Heroin's Puppet - Amy and Her Disease

The Rehab Journals of Amelia F.W. Caruso (1989-2009)

De: Melissa M. Weiksnar

Narrado por: Melissa M. Weiksnar

Amy Caruso was a junior in the nursing program at Boston College and seemed to have everything going for her - brains, beauty, athleticism, career goals, a loving family, and many wonderful friends. But in November 2009, she admitted she was a heroin addict and voluntarily entered treatment. Five weeks later she died from an overdose at the treatment facility on the day after Christmas, weeks shy of her twenty-first birthday.

Melissa Weiksnar attended Wellesley College and is a graduate of MIT, Harvard Business School, and the University of Houston. After 20 years in the high-technology industry, she changed careers to high-school teaching. Since Amy died, Melissa has been telling Amy's story to school, college, community, and religious groups to help others understand how addiction is an equal opportunity disease. She and her husband have two older children and live in Massachusetts.

©2012 Amelibro Press LLC (P)2012 Amelibro Press LLC

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Melissa Weiksnar's detailed and bravely honest account of the years leading up to her daughter's tragic death brings true insight into the challenges and angst of parenting a child suffering from addiction. Amy's words and spirit can be felt through her journal entries and allow readers to immerse themselves within the mind of a person struggling to get sober. This story is ammunition towards fighting the stereotype of the 'typical' addict and is evidence that neither a loving family, education nor socioeconomic status can save a person from the powerful grip of addiction. May this book help others to find meaning in their losses and increase awareness about the most effective ways to support a loved one with an addiction." (Sarah Allen Benton, M.S., LMHC, therapist and author of Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic)

She died of suffocation

This heart wrenching account of a mother’s horror dealing with an addicted daughter who dies of her disease. The parent’s unwillingness to address the broken home and how that affected their daughter compounded by extreme helicopter parenting and over scheduling schools, lessons and volunteering, it’s no wonder this poor girl wanted to escape. Shine sight is 20-20 but this is a great example of how not to approach parenting a child predisposed to addiction. I pray for the family and for any parent (like me) who has a child that is showing these signs. My takeaway? Over parenting can kill. I’m so sorry for your loss...

I would like to of heard more of her journal.

loved it, very good book I would have like to heard more of her journals

Real, Helpful--and Heartbreaking

This book is amazing. If you've ever had a young family member who suffers with drug problems, Heroin's Puppet will quickly become your go-to source for information, advice, and even comfort. I don't mean to make it sound like a dry and boring reference tome; it's so much more than that.

Heroin's Puppet tells an engrossing, compelling true story--and you care about everyone involved. But you'll also find so many relatable details that you'll be repeatedly utilizing your "bookmark" button not only to mark passages, but also to write notes to yourself for further research, etc.

The author/narrator--Amy's mother--is perfect as she shares Amy's story. Her inflections and even the slightest nuances in tone make the story real and immediate.

I bought this book about a week ago, listened to it in two sittings, and have since listened--beginning to end--five times; I'm on my sixth now.

This book is simply the best Audible purchase I've ever made--and I've purchased more than 400 audiobooks. What more can I say?

Narrator killed the story

The story is a good one and worth hearing but the whole time was a struggle as the narrator is so robotic in voice it was distracting and difficult to listen to

Amy's story

Great story...I am not sure about the narrator. she sounded like she struggled to get some of the words out.