I vividly remember the hot July day in 2014 when I learned my son Ryan was an addict. My heart was broken, and my two year old granddaughter Keeley was my immediate concern. A few short weeks later I found myself hiring an attorney and filing for emergency temporary custody. A year later, her sister Adaline was born. I hoped and prayed for things to get better and did the best I could to make sure her needs were met. On February 27, 2017 Ryan made the decision to enter a long-term treatment program with my promise to take care of Adaline while he was gone. For my 52nd birthday, I now had a five year old and an 18 month old.

I am thankful to have an understanding employer who has allowed me the flexibility I have needed through all this. Less work unfortunately means my income is now less than half of what is was a few short years ago.

When the legal expenses, increased medical expenses, costs of child care, cost of Ryan’s treatment and day-to-day expenses of two children are added up, it’s easy to understand why my husband and I are facing financial challenges at a time when we should be preparing for retirement.

Ryan is now clean and sober. None of us knows what the future holds, but we know we must always keep Keeley and Adaline’s best interests at heart because the orphans of the opioid crisis pay the highest price.