The Sun Will Rise Foundation and SADOD work closely together to provide and expand access to peer grief support for people bereaved due to substance use related causes across Massachusetts. Recently, our grief support community experienced a heartbreaking death. Many of you know Tanya and Glen as two of the three owners of Peer Support Community Partners, the organization that operates SADOD. Sadly, their son, Vladik, has died due to an overdose. This week, instead of my usual reflection, I wanted to share the words Tanya wrote after Vlad's death. They are powerful and honest and a reminder that grief touches every family, even those who spend their lives supporting others through it. Please keep Vladik, Tanya, Glen, and all who loved him in your hearts.
Shared with permission by Tanya Lord
“I have started writing this post several times, and each time I stop because I am not entirely sure what I want to say. I have spent much of my professional life sitting with people through grief, trauma, illness, uncertainty, and loss. Part of me wants to share something profound about grief, loss, resilience, or the meaning of life, but the truth is that I am not feeling particularly profound right now. I am feeling like a mother whose son died. Twenty-seven years ago, my son Noah died. On June 6, Vladik died from an overdose. Noah's death shaped the course of my life in ways I never could have imagined. It influenced my work, the communities I found myself in, and the way I move through the world. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I think I believed that everything I had learned since Noah died might somehow prepare me if I ever faced another devastating loss. It turns out there is no preparation for losing a child, and certainly no preparation for losing two. Over the last few weeks, I have found myself thinking a lot about stories and how incomplete most of them are. We often know a small piece of someone's life and then fill in the rest with our own assumptions. We see someone's struggles, accomplishments, mistakes, strengths, or labels and convince ourselves that we understand who they are. The reality is that human beings are so much more complicated than that. Vlad was complicated. So was Noah. So am I. So are all of us. I am choosing to be open about the fact that Vlad died from an overdose, after many years of chaotic drug use, because I do not believe silence helps anyone. When someone uses drugs, there is often judgment, assumptions, stigma, and sometimes even hate. The person is reduced to that one thing, as though the rest of their humanity disappears. Over the years, I watched stigma and poor behavior from both people and systems fail Vlad and fail our family over and over again, all while each of us was blamed in one way or another. I don't know how to fix any of that. I don't even think that I know what is right or wrong. What I do know is that human beings have always found ways to escape, cope, numb, connect, celebrate, survive, or enhance their lives. That isn't a judgment. It is simply part of being human. Maybe we could all have a little more understanding and compassion toward each other. I love someone who used drugs. Maybe it is as simple as that. For those who would like to know more about Vlad, I am sharing his obituary. It tells a small part of his story, though no obituary could ever fully capture a person's life. For now, I find myself thinking about my two boys who once filled my house with noise, laughter, chaos, arguments, messes, and love. I find myself wondering what they would be saying to each other if they were both sitting here today. And I find myself missing them both more than I can put into words. Vladik was deeply loved. He is deeply missed. And he always will be. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the The Sun Will Rise Foundation. They step forward when so many step back. I have had the privilege to work with them and now to be supported by them.” ~Tanya Lord
~ Robyn
Robyn Houston-Bean
Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation
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MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK
BROCKTON MA group time changing to 11:15 am-12:15 pm starting this week and going forward.
FALMOUTH MA group meeting next week on 7/8/26. This month only.
GOOD LUCK DARLENE!
Our dear friend & facilitator, Darlene Mersereau is moving to Florida. We're so excited for this next chapter in her life, but we're going to miss her so much. Many of you have sat with Darlene in our Weymouth MA group over the years. After the death of her beloved son, Chris, Darlene once said to me, "Thank you so much for supporting me. Now I want to do that for others." And that's exactly what she did. She became our very first volunteer facilitator and together we began building what The Sun Will Rise has become today. For years, she has shown up month after month, offering compassion and hope to people walking one of life's hardest roads. This week she facilitates her last in-person meeting for us. The good news is that our Weymouth group isn't going anywhere. Judy Kelly will be taking over as facilitator, with Kathy Ernest providing support when needed. I know they'll continue the welcoming space that Darlene helped create. Darlene, thank you. Thank you for saying yes. Thank you for turning your pain into compassion. Thank you for walking beside so many people who needed someone to understand. You've made this community better simply by being part of it. Florida is lucky to have you. You'll always be part of The Sun Will Rise family and you'll always have a home with us.
