“For the Love of a Son” ~ Scott Oake

This is a must read to anyone navigating the path of addiction or recovery, whether it be themselves or walking with a friend or family member.

Scott Oake gives us an up close and personal look at his families lived experience and journey along the path of addiction. It is one of the worst paths to be walking on, period! It can consumes your thoughts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at times being debilitating, with no reprieve. It takes hard work, strength, discipline, and long term therapy to navigate it as a person in recovery, as well as a family who is supporting their loved one through the process. It is a disease that should be treated and viewed no different than cancer and is often paired with mental illness which makes it that much more complicated!

Having the knowledge and resources does make you stronger. Love and support is instrumental to surviving this journey. You are not alone, and there are many resources out there to help navigate your situation. It is critical that your loved one wants the help for the programs to stick and make a difference. As we all know the Opposite of Addiction is Connection, which I have written about in the past, if you would like to have a read.

Scott shares his families lived experience, insights, struggles and humour to help everyone understand addiction. Scotts son Bruce sadly succumbed to his addiction at the tender age of 25 in 2011, which reminds us all that this is a deadly disease and crisis that needs more attention to get on the right side of it. Scotts book is one of many lived experiences documented to help others. He not only shares his journey with Bruce, but also his beautiful wife Anne and son Darcy! He has doubled down by opening up in memory of Bruce, The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre

in Winnipeg in 2021. Anne Oake passed away shortly after the Centre opened. The Anne Oak Recovery Centre for woman and their families will channel Anne Oake’s legacy of caring for others. Scott and his family turned their tragic situation into helping others navigate addiction, and have created a legacy for both Bruce in the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre and also for his loving wife Anne, the Matriarch!

I laughed at how Scott was able to insert his humour into his writing and ugly cried at times as I related to his families struggles to understand what Bruce was going through. I shared in his frustration as he fought hard to navigate the government red tape and community support needed to get the attention and buy-in that more treatment centres are needed desperately! I resonated with many of his thoughts and lived experience.

Addiction and Mental Health is a health crisis that needs more attention to make positive changes moving forward! There should be recovery on demand in our country. No one should have to wait for an available bed for their loved one to get the medical services they need when they are ready to take the next step! We would not withhold cancer treatment to those in need and addiction is no different, it is a disease!

Scott continues to bring a spot light on a crisis we all need to pay attention to. If you follow Scott on Hockey Night in Canada, you will know he was recently recognized at a national level, receiving the Order of Canada, which highlights those who have made lasting impacts on their communities! Well deserved!

Thank you Scott for putting your thoughts and insights into this much needed memoir that will help others understand what it takes to navigate addiction with a loved one.

If you are navigating addiction with a loved one, here are some resources that may help you find the help that is right for you!

Resource to get help with Addiction in Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/get-help-with-substance-use.html

Bruce Oake Recovery Centre

Amazon: For the Love of a Son

Written by Tracy ~ Mother of a Beautiful Boy!

"Exploring the never-ending desires that fuel all life, while finding lyrical beauty in everyday happenings."

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