Dear support group, I would like to first start out by introducing myself. Hi, my name is Lillian Marie. I get most of you have heard my name through many stories and conversations, but I just wanted to formally introduce myself. I would like to thank each one of you for all the support you have shown my mother. I have recently heard that you all got to hear my letter from me to my mother, but I wanted to write a different letter to all of you. Now that my mom is finally gaining her strength back and getting clean, I’ve started to understand her view on things. The more I get older the harder life starts to get and I understand you and I see you now. Of course, I’m not doing anything bad, but life plays lots of tricks and it’s hard. I can say now that you guys have inspired me, I realize that life is hard but if you just keep having faith, God’s timing is so perfect and if you wait and believe he will lead you into the wonderful path he has for each one of you. Almost losing my mom taught me that life is so precious and short, our purpose on the time we have on Earth is not for acquiring possessions, attaining status, achieving success, or even experiencing happiness. Those are all secondary issues. Life is about your love with god and with others. I prayed every day for my mom to become the Jamie we once knew and I’m not going to lie, I gave up and being a child of an addict is hard because you can’t truly understand why, and you have to grow up on your own feeling alone. But I just want to say that it’s okay to not be okay as cringe as it sounds. I understand it’s hard as a parent or family member to try and be their support when you feel like you have no support of your own. Just know that it does not matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t give up. This world is so scary and one day I will have a life on my own. I’m so thankful I got see my mom struggle the way she did but Finally pushing through because now I know that I have some tough blood like hers. Please remember to not be ashamed of you story because one day it may inspire others.