<p>This is such a tragic story. Every parent’s nightmare. I hope that time eases your pain.</p>
<p>I think that telling your son’s story on this website with an audience of college students may help some recognize that they are not invincible. It could shock some into taking more care. </p>
<p>Thank you for sharing your story. It must have been incredibly painful.</p>
<p>My heart goes out to you. May you all find the peace you so richly deserve.</p>
<p>How incredibly brave of you.</p>
<p>I have no words that can provide comfort.</p>
<p>As soon as you’re able, please find a support group.</p>
<p>I am devastated for you. I wish you peace and the knowledge that you are not responsible. Please find support for you and your family to help you through this awful time. Hang on to each other.</p>
<p>You are unbelievably brave for writing this thread.</p>
<p>I have no new words to add that others have not said. I mourn for your son and can feel your pain out here in cyberspace as a fellow parent. I hope you will surround yourself with positive, caring people who love you to help you through this. Thank you for your courage in sharing your story.</p>
<p>{{{{{{{{ Hugs }}}}}}}}}</p>
<p>I feel your powerlessness to help your baby boy. That’s what addiction does…it renders us powerless in the face of chaos and self-destruction. Its force does not respond to love or reason. You can’t make sense of this.</p>
<p>Wishing strength for you and your family…remember they need you…you need each other.</p>
<p>Alcoholism is a disease with a strong hold. How terrible for your family.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, friends, for all the sympathy and support, you really don’t know how much it means to me. </p>
<p>Like I mentioned, my brother was killed in an alcohol related accident when I was 24 and he was 21 and a college senior - only in that case he was the driver, and the other party involved was an innocent freshman who was driving back home after visiting her family. He was an alcoholic. We didn’t think he drank any more than the average college student, but in retrospect we were just in denial. I remember how guilty my mother and father felt, and both slipped into a deep, deep depression that resulted in my father attempting suicide twice in one year. It was a horrific time. Since then, I’ve been haunted every time I’ve heard of a death involving drunken driving on TV, in the newspaper, or anywhere else. Addiction is such a terrible thing, it ruins lives. if only things were different … =/ </p>
<p>I’m just hoping that, if anything, my story can serve as a cautionary tale to prevent the needless death of another good kid somewhere out there. </p>
<p><strong><em>hugs</em></strong>***</p>
<p>Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. I second the suggestions to look into Al-Anon or Compassionate Friends (for parents who have lost a child) when you’re ready. I don’t know what else to say except (((((hugs))))).</p>
<p>I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry. <em>hugs</em> My thoughts are with you and your family today.</p>
<p>Heartfelt sympathy to you and your husband. Grief counseling will tell you to focus on the good memories. Do that. Remember the blessed years that you had together. Sometimes children are taken from us when they are very young. They were a gift for a while in our lives. Cherish that gift and try not to wonder 'if only."</p>
<p>Please accept my deepest sympathies. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.</p>
<p>Your story moved me to tears. How horrible for all the families of the kids involved. I am sure you cannot help but feel guilty but as others have already said, your son’s death is not your fault. There are some things that we cannot control.</p>
<p>My condolences on the loss of your dear son. I am so sorry…so very sorry.</p>
<p>This is not your fault. It is not your Dh’s fault. It is not your DD’s fault.
Things happen in life. Sometimes they are wonderful and sometimes they are horrible. In this case, they are beyond imagining. But it is not your fault.</p>
<p>I am so sorry for your family’s loss and your pain, PsychoMomTX. It is almost impossible to control the behavior of others, no matter how you are second guessing yourself. Hold your daughter and husband close.</p>
<p>Thank you for sharing this tragic, painful story. I am so sorry for you and your family. You did the best you could and it is NOT YOUR FAULT.<br>
I, too, have a child who struggled and this could have easily been my story 7 years ago. We can only do so much as parents, but that does not ease any of the pain of a loss.
God bless you.</p>
<p>OP - I know that words are not nearly sufficient at this time. But all I can say is that I am so, so sorry. I will pray for you and your family. I will have to call you “Psychomom”, but God knows your real name, so don’t worry!
Just breathe. And take another breath. And another one. Let your friends and family help you - people want to do something, no - need to do something for you. Let them. Let someone bring you supper - you have to eat - even if it doesn’t taste good. You have to drink. Get a glass of water. Let someone do your laundry, if you want help. Let the kid down the street mow for you.<br>
Please let us all know how you are doing. And try to turn towards your husband through this, because he needs you, too. And you need him.</p>
<p>I am so sorry that your son has died. Please accept my deepest sympathies. </p>
<p>This was not your fault. Not your husband’s fault, not your daughter’s fault. Please hold onto that, even if you cannot believe it yet.</p>
<p>As others have recommended, when you are ready there are [The</a> Compassionate Friends - Supporting Family After a Child Dies](<a href=“http://www.compassionatefriends.org/home.aspx]The”>The Compassionate Friends Non-Profit Organization for Grief) and [Welcome</a> to Al-Anon and Alateen](<a href=“http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/]Welcome”>http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/)</p>
<p>PsychomomTx ~ I am so deeply sorry for the loss of your son. Addiction is a terrible disease and I have tears in my eyes simply thinking about the pain you are experiencing. hugs to you and your family as you grieve an unfathomable loss…</p>
<p>I am so sorry for your loss. I cried reading your post. It is not your fault, and you are not responsible. When you can go to a support group. You and your family are in my prayers.</p>