A Mother on Surviving the Loss of Two Sons to Overdose

Grieving Out Loud: A Mother Coping with Loss in the Opioid Epidemic

Denise Roberts’ two sons, Matthew and Dillan, were born on the same day, four years apart. She was married to her husband, Tom, for ten years when he had a heart attack at age 42 and died. They were already trying to get her son, Dillan, who was 17 at the time, help for substance use disorder. Dillan went through treatment three times, but he died two years later from a heroin overdose. His older brother Matthew struggled with Dillan’s death and also turned to drugs. Six years after Dillan’s overdose, Matthew also overdosed and died.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Denise shares how she keeps going and growing, in spite of her great losses. Denise says her motto is, "Get up, dress up and show up. No matter what you do, never GIVE UP!”
You can read more of Matthew and Dillan's story here.

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!
Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey