Sometimes I have a hard time starting a post about Jacob. But I always know the ending, it never changes.

We are coming up to three years since Jacob passed and BC is still losing loved ones at a rate of about one person every four hours. At the risk of getting too political, neither current primary provincial party in this BC election promises the right thing(s). We are still missing a critical piece – front-line services. Not just for some people, but for all people. For those we call family whether blood or otherwise. Where are the free counseling and psych services so desperately needed? Where are the resources for families who need help, now? Every moment should matter and early intervention is no different. And late intervention should be meaningful and life saving.

Jacob walked out of his 4th recovery facility on October 18, 2021. It was exactly 24 days before his death on November 11/2021. He had spent $40 thousand of his own money on this. Certainly not cheap or free. And that was after three very appealing (more expensive) recovery places rejected him as he was “too complicated”. There was nowhere for us to turn for help, nowhere for him. No one to say what the services were and how to access them. It was like everyone gave up hope. The people who claimed to care didn’t make it easy or helpful.

One day I will post about what some folks called “my truth”. For now, suffice it to say that “my truth” or “your truth” is more than just what rings true to someone else. Your truth contains facts and your own response. Hold it close. We’ll talk about that soon, but if you are hearing that today, tell whoever is saying it to stop. Just, stop.

As for that ending, he died. That’s the ending. Except that it’s not. His life lives on in the work of many. So yeah, I know the ending. It’s the beginning.