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One lucky winner will receive two Ariana Grande tickets for the concert at TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday 7/22/26 at 8:00 pm!
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HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED AT TSWR RECENTLY!
This weekend, we gathered for the first of two Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreats for parents, hosted by Team Sharing and The Sun Will Rise Foundation at Rolling Ridge. What an incredible weekend! It’s powerful spending time with people who already understand. You have the chance to be exactly where you are in your grief and not feel like you have to explain it and not have anyone try to fix it.
To everyone who joined us, thank you for trusting us with your stories and your hearts. I hope you left feeling a little less alone, knowing this community is here for you long after the retreat ends.
The August retreat for parents has a few spots still available, see below to register.
One of our Mom’s grief group facilitators, Karen Swindell was was inducted into the Commonwealth Heroines Class of 2026! Through her work with Chris’ Corner, Karen has dedicated herself to helping families impacted by substance use and supporting people in recovery. At The Sun Will Rise, she brings that same heart to our Moms' peer grief support group, where she helps mothers feel seen and less alone after the death of a child. We are so grateful for the difference you make, Karen!
UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
Create a memorial lantern in memory or honor of someone you care about as we prepare for the Braintree/Weymouth MA International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glowstick Ceremony at Pond Meadow Park on 8/27/26. All materials provided. There are four dates & locations. Each lantern created during these workshops will be carried or displayed during our IOAD Lantern Walk & Glow Stick Ceremony, where we will come together as a community to remember those who have died due to substance use related causes and support one another in hope and healing.Questions? robyn@thesunwillrise.org
Choose Between Four Workshops:
7/1/26 3:00 pm Tufts Library Rm 232 Weymouth MA REGISTER
7/16/26 Wey of Life Weymouth MA REGISTER
7/29/26 6:00 pm Hope Beyond Hope Weymouth MA REGISTER
8/3/26 Thayer Public Library Logan Auditorium Braintee MA REGISTER
Cape Cod Canal Cruise Sunday July 12, 2026 6:30-8:30 pm Onset MA Join us on a two-hour trip cruising two-thirds of the length of the Cape Cod Canal to the Herring Run and back. This Hy-Line Cruise features live commentary about the fascinating history and points of interest along the canal. All ages welcome. Bring your friends & family! We chartered the whole boat! Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Questions? Contact Judy Kelly. judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557 REGISTER HERE!
SADOD’s July Psychoeducational Workshop: A Brief Introduction to Neuroscience as it Pertains to Substance Use and to Grief Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 6:30 - 8:00 pm ET Many people have accepted that addiction is a disease, but not many understand the inner workings of it. Likewise, many people feel that they are forever changed after the death a loved one, yet not many know how their brain has been impacted. This workshop will provide a brief introduction to neuroscience and how substance use and grief each affect the brain. This is not a clinical training, nor is it a training that will diagnose or provide any medical information. REGISTER HERE. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. Non-MA residents, if cost is an issue, use promo code SCHOLARSHIP to register for free.
Pick Your Own Flowers Sunday August 9, 2026 2:00-4:00 pm. Cross St Farm Norwell MA Our group will have the farm fields to ourselves as we gather together to admire the blooms spread throughout the seven acre flower farm. Walk the rows at your own pace, choose your stems, and bring home a hand-cut bouquet straight from the field. We will have the opportunity to cut 20 stems of beautiful summer blooms to bring home. Zinnias, lisianthus, cosmos, snapdragons, celosia, sunflowers, pincushion, globe amaranth, grasses are among the possible varieties that may be bursting! Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier, if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. The ground is uneven so may not be easy to navigate for those with mobility difficulties. Questions about the event? Please email judy kelly judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557 REGISTER HERE!
Renew, Refresh, Reset Grief Retreat for Bereaved Parents Date: August 14-16, 2026 Registration form reopened! We have gone through the waitlist. Space now available. If you would like to room with another bereaved parent, please complete the form. We can match you with another person. No single roooms available. Questions about the retreat? Contact Cheryl Juaire Cherju4339@aol.com Sign up here.
HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND
Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.
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“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean