"She did the best she could for what she knew . She loved butterflies and roses and that's the legacy she left me to pass on. I will not pass on the pain that was passed on to her..."

A friend shares her story:

"Right about now is about the time a year ago, that I got the call to say my last words I would ever get to say to my mom. I had dreaded this call for so many years. I thought my hope was over. I always hoped she would one day get to love her life and leave drugs in a place far from her. Instead drugs took over every part of her and consumed places that once was the brightest with in her. I've decided to enjoy all that I can about her. The pain I feel isn't so much because I lost a mom because I didn't have that for a long time but that a beautiful life wasn't really given a full opportunity to live the life they were supposed to.

Some may say well that was her choice and, it was. But my moms chances were taken from her at a young age. She didnt bounce back or over come. She had 5 children and enjoyed the unconditional love a child will give, because she truly wanted to be loved. She was born with oblong hip joints and Having lost her mom to suicide at just 10 . Living with a very abusive uncle until she would escape to be married in Porta Rico at age 16. There she entered whole new abuse. My mom's story is one that I've only heard in bits in pieces in-between sober moments.

She had a green thumb and could out grow, Im pretty sure any master Gardner if ever given the chance. Once jumbo sunflowers the size of a small car tire lined her entire fence line and her zuchini could be stuffed to feed a village.

I know that there are people like me who just thought my mom didn't love me. But I've learned my mom loved me with the best that she had, with all that she was given. She did the best she could for what she knew . She loved butterflies and roses and that's the legacy she left me to pass on. I will not pass on the pain that was passed on to her."