I went to school with gabby at valley vista. She was always smiling and happy. She was always so nice. Rest in peace sweet girl. Thanks for being so kind ❤
Amen....if we don't have a dad like him, we better have a mom like I had...even so, as great as a mother as I had, it doesn't fill the space my dad left when he died when I was six. Mom did the best she could. We all have our life stories. I'm grateful I had the mother I had. She was always very good to me. I was blessed. I've always been blessed by my God the Father Almighty. He is the One. The ever shining Light. The Way, The Truth and The Life.
This father is owning his truth!!! Speak truth to power, sir. I’m so sorry you lost your baby. You will save someone’s life with your testimony. Prayers to you and your family.🙏🏾
This man has the ability to change lives. His love for his daughter and his passion for truth and justice is palpable. I am so very sorry for his and his family's loss.
An AMAZING dad! Can I be your daughter? Thank you for sharing. You have already saved another life, mine. I can't imagine putting my parents through the senseless loss of a child. Sending hugs.
I made the mistake of getting into Fentanyl for about 5 months. The stupidest thing to do. I am 6 weeks off of that garbage and I thank God that I was able to get away from it. I can honestly say that it would have killed me.
Dear Laura, I know you've got this! I'm rooting for you! I'm praying for you. Please see the recovery series that Glen produces. It will bring you strength & encouragement!
@@laurahogan3247 The one positive thing you can always turn to when feeling scared is this channel and all the stories & advice & what these stories are about & the message these stories bring to the forefront...then watch the recovery stories from this same channel. Watching a successful recovering addict story is one of the most heartwarming, good crying things I've done in a long time since living in the US is so unpredictable in a bad way these days! I hope to see you on the good side of this channel telling your recovery story one day. 🙏❤️
I can tell that you are a great dad. I can see how much you love your daughter. I'm so sorry you lost her like this. Thank you for sharing your story. Prayers of comfort and peace for your family 🙏 Fly high Gabby 🕊
Thank you for your comments. We also have a series of addiction recovery stories that you might find interesting. Here's a link to the playlist: From Addiction to Recovery - ua-cam.com/play/PLdCPA32W_p39Z8hi7xSIX3Fkqmhd7mRzj.html
I feel your pain in my heart. I hope that sharing your pain lightens it a bit. You are an amazing dad. We can’t control another person. Your love was with your daughter all of her days. It still is. Thank you for sharing your beautiful daughter’s story. I’m sorry for your loss.
RIP to your beautiful daughter. You brought up so many important topics about addiction and bipolar and the stigma of being a addict. Heart breaking - How to we change the system? How can we fix this problem. No one deserves to be poisoned to death.
My younger sister died at 25, we had a big age gap and we had a lot of turmoil growing up so she was more like my child than a sibling. Our dad died when she was 5. That sent my mom into a spiral. Naturally that created a lot of instability and anxiety sending her into a rapid decline. I have so many regrets and misdirected anger. She died in 2016 so I'm a little further along than you in this awful journey like people trying to run a race without a working heart. There is so much more I want to say but one very important thing I pray you read... after tons of failed rehabs, after spending every dime we have we had her picked up several times for a warrant from a DWI charge thinking she would finally be forced to sober up in jail. If anything I think the jail time accelerated her decline. Please at least cross that thought from your shoulda coulda woulda list! Going down that rabbit hole will just make you even more insane than you already feel. I wish there was something better to say than I'm so sorry for your loss, but I am. I wish you good health and some happiness that I promise will come
This is Gabrielle's momma & Rions wife, oh... sweet heart I feel your pain. I witnessed Gabrielle's sister who is 3 years younger than her, go through all the stages of grief, and it is definitely difficult as a sibling. Siblings aren't recognized near enough in this loss. I'm so sorry, and I hope that you are doing well and know that you, too, will one day be in your sister's arms one day. It's exhausting emotionally, as you know, but we do what we can in Gabbys honor to bring about change. God bless you, your family & your hearts.
@@CelesteTime11 thank you for your encouraging words. I feel such a connection to your family's story. I'm so grateful that you mentioned your other daughter's grief! After my sister passed I looked for anything I could read or watch that dealt with loss of a sibling but there was next to nothing. I learned that siblings are called 'the forgotten mourners." Many people actually said things to me like 'it would be so much worse if she was your daughter or your spouse..." Acknowledging your other children's pain through your broken heart is so admirable, so strong. The both of you seem like such incredible parents that raised incredible kids. I'd like to think our girls are watching over us together, keeping each other company until we get there 🪽😇
Thank you so much for what you do! I never did fentanyl but I have been clean off herion for 3 months these stories help me so much on my journey, and thank you to the families who share these heartbreaking stories of their loved ones you are all so appreciated and are really helping people!!!
Rion and Sharon, you are amazing parents and such wonderful people! Thank you so much for everything you do to help keep other parents from experiencing your heartache.
Addiction is devastating entire families. We all need to work hard to raise awareness and help our youth. Thank you doe raising awareness and sharing your story. There is a lot of emotion in this video. This is a story we all needed to listen to. I hope your family can have future moments of happiness without your daughter because I know she is looking down and knows you love her so much.
