Charlie

Saturday, September 11th was not only the remembrance of 9/11, but was the day of the Overdose Awareness Day and Memorial Walk.  On this breezy and sunny day, we walked with TenTen Truth Yoga to remember loved ones lost to accidental overdose.  The banners of photos of thousands of mostly young people who lost their lives was a chilling and bold reminder that each beautiful face on the banners had families and friends who loved and missed them. The burning tears in my eyes and sickness in my stomach only reinforced my mission that day to be in service to the recovery community.

I remembered Charlie McCauley Ellis.  Charlie was this funny little kid that was like a brother to my sons. He had a distinct silly laugh and high energy. There would be endless sleepovers, trips, and events that Charlie and my boys shared.  Around the time Charlie was ten, and I am not certain of the exact age, he suffered a traumatic loss. His mother up and left without a word, and Charlie was heartbroken.  Charlie and his family moved from PA to NJ where Charlie would attend high school and begin abusing substances.  I can only say what I saw, but Charlie began to change.  I later learned he was abusing heroin, and that he had been in treatment.  Charlie died in a recovery house at 20 years old. His friends and I continue to miss him, some even in recovery themselves now.

Charlie left us almost 6 years ago. There were thousands before Charlie and thousands after him. At the walk, I saw families walking in solidarity with other families and friends bringing awareness to the overdose crisis that our community has been facing for over a decade. Equally as powerful, there were hundreds of recovering people present to send the message that recovery is possible and that there is hope. I can’t help but think that the event might have even saved someone’s life that day.