Replies to '05/17 Brandon Behind Bars'

Dear Dr Phil, 

I have written about my son, Phil, several times and when I read about Brandon, it breaks my heart!! 

My son was an alcoholic and a drug addict......he was also addicted to excitement.  He said he wished he could be happy with ordinary things.  He loved to ride motorcycles going as fast as he could; he was the life of the party; when drinking he was the loudest person in the room & sometimes got into fights because of it.   

I, too, didn't think he would live til he was 16, 21, or 30.  He lived to be 38 and only because about half of his life was spent incarcarated for driving and drug /related crimes.  Luckily, he didn't kill anyone, except almost once, in a car accident.  His life ended after he was released from work release & had been sober 1 1/2 years.  For whatever reason he relapsed and died of an overdose of methadone.  He went into cardiac arrest in a bar, was resusitated by paramedics, was taken to the hospital, was released the next morning, went home, was getting ready for church with his pants and one sock on, when his heart stopped again.  He was found 2 days later by his step daughter, who he lived with at the time.   

I never got to say goodbye.....how wonderful that would have been.....but the story isn't over!  He died on Dec 14, 2004, and I cry every day and ask "why?".  Please tell Brandon's family not to give up on him......my son during the last sober part of his life, told people how much he appreciated me visiting him in prison and spending fun time with him.  And that was his gift to me, too.  When he was in work release, I became his sponsor and we went several places together.  He gave me great love and appreciation.   I will cherish those times with him forever.