Thank you for sharing Gabby's story with us. I am truly devastated for your loss. To you Dad, your wife and children, my deepest condolences to you all. Your way of speaking, vulnerability and authenticity have surely helped (and still help) many people think twice about using, and those with substance use disorder. Your love and compassion comes through loud and clear. For Gabby's sake, and for hundreds of thousands who have lost their lives to Fentanyl and other opioids, please continue the mission you are on to bring awareness of fentanyl to people. 🙏 May God's love and comfort wrap themselves around you and your family when you need them most. 🙏
I watch these stories, and it hurts deep in my heart. It is terrifying and debilitating to live while your child is suffering through addiction, especially when you know of so very many stories like these. My heart goes out to Mom, Dad, and all of her siblings. There are just no words to ease pain as deep as losing a child. My son battled with this for over 2 years, and I couldn’t function in any aspect of life, I just couldn’t make myself be a wife or a mother or a daughter or an employee….it absolutely consumed me. I’m beyond grateful he’s been sober since April 27…I’m thankful every single day, but it never leaves my mind. I know each day is dependent on a choice he makes to stay the course. Your daughter was wrapped and embraced in the arms of our Father, I’m so thankful to know that is her eternity ❤
So Sorry for your Family’s loss. Thank you for your testimony and your truth. May God Bless you and your family. Prayers for you all and for all those who are suffering. R.I.P. 🕊️🕊️
“You never know how people differ in their own minds” I learned this firsthand after going through an excruciating loss. Not drug related, but it doesn’t matter. I understood for the first time what depression and dark days really look like. I’m so sorry you know too. May Gabby rest in peace.
Can I just say WOW, your story, no, not just your story, your WORDS have been 100% unequivocally one of the most AWARENESS conversation I think I've ever heard about this deadly drug. I'm not even an addict or have lost anyone to drugs. This channel came across my feed one day about 6months ago and I've been watching ever since in awe of these grieving parents talking and educating and I can say with grave certainty after listening to everything you said, bc its not how you said it, its what & why you said it, you would have saved my life...or rather your daughters story would have saved my life. I hope you continue to be relentless in your long journey to go out and keep speaking your truth about this and about how incredibly asinine our government is in how they're making this a priority, or lack there of... I'm so sorry you had to tell this story & be apart of a group no parent wants to be apart of & that your daughter was poisoned with deadly drug😢
Dear dad, it was not the worst advice you received to not let your daughter back in your home!! Please don't blame yourself for that!! You did the best you could!! Sending you a lot of support and strength, you are an amazing parent.
I agree. My sister is an alcoholic and we had to cut ties or we would have all drowned with her. I got my child off with though love. But he had just started and was a minor. When they turn 18 there is much less you can do. I'm not saying I'm better, we were just lucky.
Thank you to all who participated in the premiere and the live chat today. A big thanks to Glen and his sweet wife for all the hours of love, work & dedication in these productions to bring awareness and life saving to others. And last but not least, A huge Thank You to my sweet husband Rion, for his story, his humility and allowing others to share in his emotion as it has been very difficult. I am so proud of him, and I know Gabby is too. We love you GAB-GAB!!! you should be here.... you really should.
My heart just explodes for your family. Your story and Gabby’s story is so powerful, thank you for having the courage to share like this. I love you all so much, and will always have awe for who you have been and who you are today. I just know Gabby knows the extent of your love.
That was so well said your last statement: "When she felt alone, she would unfortunately take great risks." The gamble time and time again isn't in our favor. God Bless You all
Your Story Touched my Heart. I hear a Truly Loving Father. I feel This Story will reach Someone, I Pray it's Heard by Many! I have gone through some terrifying times, with my Son. I've tried TOUGH LOVE, Rehabs for him...he is doing Better, after the past 4 years...I see a Change in his Friends, even. I continue to Pray for him. Never knowing if I could do more. Listening to you talk, it's given me Hope. THANKYOU. GOD Bless. Praying You and Your Family will find the Strength to get through this. I can't imagine. LORD, Let this story in the Heartfelt words of Gabbys Father, Reach the Ears of those that NEED to Here It. Let it Hit Hard and Save them, Gabby has to be sooo Proud of ALL the Work you're doing to try and Reach/Educate people, Before it's too Late. Amen.❤
Thank you for your comments. We also have a series of addiction recovery stories that you might find interesting. Here's a link to the playlist: From Addiction to Recovery - ua-cam.com/play/PLdCPA32W_p39Z8hi7xSIX3Fkqmhd7mRzj.html
I have watched a ton of these stories and they all break my heart but this one, this one got me! I’m so sorry for your loss and I don’t feel like that’s enough. There needs to be a huge change and this fentanyl is being brought here and it’s out of control!
Wow what a powerful articulate man. So sorry for story and he really did everything in his power to save his daughter. It's a grueling battle and there is so so little effective help available today. It sounds like neurology made this outcome come true. Father did more than most anyone could handle.
We must all collectively pray for these precious families who are losing their closest loved ones to this scourge from hell. Bless this wonderful father and the rest of Gabrielle's family that continue to miss her! She's in a place now that we can barely imagine, yet know we'll meet her there when our journey ends in this realm. ❤
My heart aches for you, I can’t imagine how your heart must hurt, but you’ve still found the strength to talk about it to educate others. I wish you and your family well sir.
Condolences from India sad and heartbreaking to see you cry stay strong. I hope these documentaries are played in every school and colleges. Real life not reel life. RIP young soul.
Your beautiful daughter sounds lovely. I am so very sorry our system continues to fail our kids. God Bless you and your family. I believe you need to be a spokesperson because I've watched every single video and I've experienced this myself. You have a way of really touching ALL the bases and explaining. I hope you will become a public speaker!!!
@MsAdventure531 it's still HIS kid. I have a 29 yr old daughter who has never done a drug other than coffee and a 24 yr old son who struggles with Sud. They are my KIDS!!!! MY BABIES!!!
@@MsAdventure531 no kidding. Are you slow? What I was saying is that "kids" ages don't matter to a parent. They will always be their kids even into adulthood.
