10 Comments
User's avatar
Marcia Abboud's avatar

Wow, Shaina... This is heartbreaking. You and your sisters are saints. I'm sorry for all of you. When a parent carries so much trauma that spills out and effects her kids and everyone, it's a tragedy. My heart goes out to each of you. 💔

Expand full comment
Shaina Pauley's avatar

When we have incredibly troubled and troubling people in our lives, oftentimes they are master teachers. Or at least that's how I've come to view these types of experiences. Thank you, Marcia, for taking the time to read. 🙏🙏

Expand full comment
Marcia Abboud's avatar

I love that wise insight, Shaina :)

Expand full comment
Kathleen Holzermayr's avatar

I'm truly sorry for the pain your family has endured ❤️‍🩹. Thank you for sharing this - I understand your struggle to have the connection with your mom despite all the suffering. She's blessed to have you as a daughter 💞

Expand full comment
Shaina Pauley's avatar

Thank you for your kind words, Kathleen. 💖

Expand full comment
Dianne Moritz's avatar

Addiction is a national health crisis. My sister, Renee, died addicted to oxy after having 5 back surgeries. What kind of doctor would subject a person to that??!!

After she died my baby sister cleared out her apartment and found tons of empty pill bottles and empty vials of morphine that we knew nothing about. At the ER Renee went into a coma and was declared brain dead. We donated her body to science. We were horrified that things had gotten beyond her control.

Expand full comment
Shaina Pauley's avatar

I’m so sorry to hear that, Dianne. Sadly, stories like your sister’s are far too familiar, which is one of the reasons I’ve felt compelled to share my own experiences. The shame surrounding addiction often isolates people and makes it even harder to seek help. Thank you for sharing this, and please know I’m deeply sorry for your loss. ❤️

Expand full comment
Dianne Moritz's avatar

thank you.

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Browne's avatar

I can't find Part 1. I'm so sorry you and your sisters have to deal with this. And sorry for your mom, too.

Expand full comment
Shaina Pauley's avatar

Thank you, Elizabeth. It's undoubtedly a tough circumstance, but my sisters and I do all we can to support one another. 💖

Also, thank you, you just taught me something! I should have linked Part I in Part II.

I'm new here and still learning. 🤗 Here's the link, if still interested: https://substack.com/home/post/p-166100005

Expand full comment