Drug usage among teenagers is rising at an alarming rate
across the world. The dangerous trend doesn’t seem to wait, even for a second.
Brayden Travis, an American, became a victim to drug
addiction during the wee years of his life. The narration of Brayden’s story by
his mother Kelly, in an effort to create awareness , will move you to the core.
Here it goes,
“I
normally don't share or discuss personal issues on FB, however I feel this is
necessary due to the nature of this horrific situation!
My
son is Brayden Travis and he is 18 years old! Most people on here know him, or
know of him. You're about to learn something very personal about him, but it
serves as purpose as you read!
My
son is an addict and has struggled with drugs since he was 15 years old. My
son's first choice of drug was marijuana, which in time led to other drugs. The
ultimate dead end road drug for my son was heroin, as is for a lot of
teens/adults. He used last Wednesday at some point in the night and overdosed
from a very deadly cocktail of heroin & Xanax. Heroin alone will kill you,
as well as Xanax. He laid for at least 7 hours or longer before he received
medical attention due to no one calling 911, possibly in fear of suspected
consequences. Medical personnel believe my son should have been dead long
before he was able to get the medical attention he needed, but for some unknown
reason he has stabilized. His lungs and kidneys had failed and his heart was
functioning at 10-20%. His body temperature was 90 degrees and was very cold to
the touch. Brayden ended up with severe pneumonia from aspirating. I was told
by two doctors he wouldn't make it through the night. Brayden has pulled
through all of it besides the damage to his brain. While overdosing and in
nonresponsive state, Brayden suffered a stroke. He has experienced severe
damage to the Hipocampus and Cerebellum parts of his brain.
Neurologists
tell me he will never wake up and if he does, he will remain in a vegetative
state. It's been exactly one week since Brayden has overdosed. He is making
progress, but we have a long road to travel. Even though the outcome is not
expected to be positive, as a mother I will not give up until I have exhausted
all options and know that I've done everything I can. Although I'm not, nor
will be prepared to, I now I will need to let him go and send him on his way if
we receive no results once all of our efforts have been exhausted. Miracles
happen everyday and my son is a fighter and very strong.
I
share this with each of you in hopes that you won't feel pity or be offended,
but rather share and get these pictures in front of your teenagers. Don't be
scared to share the horrific outcome of what most likely will happen when using
heroin! It's not the only drug that will kill you either.
PLEASE!
PLEASE!......if my son's story and picture can save one life or contribute to
the education and awareness of drug abuse, then he and I are very happy! He
wouldn't want this for anyone else and he would tell anyone not to use
drugs...ever! I can tell you he tried to fight this addiction and I pray this
time it hasn't won!
HOPE and PRAYER has made miracles happen with the progression of
his recovery so far. If you want to know what you can do, please continue to
pray! Thank you and please share and share and SHARE! I want this story and
pictures put out there for all to see!”
 |
| Brayden, before becoming an addict |
 |
| Brayden, after OD |
The
good news is Brayden did not succumb to the overdose. He woke up and is happy. When I enquired Brayden’s mother about his
present health condition, she told me, “He only
has to relearn to walk and use muscles again. Everything else if completely
healed besides brain damage (Anoxic brain injury)”.
 |
| Brayden, now |
Brayden is back from hospital. He’s doing great and is recovering
steadily. Yes, he got a second chance to live but the bleak truth is, others
might not be as lucky.
The picture of drug abuse is no better even in
India.
Statistics reveal that
at least 25,426 people committed suicide due to drug and addiction related
problems in the last 10 years across India. This comes down to an average 2,542
suicides every year, 211 per month and 7 per day.
During the last four years (2011 to 2014), around 100 million kilogram of drugs was seized across India.
During the last four years (2011 to 2014), around 100 million kilogram of drugs was seized across India.
The only way to put an end to this misery is
by saying ‘NO to drugs’ because..
“no child’s dream is to become an addict, no
parent intends to raise an addict. It can happen to anyone, no one is immune to
the disease of addiction. So when someone “judges or says it’s their choice,
think again” – unknown author.
