Before you allow yourself to judge and assume how Nicholas was raised, take a moment to consider that maybe, just maybe, this is more common than you think (especially in America), and can indeed happen to your perfect child.
Every mother's worst nightmare is losing a child, but for Katie Rizzo, that loss came wrapped in the added weight of shame, stigma, and a healthcare system that failed her son. In this deeply personal conversation, Katie shares the story of her son Nicholas, his years-long struggle with opioid dependence, and the devastating day she lost him to an overdose.
We talk about the guilt so many parents carry, why addiction is so often misunderstood as a moral failing rather than a disease, and how a healthcare system built around profit can leave patients — and their families — with nowhere safe to turn. Katie also opens up about grief, what's helped her keep going, and why she's chosen to speak so openly about Nicholas's life and death.
This is a raw, honest conversation about loss, healing, and the importance of talking about what we're often taught to hide.
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses death and addiction.
Katie's book, \"The Trimester of Grief,\" is available for pre-order now, releasing October 6th.
If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. You're not alone.
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