Recently I had the oppportunity to hear from Sarah, the mother of a past student and she is happy for me to share her journey with you.
Whilst talking with Sarah I had to fight back tears as some of her emotions were still so raw. She shared with me her family’s ordeal of dealing with Mark’s addiction and what her family life was like before Mark attended Triple Care Farm. More than once she called the staff Mark’s Angels. As she explained, they walked alongside him every step of the way. It was such a difficult journey, but in the end so rewarding, as she had her son back.
I understand Sarah’s story is not unique as she summed up so many other parents’ stories – your child makes a mistake and suddenly the whole family is living the nightmare, where everything is spiralling out of control. It was a timely reminder for me that Triple Care Farm helps the whole family – not just the young person.
Sarah spoke with pride as she described Mark before the drugs. He was a talented musician who had been accepted into a performing arts school on full scholarship. She felt like they were living the dream. However, it appears that things quickly changed once Mark began at the new school.
At first Sarah put Mark’s moodiness down to the pressure of school but he began to look unwell and lose a lot of weight. Apparently he didn’t sleep for days at a time. He told his Mum he was just working hard to get his assignments fi nished, I don’t think Sarah believed this and after several months, she asked him straight out if he was taking drugs. Mark admitted it but didn’t feel he had a problem.
But the admission was only the beginning of years of anguish. Her heartache was evident when she described the hell her family went through before Mark decided he needed help. Night time was the hardest without any other distractions. She would lie awake crying, convinced that her son was lost to drugs. She didn’t know what to do or who to turn to for help.
She knew he was stealing from them, she would come home to find jewellery missing or their daughters’ IPods gone. Mobile phones, cash, credit cards – nothing was out of bounds when Mark needed money for drugs. He lost his scholarship, dropped out of school and stopped doing everything he loved.
Mark would be gone for days at a time. Sarah and her husband would be so worried about where he was. They would ring his friends, extended family and hospitals to see if they could find him. They just needed to know he was still alive.
The problems with Mark put a real strain on their marriage and badly affected their two daughters. She said through tears, “at times, the rage and anger the family felt towards Mark and what he was putting us through nearly tore my family apart”. Her prayers were answered when Mark came home and asked her for help. At that moment she hugged him for the longest time and started the search for help
Sarah described Triple Care Farm as “the one place in the world that could save Mark.” So relieved and grateful that she found Triple Care Farm and Mark was well. “How do you thank someone for giving you back your son?” She said “I feel so lucky that Triple Care Farm was there for him. Words can’t begin to explain how truly thankful we all are for the help you and Triple Care Farm gave to our son.”
It is nearly 2 years since Mark was a student at Triple Care Farm and he is thriving. He has spent the last year back at school and has recommenced his music studies.
Sometimes Mark will give his mother a huge hug and say “I’m really sorry mum.”
Sarah's daughters now have their michieveous brother back and her husband's best mate has returned. The family is reunited and closer than ever.
Sarah is an incredible woman who never game up on her son but she almost lost everything. They are now a family reunited with the weight of the world off their shoulders. Hardships like this family has endured put things into a different perspective. Sometimes everyone needs a second chance.
Sarah just wanted to thank the Sir David Martin Foundation from all of her family and hopes that other families will get the same opportunities in the future at Triple Care Farm.
I know you will all agree that its stories like Sarah’s that reminds us; one wrong decision shouldn’t wreck a person’s life. It makes me proud to be able to share this with you and reconfirms that Sir David Martin Foundation is making significant difference in the lives of young people and those around them.
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