Tomorrow, October 18th, marks the day Jacob walked out of his recovery house. It was his last recovery house of four over the course of three years. It was the turning point in the last three weeks of his life.

When I got the call that Jacob was leaving, I wasn’t home. We were too far away to be able to go get him and take him back, or to convince him to stay in any kind of recovery. I knew, in my mother’s heart, that he wasn’t going to survive much longer, maybe not even until Christmas. A mother knows.

Prior to this house, Jacob had contacted three recovery homes set in the serenity of forest and water. All three rejected him, saying he was too complicated for their services. Despite what they advertised, they were unwilling to take the thousands of dollars he was willing to pay to get serious help. How ridiculous! It felt like they were saying to a cancer patient that they could help if they came back when they were in remission. Did I mention it was ridiculous?

Jacob had concurrent disorders. He had substance use disorder complicated by a significant brain injury coupled with psychosis. There are few places that will help with that. The medical system simply shut the door. Help was limited.

I am traveling to Ottawa next week to share Jacob’s story as we press for the passing of Bill C-277. A pan-Canadian strategy for Aquired Brain Injury is desperately needed. If help doesn’t come from the medical profession, then maybe a mandate is what is needed. I was asked to attend and tell Jacob’s story, and of course I said yes. This is important work.

Stay tuned, more to follow.