a day for reflection

Nurses Recovery

Published

Specializes in pediatrics; PICU; NICU.

Today as I celebrate my birthday, there's another date I celebrate. 28 years ago today was my very first sober day after 14 years of heavy drinking. I've learned a lot over these years but went to a meeting first thing this morning and heard things from some rather new members that I've never even thought of. It never ceases to amaze me that, just when I think I know things, I learn something new.

The most important thing I've learned over these years is that I'm still just 1 drink away from being right back where I was.

My New Year's wish for everyone is to be easy on yourselves and enjoy life. It's too short not to be happy.

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Thank you so much for your encouraging words! I'm having a rough day and needed to hear them!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

(((HUGS))) to OP and all the others.

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Happy Birthday (late) ! Thanks so much for this! I really, really needed some positive thoughts/vibes today. Congratulations on your 28th anniversary :up: .

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Thank you for your inspiring words, I sure needed them today!

Dec 1st 2016 marked my 1 year sobriety date.. my case hasn't come up with the BON yet- I'm praying daily for good results :-)

Happy belated birthday! :-)

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Pretty inspiring, 28 yrs. is awesome! It gives me hope, hope my future and hope for all my fellow nurses that struggle.

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Specializes in Med Surg Tele.

Congrats to you. I'm always hearing new stuff like that in meetings and it's always good to know that we can hear fresh and positive thing swhen we sit back and listen.

:)

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Specializes in Hospice and Palliative Nurse.

First, congrats on your success! I celebrate your ability to beat the monster of addiction. that being said, I am just a mom and a RN.. but mostly just a mom who lost her oldest son to an OD in the summer of 2015. My heart broke the day his heart stopped beating. No, it shattered. I was given a life sentence when he died.

Oh sure, I get up and go to work. I smile. I say I am ok. I lie. I still cry everyday, though not all day anymore. The guilt is overwhelming. We nurses are "fixers". I was supposed to protect him. I was supposed to be able to help him. I could not protect him from this monster. Every bit of my retirement is gone, gone to rehab that did not help. One last relapse took his life one month after he was best man in his brothers wedding. I am grateful for that last happy memory.

When people learn I have lost a son, and ask what happened. I have learned to be honest now. I find it helps to tell the truth...

"His name is Ryan. He was 30 years old. He started on medication to treat an injury and when he could not that medication anymore he went to heroin. He tried to get off it and could not. It took his dignity, his soul and then his life. He was not a bad person. You would have liked him. His life had meaning. I loved him without judgment. If you know someone struggling do whatever you can do to help them and never give up hope"

Ryan is buried on my farm in Tennessee, under our oak tree. His grave was dug and prepared by his brother, his cousins and friends, his mom and dad. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. We had a home funeral. A sundial is his marker and marks the time till we are all together again.

Visit Ryan at: Ryan P Frye at Virtual Memorials.com and say "hi"

[email protected]

Addicts are people with families that love them, they are more than the disease of addiction.....Remember that as you work with them.

Thanks for all you do...

Stay sober, you are worth it!

Just a mom

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Thank you. I'm so sorry for your loss í ½í¸”

I have a 10 yr old son and a 16 yr old daughter . Looking back I think of how much worse things could've been. I'm so thankful nothing bad happened to them during my addiction, yes they are emotionally hurt but we are working through that - with Gods help most of all, and with counseling.

I have my case coming up with the nursing board and with the DEA - not sure when .. Im telling myself take it one day and a time and do the next right thing.

You take care. I will be checking this recovery page every so often- it sure helps to know I'm not alone.

Thank you, God bless you!

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Hi poppycat.... It's Lisa from Friday night in Bolingbrook. I broke my cellphone by dropping it and may have lost all my info. Text me Wednesday or later (I should be getting a new phone Tuesday) with your first name so I can start rebuilding my contact list. I hope you get this message as I can't figure out any other way to contact you lol.

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