CAREGIVER STORIES
We hope parents and caregivers feel seen and supported in these stories of raising opioid-exposed children.
We know your exhausting days. We've lived them. We know your heartache. We've felt it. We know your questions. We've asked them, too. We honor your unwavering commitment. We recognize your extraordinary strength. Your love is the lifeline for Generation O.
We’re giving caregivers a voice.
A mother of an opioid-exposed child shares her story of bringing her baby home from the NICU.
A story of struggle and hope from a mother raising an opioid-exposed son.
A caregiver describes what people get wrong about her opioid-exposed son.
A story of second chances, from a mother of a 15-year-old opioid-exposed child.
A mother reflects on four years raising her opioid-exposed son.
A long-time foster parent details her experiences bringing opioid-exposed babies home from hospitals.
A story of grief and love from a caregiver of an opioid-exposed son.
ESSAYS
James
It never crossed my mind to wonder why the c-section was being moved up. We knew James’ birth parents struggled with Opioid Use Disorder and as far as we knew, James’ birth mom had been on Methadone since 27 weeks. With our limited knowledge of the world of opioid addiction and prenatal opioid exposure, we didn’t have the experience to understand that the c-section was being moved up in order to get our son out of the damaging environment he was in as quickly as possible.
Johnny & Jackson
“Hey so I’m pregnant again and know you guys said you were done but do you want to take this baby?” Simultaneously my heart grew larger and my mind registered a truth; Larry will say no. I’m having another child. This baby will be mine. I know that. In an instant I am a mom of 4. It’s probably the same feeling a biological mother, hoping to be pregnant, feels when the test shows two lines. The energy suddenly surging through my body is contained in my drawn legs and clasped hands, open just far enough to hold the screen of the phone I’m reading.