@@MsAdventure531 what is wrong with you and why are you on this site? Do you like or enjoy hurting grieving parents even more than what they are already going through. Gtfo
Thank you so much for sharing yours and your precious Gabbys' story all too common now, and thank you for shedding light on dual diagnosis and how our country/insurance etc needs to do more on so many levels. I know it sounds trite but you truly did the best you could, thank you
Sorry for your loss !!! Shame how young people are losing their lives so easily !!! So sorry. Never take street drugs !!! Never let ANYONE just hand you a pill!
so so sorry for your loss of your daughter❤ I didn’t plan to watch this video all the way through but I did…..very sad story of a young lady’s struggle …and a fathers’ struggle with “tough love” for his daughter……..❤
I never thought my son would do the things he’s done, drugs, alcohol, his life choices when I thought we gave him everything to prevent these behaviors. everything I and his father never had . I’ve come to realize there is no one to blame, they are our children’s choices. I’m not making any excuses for my son’s actions any longer, as an adult they are his not mine, nobody to blame but their choices
Thank you for your bravery sharing so honesty. More and more, I am realizing how many addicts are just self medicating to get to a 'normal' level that is the norm for most of us. 😢
5:21 what a truly amazing woman she sounds like and the way this father is describing his daughter. It makes you think about the fact that you just wish that these people want to see themselves the way that we do but unfortunately they don’t.
Tough love, kind love. Parents have tried it all. There's no right or wrong thing parents of addicts can do. One of the many things I've learned from these videos is that all you can hope is that an addict seeks help and gets forever sober before it's too late. Today's drugs are too dangerous to even experiment with, let alone become addicted to. May God bless and heal the families of all addicts.
These parenting it's did EVERYTHING right and still lost their daughter to Fentanyl. DON'T take anything if you, personally did not get it from a pharmacy. NO EXCEPTIONS!
6 years clean here,but I used described dosage and didn’t like the effect at. God bless you all that is fighting addiction or other struggles in life. ❤
it's important that this gentleman speaks about comorbidities - the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions. Situations are complex. Somebody who faces mental health challenges can face substance use disorder/challenges at the same time
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I know you are trying your best. You are a wonderful father. It is not easy but you are stronger than you know. The disease of addiction is a ugly monster. May God continue to bless and keep you and your family. Rest in Heavenly Peace ❤🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️😢😢😢
This family went to the mat for their daughter SO many times - and always with love and perseverance. No disrespect of any kind, but Dad reminds me of Ted Lasso - the way he presents himself with so much understanding, and also he resembles him. (For me, this is a compliment, so I hope it's not taken as a criticism.)
You & your family & daughter are in my heart, soul & heartfelt prayers. I'm so sorry- parents- teach your kids to use/carry Narcan. I tell them now they won't watch someone die, but it's also cuz you never know what your child may do & we got away w/ bad decisions- now kids die b4 they've finished exhaling
It is so terribly sad that it takes such enormous raw pain to bring out this level of clarity and honesty. I wish we could feel and communicate like this all the time. Thank you Mr. Thomas. I hope Robert Kennedy will be successful a HHS. He certainly has personal experience with addiction. He speaks about it with honesty.
Statements like that keep the horrible stigma alive and well. That’s such a disgusting thing to say. Many ppl who attend AA have been attending for 10 or 20 plus years.
Wow, this one was a hard watch 🥺 The son with autism broke me. Having an autistic son myself and know how hard it is for them to express their emotions and his son just pacing after his sister's death as his way of expressing his sadness...man! 😔😔😔
First of all: I’m so sorry for your loss. Your pain is coming right through me through the screen. As a European I’m always so amazed by the enormous amounts of stories that start with pain pills. In my country pain pills are used as a last resort. First other therapies: physical or psychological. So I wonder: isn’t it so that the mindset of fixing things with pills is a doorway to the feeling of ‘take a pill when somethings off’? Whether it’s emotional or physical. No judgement at all intended but the gigantic use of substances seems almost normal in all these terrible stories. I wish you strength!
You are one hundred percent correct. Pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. have a lot of influence over doctors. Most Americans want an instant cure to physical and mental pain so that goes along with the big pharma goal of record profits. Also note, a lot of these stories are about people who started with marijuana which many argue about it being a gateway drug.
@ Yes, you word nu thoughts better than I did. I also heard that Marihuana is so much stronger than what is used to be. And yes, once you try to fix probleem with substances I think one might be heading for the trap.
Yes, you are right. “A pill for every ill.” It’s a huge problem in this country. It was worse about a decade ago when OxyContin was being prescribed all over the place bc the drug company marketed it to doctors as non addictive. They’re prescribed less often now, but street drugs remain readily available and very easy to get.
I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s hard for me to comprehend a system where you have to pay for all medications and treatments. You did everything you could for your beautiful child. I wish you the strength to continue to highlight this terrible situation. RIP Gabby. ❤
Dad mentioned his son had Autism. Some of his daughters traits he talked about made me wonder if she could have possibly been on the Autism spectrum too? Several episodes when parents tell about their children who struggled with addiction - and talk about them having a hard time in social settings / socially awkward, always wanting to feel normal, finding one thing and being really good at it ( or excelling at one subject and struggling with others ), always struggled with sleep, having a hard time with change etc I could go on and on - There needs to be research on this ( there might be ? ) because I believe had they known what caused their problems they'd find peace in understanding that it's autism and not them. *Sorry about this being wordy and hard to understand - just wanted to mention it incase it might help 1 person. A lot of people who become addicts are labeled with mental illnesses like Bi-Polar or Personality Disorders and given very strong prescription medicine. I believe many are not mentally ill, but rather on The Spectrum.
