Replies to 'Troubled Teens'

Quote From: lifz2short

I met their dad when they were 3 yrs and 6 yrs old, I fell in love with the whole family instantly, jeff and I married 2 years later. The kids had a pretty "norman rockwell" life with us. Shortly after I came, the childrens mother showed signs of drug use and we entered into a custody battle, we obtained full custody and my journey as a step mom began. I loved them as my own and filled all of the duties that their mom was too high to do. The kids and I had a great relationship, I was good at it. Probably 2 or 3 years into the relationship, I discovered that my husband had become addicted to vicodin after back surgery, from there he moved to oxycontin and cocaine. I fought hard to fix him, i dumped out drugs, i combatted drug dealers and I threatened to leave if he wouldnt go to rehab. I stuck it out for so long to help the kids. In november 2001, he became violent and I left with only the clothes on my back. I knew in my heart, that something bad would happen but I had to leave. I came to our house one day in january, when I knew jeff wasnt home. I found drug paraphanalia and drugs out in the open. I was so mad, I took the drugs, weight scale and ran them over in the driveway. On february 7th 2002, I left him a message on his cell that he needed to go to rehab, and I'd watch the kids, or I was going to tell child protective services. 3 days later, Jeff died in front of his children of a drug overdose, the whole ordeal was horrific for them. I will never forget those two little faces at his funeral, oh my god, I'll never forget that. They were only 10 and 13...it was valentines day. They went from pure protected innocense and were thrust into the cruel abusive world of methamphedamine, abusive men and utter neglect of a drug addicted mother. Their grand parents refused to take custody. I Never heard from Josh again, but out of the blue, when she was 17, I heard from Whitney. I'll skip the stuff that she had to endure, but it was horrible, I cant think of it for too long before it affects me too much. I urged her to move back here and she did! She is beautiful..sweet..smart but she is terrified to be alone and has panic attacks often. She passes out and becomes physically ill, it has become debillitating for her. I found her a psychiatrist (i love her!!!!) but it's not working. She is starting to cut herself and meds arent working. Please help me, I am all that she has and this is so out of my area of expertise. Her therapist says that she looks to me as a mother, so I am responsible to protect her, i feel so helpless. She can be saved. Please help me