Katie’s daughter Brittany was on the honor roll in high school when her boyfriend introduced her to generic opioids.
He’d been prescribed the drug after a hockey injury, and he shared it with Brittany on the weekends. Her body loved it.
And everything fell apart.
Over the next 15 years, Katie watched her daughter’s struggle with opioid use disorder (OUD). Brittany was trafficked and assaulted, experienced homelessness, and had life-threatening health scares.
Katie loved and supported her through it all. Together, they celebrated the brief bouts of sobriety. But they kept much of their situation private.
Then, in 2016, Katie created a blog. She decided to share their experiences, give advice as a caregiver, build solidarity with other families struggling with OUD, and highlight the importance of community support in treatment.
Within 30 days, the blog passed a million views. It encouraged Katie to transition into a new career as a family recovery coach — where she’s been able to help and inspire many.