@UnBoxLifeWithLori very interesting that you caught that too. The year before Gabrielle's passing, we were actively working with doctors, therapists, and psychologists to FINALLY get an on the spectrum of Autism diagnosis for our son , Seth. Both he AND Gabby both were articulate and intelligent, so EVERY Teacher, school psychologist, and even our own pediatrician missed it!!! and I knew as his mother that this was what was wrong. Google was my constant companion raising teenagers because that is a whole new world for a parent. Seth was 14 years old when he finally got the diagnosis and it was interesting to me to learn that Bipolar disorder and Autism on the spectrum actually are very much alive and each can be misdiagnosed and missed because they are so similar. They definitely displayed differently from childhood on. Gabrielle was not compulsive as a child. As she was highly creative in theater, song, and the arts. Seth was compulsive with wearing the same thing daily, such as a bow tie, or a Mohawk, or a certain shirt, etc. Etc. So it's good for parents to really search because doctors are human too and only we can know our children on a deeper level. If I had had Google at my fingertips earlier in gabbys life ....who knows, perhaps I would have done better. We can always do better, and it's easy to make mistakes 😌. Gabrielle's Mom, Shannon
@@CelesteTime11 Hugs to you Shannon, Gabrielle's mom. So sorry for the loss of you beautiful daughter. I'm raising my grandson who is on the spectrum ( non-verbal, severely autistic - and every single moment of every day is a struggle ) I've spent hours reading, watching videos, researching autism - and screaming we have find what is causing autism and find a cure. I believe, as crazy as this sounds, that autism can be cured. I say this because as I watch my grandson - there is something in his brain that is broken. Autism wasn't a thing we talked about 20 yrs ago - Find peace knowing you did everything you could for your daughter. Maybe start a group or a blog or a UA-cam channel - about autism awareness and addiction ( 3 A's - Autism Awareness - Addiction )
Having almost 10 years clean from cocaine, getting clean, to stop using your drug of choice..takes time, but its about people, places and things. Learning to cope and work out your problems and issues, without use of a mind altering substance. I had many relapses. Once I STOPPED counting my clean time, months turned into years. I never thought back then I could make it. YOU CAN GET BACK YOUR LIFE!!!
ITS BAD ENOUGH WATCHING 👀 A MOTHER CRY AFTER LOSING A CHILD TO FENTYNAL POISINING....BUT TO ME ITS EVEN MORE DISTURBING TO SEE A FATHER CRY 😢...JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS PROBLEM
I heard some very mixed messages throughout dad’s story. He uprooted himself and his family to follow the addicted daughter to Texas. In his words, to provide all this help for her. However, once there he abandons her by not allowing her to live in the family home - and instead he brings her to live with addicted boyfriend. In my view dad was in over his head and clearly did not understand how serious his daughter’s problem was. Consequently, she died in the worst of circumstances.
@@killereverb3928 until you have lived this yourself, you have no idea how way of life effects you. One day you think this is right. The next day the complete opposite sounds like the right thing to do. We went thru this with my son for almost 12 yrs. We sent him to 9 different rehabs. It was exhausting. Every single time we let him move back home when he messed up and relapsed. Every time. You know when he got better? When we finally put our foot door and said “no more.” This is not a cheap motel. Our home has to be a safe place for the rest of our family. You cannot come back home. Get help. And you know what? He did. He went and got help at a rehab that saved his life. And now he is almost three years sober and clean. He has a great job,about to buy a house and it doing great. It can be done. But sometimes we have to get out of the way.
Many families move for jobs to support their families. We can not possibly know how that will affect many thousands of children that do this very same thing every single year.
I went to school with gabby at valley vista. She was always smiling and happy. She was always so nice. Rest in peace sweet girl. Thanks for being so kind ❤
Thank you, sweetheart, for your acknowledgment of Gabrielle. And your support ❤
Superb testimonial! Every child deserves a Father as loving as this Man is. Wow!!❤
Amen....if we don't have a dad like him, we better have a mom like I had...even so, as great as a mother as I had, it doesn't fill the space my dad left when he died when I was six. Mom did the best she could. We all have our life stories. I'm grateful I had the mother I had. She was always very good to me. I was blessed. I've always been blessed by my God the Father Almighty. He is the One. The ever shining Light. The Way, The Truth and The Life.
This father is owning his truth!!! Speak truth to power, sir. I’m so sorry you lost your baby. You will save someone’s life with your testimony. Prayers to you and your family.🙏🏾
Praying for healing
I'm so so sorry.
Now this was a great interview. This grieving father left no stone unturned.
This man has the ability to change lives. His love for his daughter and his passion for truth and justice is palpable. I am so very sorry for his and his family's loss.
I agree 💯👍!!
An AMAZING dad! Can I be your daughter? Thank you for sharing. You have already saved another life, mine. I can't imagine putting my parents through the senseless loss of a child. Sending hugs.
I made the mistake of getting into Fentanyl for about 5 months. The stupidest thing to do. I am 6 weeks off of that garbage and I thank God that I was able to get away from it. I can honestly say that it would have killed me.
Congratulations! 🎉🎉🎉 Thank to God, His grace and your work. Stay strong and clean. God bless you. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I would have loved a father like this man. God bless you and your family.
Same here. I think just a lot of times I see stories that have got a great dad in it -like this story.❤
Im only three days clean ...but it's so worth it...God bless you and your family 🙏🏻 im so sorry
Rooting for you! Hold steady and strong.
You got this. We also have a series of recovery stories you might find interesting. They are in our playlists.
Dear Laura, I know you've got this! I'm rooting for you! I'm praying for you. Please see the recovery series that Glen produces. It will bring you strength & encouragement!
You got this.😊
@@laurahogan3247 The one positive thing you can always turn to when feeling scared is this channel and all the stories & advice & what these stories are about & the message these stories bring to the forefront...then watch the recovery stories from this same channel. Watching a successful recovering addict story is one of the most heartwarming, good crying things I've done in a long time since living in the US is so unpredictable in a bad way these days! I hope to see you on the good side of this channel telling your recovery story one day. 🙏❤️
This father is determined to make his daughter’s death matter by spreading awareness 🙏
I can tell that you are a great dad. I can see how much you love your daughter. I'm so sorry you lost her like this. Thank you for sharing your story. Prayers of comfort and peace for your family 🙏 Fly high Gabby 🕊
My condolences 💐 🙏🏼💐.
Amen ❤
Thank you so much, I really needed to hear this today. I felt like he was talking to me and I really needed it right now as a recovering addict.
Thank you for your comments. We also have a series of addiction recovery stories that you might find interesting. Here's a link to the playlist: From Addiction to Recovery - ua-cam.com/play/PLdCPA32W_p39Z8hi7xSIX3Fkqmhd7mRzj.html
My heart goes out to this father, I wish I had a father like this , may God comfort and give him strength 😢RIP Gabrielle
Thanks for trying the best you could to help your daughter
I feel your pain in my heart. I hope that sharing your pain lightens it a bit. You are an amazing dad. We can’t control another person. Your love was with your daughter all of her days. It still is. Thank you for sharing your beautiful daughter’s story. I’m sorry for your loss.
