A Dad's Perspective - Edmonton Healing Hearts - BLOG
A Father’s Grief
“There is no expiration date on the love between a father and his child” - Jennifer Williamson
On November 4, 2018 our life changed, two officers from the Edmonton Police Service came to our home to advise us that our daughter Jordan had been found deceased, she died alone at a friends house where she had been staying.
Jordan was a beautiful young lady, loved life, excelled in every sport she tried and had so many friends. Unfortunately she also suffered from anxiety and depression, to treat a back injury she was prescribed Oxycontin, her drug use evolved to Percocet and eventually Methamphetamine. Jordan asked for help and with her family’s support was admitted to a number of Rehabilitation facilities, but was unable to get the help she needed to beat her addiction. She passed away within 10 days of being discharged from a specialized Rehabilitation facility.
My opinion about drug overdose has changed going through this ordeal, Jordan didn’t die from from a drug overdose, she was poisoned by a lethal dose of Fentanyl that she didn’t know she was taking. My perception on this subject was initially influenced by media, homeless people unfortunately dying alone on the street. Jordan wasn’t homeless, she had a loving family that wanted to help her but didn’t know the right way how. I think there was a level of shame associated with her drug use and often used alone.
Within 10 days of Jordan passing away, we reached out to the Edmonton Chapter of Healing Hearts. Our hearts were broken and we were desperate to find support that would help us somehow cope with this ordeal. Healing Hearts provided an environment where we were surrounded by people that unfortunately understood how we felt, what we were going through. No one judged us, they just provided loving support. It breaks my heart every time someone new joins this group, when we share pictures of the family member we have lost, the beautiful innocent faces of loved ones lost way to soon. These family members have come to the right place, to be supported by people that want to help you somehow learn to live with this incredible loss that has changed your life forever.
Brian Ilnicki - Edmonton, Alberta