OUR STORY
OUR story only started 22 years ago when Mike and Kim were married. We have 2 wonderful boys Kaylin and Taylor. We had decided that Kim would stay home with the boys to raise them as they were both wanted more than anything in the world and daycare was just not an option. Instead Mike would work days and Kim would works jobs occasionally in the evenings to help support the family. Like any other family we always had our ups and downs raising the boys. Taylor the youngest of the boys started grade 10. In September 2004, Taylor was trying out for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, 31 months later we buried our son. In senior high school, Taylor was introduced to a whole new set of people. We very seldom had alcohol in our home and so it was noticed right away. The first time Taylor tried pot we sat down with him and told him the repercussions. The first time he tried Cocaine we were flabbergasted as Taylor was an elite hockey player and would not so much as put a potato chip or anything bad for him in his mouth. We talked to him about it and he was so disgusted with himself that he could not believe he even tried it. However that was the start of our story.....things kept progressing and getting worse. We tried AADAC counseling, psychologists, and 2 Government treatment programs. Nothing seemed to work. We then found a Private Treatment Program. We called there and it was $9,700.00 for a 5 week program. Destitution was upon and we had no other choice. We were fortunate enough to be able to come up with the funds needed. Our son entered this facility a lost and broken soul with no self esteem, ashamed, embarrassed and sad. We as parents would sit alone and pray at night for help, for we had lost our son and did not know how to get him back. My husband and I had struggled for almost 3 months to get him in, we were heartbroken. We families that have endured this struggle know that when the time arrives when our loved one approaches us for help, it is immediate for time is not on our side. In the five weeks of Taylor's recovery, we could see our son coming back. We watched his growth and it climaxed on the day of his graduation when a young man stood up full of confidence, humor pride and addressed everyone at the ceremony with his head held high. We cried that day. We could not have been more proud or thankful. My words cannot express the feelings that a mother and father have at that moment but if you were there, you could see it. Taylor graduated from the 5 week program and we finally had our son back that we so remembered. Things went well for a while when suddenly and unfortunately Taylor relapsed and it cost him his life. Taylor passed away April 2, 2007.
This foundation was started in part to prevent other families from having to endure the greatest pain a human can suffer....the loss of their child.
Since we have decided to be honest and open about our lives, we have become "grounding rods" for many families out there sitting alone in their homes crying, struggling, ashamed and embarrassed, not knowing which way to turn. To hear about the destruction of the family unit and the pressure on the marriages of people that truly love one another. We are all someone's child, we have found that no matter what the age is, our children will always and forever remain that... our children. We are all at one time or another part of a family, a vision. Imagine as a parent watching your vision or your dream coming to fruition... only to have it ripped away by an external force that you absolutely have no control over. Imagine if you will, the hopelessness, the desperation and the helplessness at watching a life disintegrate in your hands and not being able to do anything about it. Now imagine a Mother, Father and Brother sitting up night after night, not knowing where to turn, watching their child being destroyed and only to be told they have to endure the pain, knowing the odds are against the in their child surviving the justice system or this fatal disease for another 2 or 3 months . When finally told that there is immediate help in private Treatment program, they do not have the financial wherewithal to afford to help their loved one. Imagine the despair sitting up through all hours night after night after night and praying. At having to admit as a family that there is nothing you can do, that you have lost your child and cannot do anything to get him or her back, imagine the failure felt.
There are no barriers, no sex, no color, religion or social status that is immune from addiction. It does not care; it only wants what is yours. This is why we started this Foundation to save a life, to help a family. We are so thankful today that we had Taylor back for a couple of months. We cannot imagine how much harder it would be if we could not have been able to afford to get into treatment immediately. We have helped young people that have been in the hospital and taken them directly to treatment after they have been told the waiting list will be months for Government facilities. We step in when families will not or cannot financially help them anymore. Many are in their twenties and can no longer function in the real world due to their drug use. We help to give them the tools to lead a healthy and contributable lifestyle.
In Taylor's memory to date we have raised just over $100,000 and have helped change many lives. This does not include the people we have personally directed to a center for treatment that did not require financial aid but just needed to get their loved one into recovery. To sit and watch families celebrate the graduation of the addicts from treatment and hear their success stories breathed life into what seemed like an otherwise meaningless world. This is our way to pay it forward; to make a difference in one person's life is a gift that everyone should feel. Your support will go directly to help these people. You alone will make a difference by giving the gift of hope. You alone will offer a family somewhere a new ending......
Addiction is a disease that is rampant within our community, where now it reaches out and touches each and every one of us in one way or another. We need to educate both ourselves and our children. For the community, every life saved, every addict in recovery decreases the associated crime rates. Charity is described as involvement and goodwill towards others or love of humanity, a generosity and helpfulness toward the needy and suffering, aid given to those in need. It is through your kindness that perhaps we can help a family in need a person wanting to make a change.
Our goal is to have enough funds to not have to turn to anyone away. We currently are focusing on young people under the age of 30 but would like to not have to turn anyone away. We will exhaust all resources necessary in coming to the aid of those in need.
Our main fundraising to date has been our Silent Auction, Dinner and Dance (alcohol free.) This year it will at the Red Deer Lodge on November 12, 2010. It is a great event with some of the graduates speaking as to how the program has helped them. The tickets can be bought by calling Kim at the number on the card on the front of this folder.
The dictionary describes gift as," a thing given freely, to endow". Treatment is the gift but you have the power to give; only you can be the bearer of this gift. Help a family today, help a person in need today, for although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. This is your gift. Please use it.
We thank you for hearing our story!
Taylor Argent Legacy Foundation
Unit G, 2085-50 Avenue
Red Deer, Alberta T4R 1Z4
1-403-343-3344