RIP to your beautiful daughter. You brought up so many important topics about addiction and bipolar and the stigma of being a addict. Heart breaking - How to we change the system? How can we fix this problem. No one deserves to be poisoned to death.
My younger sister died at 25, we had a big age gap and we had a lot of turmoil growing up so she was more like my child than a sibling. Our dad died when she was 5. That sent my mom into a spiral. Naturally that created a lot of instability and anxiety sending her into a rapid decline. I have so many regrets and misdirected anger. She died in 2016 so I'm a little further along than you in this awful journey like people trying to run a race without a working heart. There is so much more I want to say but one very important thing I pray you read... after tons of failed rehabs, after spending every dime we have we had her picked up several times for a warrant from a DWI charge thinking she would finally be forced to sober up in jail. If anything I think the jail time accelerated her decline. Please at least cross that thought from your shoulda coulda woulda list! Going down that rabbit hole will just make you even more insane than you already feel. I wish there was something better to say than I'm so sorry for your loss, but I am. I wish you good health and some happiness that I promise will come
@@CMama612 I sorry for your loss too! How sad to loose someone so precious 😞
@ thank you Nicky. I love that the comment section of these videos are usually always kind.
This is Gabrielle's momma & Rions wife, oh... sweet heart I feel your pain. I witnessed Gabrielle's sister who is 3 years younger than her, go through all the stages of grief, and it is definitely difficult as a sibling. Siblings aren't recognized near enough in this loss. I'm so sorry, and I hope that you are doing well and know that you, too, will one day be in your sister's arms one day. It's exhausting emotionally, as you know, but we do what we can in Gabbys honor to bring about change. God bless you, your family & your hearts.
@@CelesteTime11 thank you for your encouraging words. I feel such a connection to your family's story. I'm so grateful that you mentioned your other daughter's grief! After my sister passed I looked for anything I could read or watch that dealt with loss of a sibling but there was next to nothing. I learned that siblings are called 'the forgotten mourners." Many people actually said things to me like 'it would be so much worse if she was your daughter or your spouse..." Acknowledging your other children's pain through your broken heart is so admirable, so strong. The both of you seem like such incredible parents that raised incredible kids. I'd like to think our girls are watching over us together, keeping each other company until we get there 🪽😇
The people we have the GIFT to hear and learn from thanks to this channel! It is such a force! THANK YOU! ❤
Thank you so much for what you do! I never did fentanyl but I have been clean off herion for 3 months these stories help me so much on my journey, and thank you to the families who share these heartbreaking stories of their loved ones you are all so appreciated and are really helping people!!!
@@Sonicandfrance
Keep coming back. ☮️☯️💟
I see you, and keep going! Your life matters! Thank you for sharing ❤. You've got this!!!
Rion and Sharon, you are amazing parents and such wonderful people! Thank you so much for everything you do to help keep other parents from experiencing your heartache.
Thank you, Cindy. Maybe we can help break the stigma in Cedar County, Missouri. 🙏
Addiction is devastating entire families. We all need to work hard to raise awareness and help our youth. Thank you doe raising awareness and sharing your story. There is a lot of emotion in this video. This is a story we all needed to listen to. I hope your family can have future moments of happiness without your daughter because I know she is looking down and knows you love her so much.
Thank you ❤️ -Gabbys Momma
Thank you 🙏. We are all working together to bring about awareness and education to stigma. Your presence does the same. Thank you for watching.
His sorrow breaks my heart. We are losing our children. My condolences to you and your family. May God carry you all through this pain and grief. 🙏🏾
Thank you for sharing Gabby's story with us. I am truly devastated for your loss. To you Dad, your wife and children, my deepest condolences to you all.
Your way of speaking, vulnerability and authenticity have surely helped (and still help) many people think twice about using, and those with substance use disorder.
Your love and compassion comes through loud and clear.
For Gabby's sake, and for hundreds of thousands who have lost their lives to Fentanyl and other opioids, please continue the mission you are on to bring awareness of fentanyl to people. 🙏
May God's love and comfort wrap themselves around you and your family when you need them most. 🙏
I watch these stories, and it hurts deep in my heart. It is terrifying and debilitating to live while your child is suffering through addiction, especially when you know of so very many stories like these. My heart goes out to Mom, Dad, and all of her siblings. There are just no words to ease pain as deep as losing a child. My son battled with this for over 2 years, and I couldn’t function in any aspect of life, I just couldn’t make myself be a wife or a mother or a daughter or an employee….it absolutely consumed me. I’m beyond grateful he’s been sober since April 27…I’m thankful every single day, but it never leaves my mind. I know each day is dependent on a choice he makes to stay the course.
Your daughter was wrapped and embraced in the arms of our Father, I’m so thankful to know that is her eternity ❤
So Sorry for your Family’s loss. Thank you for your testimony and your truth. May God Bless you and your family. Prayers for you all and for all those who are suffering. R.I.P. 🕊️🕊️
“You never know how people differ in their own minds”
I learned this firsthand after going through an excruciating loss. Not drug related, but it doesn’t matter. I understood for the first time what depression and dark days really look like. I’m
so sorry you know too. May Gabby rest in peace.
Wow, what a great dad. She was so lucky
Can I just say WOW, your story, no, not just your story, your WORDS have been 100% unequivocally one of the most AWARENESS conversation I think I've ever heard about this deadly drug. I'm not even an addict or have lost anyone to drugs. This channel came across my feed one day about 6months ago and I've been watching ever since in awe of these grieving parents talking and educating and I can say with grave certainty after listening to everything you said, bc its not how you said it, its what & why you said it, you would have saved my life...or rather your daughters story would have saved my life. I hope you continue to be relentless in your long journey to go out and keep speaking your truth about this and about how incredibly asinine our government is in how they're making this a priority, or lack there of... I'm so sorry you had to tell this story & be apart of a group no parent wants to be apart of & that your daughter was poisoned with deadly drug😢
Amen! I agree 💯👍!
