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This can be the end result. Think about this
I'm posting this picture to give those of you who don't know, an idea of what drugs can do to these girls when not kept in check. This particular girl is not identifiable due to the bandages. That's the only reason I'm posting the photo. I will not divulge her name as tragedy has no name. It can hit any one of us anytime anywhere.
She's 24 years old. An entire life ahead of her. She had a wonderful personality. Always smiling or laughing or joking. She had troubles. Troubles much bigger than you or I. Desperately seeking help. As so often is the case administrative red tape gets in the way. She would want me to share this with all of you because she hated seeing others suffer. She wanted to go to detox and rehab. The red tape said no way. Because her insurance was in Delaware county not Philadelphia. So does that mean we are not responsible for people unless they are from Philly? That's red tape for you. It sorts who lives and who dies.
She would stop on the street to give a person her last cigarette. She would go food shopping and reach in her bag on the way out of the store to give a homeless person something to eat. She always felt, no matter how big her troubles were there was always someone that seemed to have it a little harder. We went to a restaurant and she had a lot of leftovers. Put them in a doggie bag. As we left and headed home she saw a man in tattered clothes shivering from the cold. She asked me to stop. So I pulled over. She got out and took the bag to him. Gave him a hug and left without a word.
Yet there was a word and it resonates in my head over and over when I think of her. That word is Caring. She cared for others deeply. More so than herself. Yes she knew hunger all right. She had experienced it many times in her young life. Knowing she could very well be hungry again soon she still gave what she had to ease the suffering of others. Red tape does not allow that life to continue. Because that life is not like the rest of ours.
She was an addict. One of those that some non addicted would call worthless, and useless. Yet I came to know that she had a value so few of us possess. She was far from a useless addict. In her short beautiful life she had compassion for other human beings. Aside from her love for humanity she was also a great artist. Educated. Vibrant individual that loved life. She loved people. She didn't need to know someone, she loved them because they were human. What an amazing quality and legacy. How many of us can claim the same quality.
On January 12,2017 her beautiful life came to an abrupt halt. She died in my arms. Yeah that's right and overdose. I won't get into the details of that terrible few hours. Just be assured they will be forever etched in my mind. As many of you know this is not the first time I've had to deal with losing someone to the ravages of drugs. It does not get any easier. Believe me.
She was hooked up to machines for a week before things was put to an end. She for all intents and purposes physically died the night she OD'd. All the machines in the world cannot give you life if brain and body function has ceased. Just MHO. Take the tubes out there is no function.
So what does this have to do with you, me and the rest of us? The dice we roll every time we meet a girl and hang out could be the time when you may have to go through what I went through. It's not at all pretty. You do not want to deal with that. I don't care how tough you are. You can't handle it.
Take a moment out of your busy day to think of just what can happen out there. Say a prayer for those that need the security of drugs. They all have their own story as have all of you. Say a prayer that you never have to deal with this torment. Know that this photo is proof of what drugs in the wrong hands can do to a beautiful life. Offer whatever assistance you can to those afflicted with this illness. Put your own thoughts and judgements aside for a moment and understand we are dealing with human beings. People that have the same likes and dislikes as all of us. People that suffer pain in a different way than the rest of us. Yet they are still people. Me, I'm just an 'OL Gator.