Dear Heroin: A Memoir of Goodbyes is a powerful book that tells the story of Linda, her son, and the fight to save him from his heroin addiction. Linda walks with her son through his darkness and her own, with nights filled with fear as he relapses time and time again. When he dies by suicide, one horrific journey ends and a new one begins: an unending journey of loss whose pain has no words. A journey no mother ever plans to undertake.
But with the support of God, family, and friends, Linda finds something she desperately needs: hope. Within that hope, she finds the strength to persevere and discovers a vibrant richness she didn't possess before. Linda becomes a beacon of light for others, especially parents walking this same path.
Dear Heroin is an inspirational tale of life, death, and finding new life again.
Linda Morrison was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She lived there until her marriage to Allan Morrison, an Air Force Academy graduate, in 1975. They moved around the country until Allan left the air force in 1982. They moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota, where they raised their three sons. Linda was a stay-at-home mom until she went to nursing school in 1998. After becoming a licensed practical nurse, she worked in hospitals and clinics and did homecare until she retired in 2016. She loves reading novels, memoirs, and nonfiction, and she is an avid biker and walker; she has completed two half-marathons. Her greatest joy is spending time with her young grandson.
Mike's addiction and death in 2012 changed her world. A speaker and author, she is now an advocate for those caught in the circle of substance abuse, and she encourages and supports families walking this journey. This is her first book.
"Linda Morrison compassionately and clearly articulates the rugged journey of loving a son whose struggle with addiction reshapes their family life. Dear Heroin, is a beautifully written chronicle which delves into the wilderness of loving and supporting a beloved family member who is also an addict. This rich and multilayered story . . . will illumine a healing path for others who are touched by this particular brand of loss and for those who wish to understand such a journey." - Patricia Hoolihan, author of six books including her memoir, Storm Prayers, and instructor at the Loft Literary Center
"Powerful and inspirational . . . a timeless love story of a mother for her son." - Judith Sullivan, author of The Terrifying Wind: Seeking Shelter Following the Death of a Child
"Poignant. . . . This book is for any parent struggling with an addicted child or who has lost a child through addiction. This book will help you know you are not alone." - Dr. Trudy Johnson, LMFT, CCTS-I; founder, A’nesis Retreats and Counseling Sabbaticals
"A powerful story of addiction, suicide, faith and recovery. Linda's gripping account of her youngest son's life in addiction and their family's journey alongside him is very raw, relatable and real. A must-read for parents, loved ones or those suffering in the painful throws of addiction or the aftermath of suicide." - Richard Bahr, chaplain, homeless advocate and author of Those People: The True Character of the Homeless
