A mom who’s recovering from heroin habit shared harrowing pictures of herself earlier than she stop the drug. Her objective was to warn others in regards to the risks of drug habit, however it’s best to see how she seems now.
Melissa Lee Matos, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, mentioned that she by no means supposed to share the photographs on social media, however she felt compelled to take action since she had associates who she thought wanted to see them. “It goes past what my phrases can accomplish,” Matos wrote within the 2017 submit. “That is by far, probably the most uncooked factor I’ve shared with the world. Please learn. Please share.”
Matos said that she had been in restoration for over a 12 months and a half, however her life previous to that was suffering from overdose nights and spending each penny she had on medication to get excessive. She frightened the world with images of herself within the grip of habit, her face scabbed and her eyes rolling to the again of her head.
“That is what I appeared like, day by day, for years,” she wrote, alongside photographs of herself with a closely scabbed face. “That is what my husband handled. That is what my little ladies walked in on. That is what my household and associates noticed, on the uncommon events I left the home. I used to be SICK. I used to be DYING. I used to be thus far gone I assumed I may NEVER get better. I used to be so misplaced I couldn’t think about a life with out utilizing. I simply wished to die. I didn’t notice I used to be hardly alive.”
Earlier than Matos received clear, the household home was in “shambles” and her two daughters “consistently missed faculty.” She would lock herself within the rest room or her bed room for hours whereas she used medication. However that every one modified when Matos realized she may lose each of her daughters, the 2 most vital issues in her life. It moved her to lastly search assist for her drug habit.
Matos overdosed in 2015, however paramedics saved her life. Her daughters had been enjoying instantly outdoors her bed room door when it occurred. Her ladies moved in along with her dad and mom as soon as she was launched from the hospital. However, the near-death incident didn’t scare Matos into sobriety. “It was one of many lowest moments of my life,” she mentioned. “Nonetheless, I used to be so sick in my habit, that didn’t cease me. I received residence and shot up the identical fentanyl that had simply virtually taken my life.”
Matos consists of her cellphone quantity and e mail handle close to the conclusion of her viral submit for others who want help. 1000’s of individuals commented on her pictures, lots of whom praised her for having the bravery to talk out about habit and her personal battles with it. In a follow-up submit, Matos expressed gratitude for the quantity of people that reached out and thanked her for sharing the images.
“In case you are presently in energetic habit, that is my plea to you. Take a look at these footage. Pictures of a lifeless woman. A needle junkie with a behavior so fierce she spent days and nights in a self-induced coma on her rest room ground,” Matos wrote. “A lady who would spend each cent on dope and neglect she had children to feed and maintain. A lady who misplaced each single factor she ever had. A lady who was so sick she thought she would by no means ever discover a means out, till she did,” she continued.
“I did this within the hopes of even getting one individual to achieve out, and the truth that tons of of you might have trusted me and my story sufficient to message me fills me with extra hope and love than I can clarify,” Matos wrote. “Thanks for letting me share my story. I really like you all. We are able to do that collectively! By no means lose hope!!”
Whereas Melissa Lee Matos acquired many messages of assist, she additionally acquired criticism for getting concerned with medication within the first place. She bravely responded to her critics, writing, “I’m sorry if my story offended you. Please forgive me for not responding to your ignorant messages and feedback, however I’m presently extraordinarily preoccupied with spreading a message and serving to those that have reached out.”
Matos has been sober since March 1, 2016, and she or he began sharing photographs of her previous — and all the small print that go together with it — to assist others get sober. She additionally volunteers for Alcoholics Nameless and works with moms who’re addicts or in restoration. Matos now posts completely satisfied photographs of herself and her ladies to reveal how far she and her household have come. “Share with me your darkness,” she informed her Fb followers, “And I’ll lead you towards the sunshine.”
