A Half-Filled Room

For almost 82% of my life, I shared a bedroom or office with Henry’s Uncle, James. I'm very blessed I got all that time with my brother (good or bad). I still walk into our office everyday and see his desk as he last left it with his final tasks written on the glass wall. I still remember the final time he left the office on that Wednesday, December 5, as I didn't say goodbye because I was trying to think of my next sentence in an email. I remember it all very vividly because we always said goodbye, see you tomorrow, every time we left the office, except that one day.

We operated in such close quarters on a daily basis and I still didn't know he was hurting that bad. We didn't know he relapsed and began using Oxycontin again. James did not want to die. He had to much life left to give. To put it simply, he was hurting and getting high numbed that hurt.

I wish he reached out for help. I wish I was more open about addiction issues so he felt comfortable to ask me for help. I was within 10 feet of him for 82% of my life. Unfortunately, I was not educated about addiction. What I know now, I wish I knew 4 months ago.

That is why we created Henry’s Uncle, so we can help educate others and offer support and guidance about opioid addiction for families and individuals who are battling active addiction and recovery.

We need to stop silencing this disease! Addiction does not discriminate. Addiction does not care who you are. All it cares about is it's next high and we need to help those people suffering from this disease.

Do not judge people suffering from addiction because it's that judgement and shame on why they don't ask for help.

Because of addiction, I now walk into our office and look at an empty desk.

It starts with us to change the narrative around addiction. Join us in doing so.