Episode 62

Fighting for Freedom - A Mother's Story About Her Son's Addiction | POW62

*Content warning - We talk with Sheridyn Cannon about her son’s intense battle with drug addiction and his multiple relapses.

Summary:

We're bringing back this heartbreaking episode with Sheridyn Cannon as she talks about her son’s addiction, and how it changed her and her family’s life. Sheridyn shares how her son Cade’s drug addiction started at a young age and how years of addiction affected them both through rehab, jail, and, finally, sobriety.


Learn More About Sheridyn:

Sheridyn and her husband Gary have been in the Real Estate industry for a combined 55+ years. They own their own brokerage and have for over 30 years. They were married in 1998 with Sheridyn having 2 children and Gary 1, they blended their family and had twins in 2001 together. His, mine, and ours! Sheridyn’s oldest son, at the age of 15 was in a motocross racing accident and had broken several bones. While recovering he was prescribed pain meds (opioids) and loved the effect they had on him. He quickly became addicted to oxycontin which led to heroin. Sheridyn is gracious to share her 5+ year battle with child addiction. She hopes to encourage and inspire anyone who is searching, hoping, and praying there is something you can do as a parent to save your child. Her then 23-year-old daughter got caught up in and addicted to crack cocaine. Blending families brings on its own challenges itself, throw in a couple of drug addicts, and there you have it! Grateful to say now both her son and daughter are doing remarkable and both clean.


Key Takeaways:

  • 02:49 - Meet Cade
  • 05:49 - How Cade’s addiction started
  • 09:56 - The moment Sheridyn knew her son had shifted from prescription drugs to heroin
  • 11:03 - The denial period, defending her son, and the toll it took on her marriage
  • 13:06 - Sheridyn’s 1st piece of advice for parents dealing with a child addict
  • 16:40 - The darkest point for Sheridyn 
  • 21:59 - Why the 5th rehab program helped Cade the most
  • 24:12 - Cade’s rock bottom and the major life event that changed his life for the better
  • 34:37 - Where Cade is today
  • 36:40 - Sheridyn’s 2nd piece of advice for parents of children struggling with addiction
  • 38:40 - Advice for the mother dealing with shame 



Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

  • If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, call the SAMHSA's National Hotline at 1-800-662-HELP. It's free, confidential, and available 24/7, 365 days a year.
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About the Podcast

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Pieces of a Woman
Real Stories, Real Women and the conversations that shape us into who we are today

About your host

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Cristie & DeAnna

DeAnna Robbins is a lover of learning and connecting with REAL people. A Grandma of 4, mom of 4 and wife of one. Her role of being "middle aged" is the current Life Lesson. How to take care of aging parents, be a mom, step mom, wife and professional woman, oh the fun. DeAnna has seen the dark and ugly side of abuse, alcoholism and suffering but believes you are either a victim or a player. She chose to be a player.

Cristie North is a wife, mother of 6 and grandmother of 2. She just turned 50 and is learning to navigate the reality of empty nesting. She has endured trials of divorce, alcohol abuse, blended family and grief. She celebrates every part of her journey as her belief is that each challenge makes us the remarkable, complicated beautiful souls we are today. She has been in the mortgage industry for over 28 years and currently manages a top producing mortgage company in Salt Lake City, Utah.