Education & awareness are
Imperative!!
What a wonderful, wonderful father!!! ❤️
Dear dad, it was not the worst advice you received to not let your daughter back in your home!! Please don't blame yourself for that!! You did the best you could!! Sending you a lot of support and strength, you are an amazing parent.
I agree.
My sister is an alcoholic and we had to cut ties or we would have all drowned with her.
I got my child off with though love. But he had just started and was a minor.
When they turn 18 there is much less you can do.
I'm not saying I'm better, we were just lucky.
My heart goes out to this father
Thank you to all who participated in the premiere and the live chat today. A big thanks to Glen and his sweet wife for all the hours of love, work & dedication in these productions to bring awareness and life saving to others. And last but not least, A huge Thank You to my sweet husband Rion, for his story, his humility and allowing others to share in his emotion as it has been very difficult. I am so proud of him, and I know Gabby is too. We love you GAB-GAB!!! you should be here.... you really should.
You guys are great parents who did everything you could. Stay strong! ❤
My heart just explodes for your family. Your story and Gabby’s story is so powerful, thank you for having the courage to share like this. I love you all so much, and will always have awe for who you have been and who you are today. I just know Gabby knows the extent of your love.
Just wondering did the channel creator lose a child?, sorry to ask. I’m liking this channel along with SWU as my top 2.
So very powerful, thank you, Gabby's father💔🙏🙏🙏
Wow I’ve watched many many of these interviews…… this is the most powerful and passionate one I’ve watched. Sending love and prayers.
That was so well said your last statement: "When she felt alone, she would unfortunately take great risks." The gamble time and time again isn't in our favor. God Bless You all
The sad thing about these stories is they will never end. Only two ways out of drug addiction. Your chance of recovery is very slim. Don’t start.
Your Story Touched my Heart. I hear a Truly Loving Father. I feel This Story will reach Someone, I Pray it's Heard by Many! I have gone through some terrifying times, with my Son. I've tried TOUGH LOVE, Rehabs for him...he is doing Better, after the past 4 years...I see a Change in his Friends, even. I continue to Pray for him. Never knowing if I could do more. Listening to you talk, it's given me Hope. THANKYOU. GOD Bless. Praying You and Your Family will find the Strength to get through this. I can't imagine. LORD, Let this story in the Heartfelt words of Gabbys Father, Reach the Ears of those that NEED to Here It. Let it Hit Hard and Save them, Gabby has to be sooo Proud of ALL the Work you're doing to try and Reach/Educate people, Before it's too Late. Amen.❤
Amen. Tears, thank you.
Amen ❤🙏
Such a real testimonial. I'm so very sorry for the loss of your Daughter, It just breaks my heart for your family.
The pain you feeling sir reflects your love,so sorry sir
So sorry for your loss. 💔🙏
Hey your daughter saw you for the rockstar dad you are!
You gave her a great life and a great dad
Thankyou for sharing your story
Thank you for the honesty and directbess of your feelings in this important video. I am very sorry for your loss .
Wow ‘ this dad did and amazing job telling his daughter story !!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
I’m struggling so hard right now, thanks 🙏🏽
Thank you for your comments. We also have a series of addiction recovery stories that you might find interesting. Here's a link to the playlist: From Addiction to Recovery - ua-cam.com/play/PLdCPA32W_p39Z8hi7xSIX3Fkqmhd7mRzj.html
I have watched a ton of these stories and they all break my heart but this one, this one got me! I’m so sorry for your loss and I don’t feel like that’s enough. There needs to be a huge change and this fentanyl is being brought here and it’s out of control!
Wow what a powerful articulate man. So sorry for story and he really did everything in his power to save his daughter. It's a grueling battle and there is so so little effective help available today. It sounds like neurology made this outcome come true. Father did more than most anyone could handle.
⭐️ Florida’s Marchman Act: any loved one can file at the courthouse for involuntary rehabilitation
We must all collectively pray for these precious families who are losing their closest loved ones to this scourge from hell. Bless this wonderful father and the rest of Gabrielle's family that continue to miss her! She's in a place now that we can barely imagine, yet know we'll meet her there when our journey ends in this realm. ❤
I'm clean and sober for four decades now. Unfortunately, this pandemic is 100 000% worse!
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Wow!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🏆🏆🏆🏆👍
I wish I could hug your baby. Thank you for your story. Tears 😢
I'm so sorry sir... You are a beautiful father and man. I'm probably older than you and Id be happy to have you for my dad!!!
My heart aches for you, I can’t imagine how your heart must hurt, but you’ve still found the strength to talk about it to educate others. I wish you and your family well sir.
I’m so so sorry. I’m living that agony you articulate. My take away- no to “tough love.” It never feels right anyway. Love and prayers 🙏🏻🕊️
What a lovely amazing and gorgous father! So sorry for his huge loss. It is devastating but she had a good loving family.
Condolences from India sad and heartbreaking to see you cry stay strong.
I hope these documentaries are played in every school and colleges.
Real life not reel life.
RIP young soul.
Exactly.
Thank you for these testimonies. I can not imagine.
Your beautiful daughter sounds lovely. I am so very sorry our system continues to fail our kids. God Bless you and your family. I believe you need to be a spokesperson because I've watched every single video and I've experienced this myself. You have a way of really touching ALL the bases and explaining. I hope you will become a public speaker!!!
She was a 27-year old adult woman.
@MsAdventure531 it's still HIS kid. I have a 29 yr old daughter who has never done a drug other than coffee and a 24 yr old son who struggles with Sud. They are my KIDS!!!! MY BABIES!!!
