's been 1 year since I lost my 24 year-old-son Eric and I feel your pain.  I know it helped me alot to continue to talk about my son with others...and to reach outside of my own pain to help others thru theirs.   You don't have to travel this journey of pain alone...please know that we are here for you and continue to come back.  I have lit a candle for Jake and you........God Bless and I'll pray for your peace & comfort.....and please look for the signs that Jake is still with you (just in a different way) and telling you "hey Mom, I'm still here...and I love you" 

~Lori

_____________________________

~Eric's Mom 4ever
Post #: 19
RE: Shine on, Jake - 1/22/2008 3:12:15 PM   
louie

 

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Joined: 1/3/2008
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We had our 2 - year - old grandson for an overnight visit this past weekend. His visits are so poignant, since his daddy died. The first time we met our grandson was also the last time we saw Jake alive. It's a long story.

The mother and Jake dated for a few months, then she discovered she was pregnant. There have been some issues with the mother, but hopefully things are coming around and will continue without any court intervention.

The visit, while being difficult in some ways, is another way of honoring our son. We know how much he loved his little one.

So, it was a bitter cold weekend that we filled with cookie baking and story reading while a fire roared in the fireplace. I burned Jake's candle while I read "Where the Wild Things Are" to his son.

Another day.

_____________________________

Death cannot kill that which lives forever.
William Penn
Post #: 20
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