Cassandra B.

By Cassandra's mom, Sheila

Cassandra Leslie Bedard

Bradford, Massachusetts

My daughter, Cassandra left me on January 27, 2015, from a heroin overdose. She was 32 years old. I am left with so many unanswered questions that only she has the answers to.

Cassandra was such a generous, kind-hearted daughter, with a special compassion for animals. She had everything - she was married to a very nice man, a beautiful car, vacations, the finest food, and anything she had ever wanted.

Several years before her passing, Cassandra’s attitude began to change. She was losing weight, constantly tired and when we were together, she would always nod off. At the time, I assumed Cassandra was exhausted from working double shifts as a waitress - little did I know she was struggling with addiction.

Nine months before she overdosed, Cassandra’s husband called me, telling me she had left him for another man and they were living in horrible housing conditions. I didn’t hear from Cassandra for several months, and when she did contact me, I was in disarray.

The man Cassandra left her husband for ended up abusing her and was sent to jail. Cassandra’s husband and I showed her tough love, and refused to take her until she received help.

When I saw that Cassandra was trying to change things around, I supplied everything she needed for her fresh start. She got a beautiful apartment, and I helped her with her bills, buying her food, and paying for her cellphone. I thought I was helping her. I was so blind. I was just hoping for the best.

A few months went by, and I stopped hearing from Cassandra again. I found out that she let the man she left her husband for move into her new apartment and that he was abusing her again. The police told me after Cassandra’s passing that they had been called to her apartment a couple times; for the abuse and because the man had overdosed.

During one of the worst snowstorms of the year, I received a call from my son with the worst news any parent could ever receive. I was so traumatized - my whole life came to a stop. My heart was and still is broken. My life changed and it will never be the same.

The only thing that keeps me going is that I know Cassandra is in God’s hands, and that she is no longer suffering.