@@MsAdventure531 YOU NEVER STOP BEING A PARENT JUST BECAUSE YOUR KIDS BECOME ADULTS...SMH!!!
@@MsAdventure531 no kidding. Are you slow? What I was saying is that "kids" ages don't matter to a parent. They will always be their kids even into adulthood.
@@MsAdventure531 what is wrong with you and why are you on this site? Do you like or enjoy hurting grieving parents even more than what they are already going through. Gtfo
Thank you so much for sharing yours and your precious Gabbys' story all too common now, and thank you for shedding light on dual diagnosis and how our country/insurance etc needs to do more on so many levels. I know it sounds trite but you truly did the best you could, thank you
Sorry for your loss !!! Shame how young people are losing their lives so easily !!! So sorry. Never take street drugs !!! Never let ANYONE just hand you a pill!
so so sorry for your loss of your daughter❤ I didn’t plan to watch this video all the way through but I did…..very sad story of a young lady’s struggle …and a fathers’ struggle with “tough love” for his daughter……..❤
I never thought my son would do the things he’s done, drugs, alcohol, his life choices when I thought we gave him everything to prevent these behaviors. everything I and his father never had . I’ve come to realize there is no one to blame, they are our children’s choices. I’m not making any excuses for my son’s actions any longer, as an adult they are his not mine, nobody to blame but their choices
Yes, very often those are children's choices. But when they need to turn back, and be clean, they should get help.
Thank you for your bravery sharing so honesty. More and more, I am realizing how many addicts are just self medicating to get to a 'normal' level that is the norm for most of us. 😢
I got hit by a truck had three spine surgeries and a shoulder surgery, watching these episodes make me scared to take medication.😢
I never believed in tough love, that is when they need you the most! 😢
The problem is that you unfortunately can't force someone to get help they have to want to get help. 🙏🙏
My deepest sympathy to you and your family for the loss of your daughter. My heat breaks for your family
5:21 what a truly amazing woman she sounds like and the way this father is describing his daughter. It makes you think about the fact that you just wish that these people want to see themselves the way that we do but unfortunately they don’t.
Sorry for lost.I myself lost my sister 3 ago to that drug. It's a pain that will always be there 😢😢😢😢
@jenniemelton2523 I'm so sorry 😞. It is the deepest pain and gravest loss! Siblings... its so hard. Love Gabrielle's Mom....
Tough love, kind love. Parents have tried it all. There's no right or wrong thing parents of addicts can do. One of the many things I've learned from these videos is that all you can hope is that an addict seeks help and gets forever sober before it's too late. Today's drugs are too dangerous to even experiment with, let alone become addicted to. May God bless and heal the families of all addicts.
Sober 4 months now thank God
God help you, please. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
@pixi2209 thank you very much.
You can just see all the love he has for Gabbi, and telling her story is so important. My heart goes out to her family. I’m so sorry. ❤
My heart breaks for you. May God bless you and your family.
I am sorry for you and your family's loss Sir😢
I'm so sorry for your loss and Rest in peace 🕊
These parenting it's did EVERYTHING right and still lost their daughter to Fentanyl. DON'T take anything if you, personally did not get it from a pharmacy. NO EXCEPTIONS!
6 years clean here,but I used described dosage and didn’t like the effect at. God bless you all that is fighting addiction or other struggles in life. ❤
it's important that this gentleman speaks about comorbidities - the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions. Situations are complex. Somebody who faces mental health challenges can face substance use disorder/challenges at the same time
Praying for the families ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Hi from Australia🇦🇺.. I’m so sorry for your loss. ….
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I know you are trying your best. You are a wonderful father. It is not easy but you are stronger than you know. The disease of addiction is a ugly monster. May God continue to bless and keep you and your family. Rest in Heavenly Peace ❤🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️😢😢😢
This family went to the mat for their daughter SO many times - and always with love and perseverance. No disrespect of any kind, but Dad reminds me of Ted Lasso - the way he presents himself with so much understanding, and also he resembles him. (For me, this is a compliment, so I hope it's not taken as a criticism.)
You & your family & daughter are in my heart, soul & heartfelt prayers. I'm so sorry- parents- teach your kids to use/carry Narcan. I tell them now they won't watch someone die, but it's also cuz you never know what your child may do & we got away w/ bad decisions- now kids die b4 they've finished exhaling
So very very true. It’s a totally different world now.
Sounds like they did their best to help her and loved her through it all !
I'm aghast that anybody could not possibly have heard of fentanyl by now, it's all over the news.
It is so terribly sad that it takes such enormous raw pain to bring out this level of clarity and honesty. I wish we could feel and communicate like this all the time. Thank you Mr. Thomas. I hope Robert Kennedy will be successful a HHS. He certainly has personal experience with addiction. He speaks about it with honesty.
Thank you all for watching. Please share with someone you love.
Shared
Thank you, these DO help.
I have watched so many of these videos but for some reason this story just really hit me hard!! Thank you so much for sharing your story
RIP Gabrielle🙏🙏🙏
Prayers and Healing for all who love you 🙏🙏🙏
With regard to dating someone in AA, my therapist said, "Don't date from a dirty pool."
Statements like that keep the horrible stigma alive and well. That’s such a disgusting thing to say. Many ppl who attend AA have been attending for 10 or 20 plus years.
Rest, Peace Gabrielle My Condolences Too Her Parents and Friends💜💜
Wow, this one was a hard watch 🥺 The son with autism broke me. Having an autistic son myself and know how hard it is for them to express their emotions and his son just pacing after his sister's death as his way of expressing his sadness...man! 😔😔😔
Your son wasn’t pacing alone….God was pacing with him…..🙏🏻❤❤❤❤
Yes, as always. 🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻
First of all: I’m so sorry for your loss. Your pain is coming right through me through the screen.
As a European I’m always so amazed by the enormous amounts of stories that start with pain pills. In my country pain pills are used as a last resort. First other therapies: physical or psychological. So I wonder: isn’t it so that the mindset of fixing things with pills is a doorway to the feeling of ‘take a pill when somethings off’? Whether it’s emotional or physical. No judgement at all intended but the gigantic use of substances seems almost normal in all these terrible stories.
I wish you strength!
You are one hundred percent correct. Pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. have a lot of influence over doctors. Most Americans want an instant cure to physical and mental pain so that goes along with the big pharma goal of record profits. Also note, a lot of these stories are about people who started with marijuana which many argue about it being a gateway drug.
@ Yes, you word nu thoughts better than I did. I also heard that Marihuana is so much stronger than what is used to be. And yes, once you try to fix probleem with substances I think one might be heading for the trap.
Yes, you are right. “A pill for every ill.” It’s a huge problem in this country. It was worse about a decade ago when OxyContin was being prescribed all over the place bc the drug company marketed it to doctors as non addictive. They’re prescribed less often now, but street drugs remain readily available and very easy to get.
As a fellow European, I agree with you. Pain medication is a last resort, not the first port of call.
I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s hard for me to comprehend a system where you have to pay for all medications and treatments. You did everything you could for your beautiful child. I wish you the strength to continue to highlight this terrible situation. RIP Gabby. ❤
RIP Gabrielle 😢
Dad mentioned his son had Autism. Some of his daughters traits he talked about made me wonder if she could have possibly been on the Autism spectrum too? Several episodes when parents tell about their children who struggled with addiction - and talk about them having a hard time in social settings / socially awkward, always wanting to feel normal, finding one thing and being really good at it ( or excelling at one subject and struggling with others ), always struggled with sleep, having a hard time with change etc I could go on and on - There needs to be research on this ( there might be ? ) because I believe had they known what caused their problems they'd find peace in understanding that it's autism and not them. *Sorry about this being wordy and hard to understand - just wanted to mention it incase it might help 1 person. A lot of people who become addicts are labeled with mental illnesses like Bi-Polar or Personality Disorders and given very strong prescription medicine. I believe many are not mentally ill, but rather on The Spectrum.
@UnBoxLifeWithLori very interesting that you caught that too.
The year before Gabrielle's passing, we were actively working with doctors, therapists, and psychologists to FINALLY get an on the spectrum of Autism diagnosis for our son , Seth. Both he AND Gabby both were articulate and intelligent, so EVERY Teacher, school psychologist, and even our own pediatrician missed it!!! and I knew as his mother that this was what was wrong. Google was my constant companion raising teenagers because that is a whole new world for a parent. Seth was 14 years old when he finally got the diagnosis and it was interesting to me to learn that Bipolar disorder and Autism on the spectrum actually are very much alive and each can be misdiagnosed and missed because they are so similar. They definitely displayed differently from childhood on. Gabrielle was not compulsive as a child. As she was highly creative in theater, song, and the arts. Seth was compulsive with wearing the same thing daily, such as a bow tie, or a Mohawk, or a certain shirt, etc. Etc.
So it's good for parents to really search because doctors are human too and only we can know our children on a deeper level. If I had had Google at my fingertips earlier in gabbys life ....who knows, perhaps I would have done better. We can always do better, and it's easy to make mistakes 😌.
Gabrielle's Mom, Shannon
@@CelesteTime11 Hugs to you Shannon, Gabrielle's mom. So sorry for the loss of you beautiful daughter. I'm raising my grandson who is on the spectrum ( non-verbal, severely autistic - and every single moment of every day is a struggle ) I've spent hours reading, watching videos, researching autism - and screaming we have find what is causing autism and find a cure. I believe, as crazy as this sounds, that autism can be cured. I say this because as I watch my grandson - there is something in his brain that is broken. Autism wasn't a thing we talked about 20 yrs ago - Find peace knowing you did everything you could for your daughter. Maybe start a group or a blog or a UA-cam channel - about autism awareness and addiction ( 3 A's - Autism Awareness - Addiction )
Having almost 10 years clean from cocaine, getting clean, to stop using your drug of choice..takes time, but its about people, places and things. Learning to cope and work out your problems and issues, without use of a mind altering substance. I had many relapses. Once I STOPPED counting my clean time, months turned into years. I never thought back then I could make it. YOU CAN GET BACK YOUR LIFE!!!
⭐️ Florida’s Marchman Act ⭐️ Involuntary Rehabilitation: Any loved one can easily file free at the courthouse. This law saves lives!❤
Wow.... I'll be looking into this and sharing this with everybody. Thank you!!!
ITS BAD ENOUGH WATCHING 👀 A MOTHER CRY AFTER LOSING A CHILD TO FENTYNAL POISINING....BUT TO ME ITS EVEN MORE DISTURBING TO SEE A FATHER CRY 😢...JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS PROBLEM
I heard some very mixed messages throughout dad’s story. He uprooted himself and his family to follow the addicted daughter to Texas. In his words, to provide all this help for her. However, once there he abandons her by not allowing her to live in the family home - and instead he brings her to live with addicted boyfriend. In my view dad was in over his head and clearly did not understand how serious his daughter’s problem was. Consequently, she died in the worst of circumstances.
And moved her to Arizona in a critical time of development
@@killereverb3928 until you have lived this yourself, you have no idea how way of life effects you. One day you think this is right. The next day the complete opposite sounds like the right thing to do. We went thru this with my son for almost 12 yrs. We sent him to 9 different rehabs. It was exhausting. Every single time we let him move back home when he messed up and relapsed. Every time. You know when he got better? When we finally put our foot door and said “no more.” This is not a cheap motel. Our home has to be a safe place for the rest of our family. You cannot come back home. Get help. And you know what? He did. He went and got help at a rehab that saved his life. And now he is almost three years sober and clean. He has a great job,about to buy a house and it doing great. It can be done. But sometimes we have to get out of the way.
Many families move for jobs to support their families. We can not possibly know how that will affect many thousands of children that do this very same thing every single year.
Rion we think of you and Shannon often. We pray for you. I know this has been so hard. 😢
Love you both