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)

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?

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

Very tragic, mostly because of codependency

Tho. I am a recovering addict and feel for the mother.. And the story is very tragic and suspenseful..The sad part is it's a true story. Tho I won't sit here and bash the mother it seems to me the daughter's addiction with drugs..was just as bad as her mom's addiction with co-dependency. But this was her own experience and she is brave for letting others in to her world..and I pray she found some relief In writing and narrarating this book... To the other person who wrote a review about her lisps.. Are you kidding me? It's called compassion and respect. Please don't talk about your in recovery and then show absolutely no love and tolerence..... You are able to sample books before you buy them... Thank you for writing this book I will reference to other people..

Chapters are in the wrong order

The chapters are not in the correct order with time stamps and was confusing at times

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.

Very sad

As a former addict I am grateful my parents did not react to my addiction the way Amy's parent's did. Every choice they made it was like watching a bad horror film and thinking "No don't go in there...the monster is going to get you!!!" Yet the mother continued to make poor decision after poor decision. I just question why she decided to write about it? That breaks my heart, I feel as though her family realized this too hence the reason they did not want to participate in this book. I suppose if the mother found it cathartic to write this book then it has served a purpose. It was very hard to finish listening to this book, every choice the mother made or defense she gave for her erroneous decisions made me roll my eyes and shake my head. The only saving grace to this book was hearing Amy's voice....it brought me to tears. If you are a parent who is looking for a book to read about your child's addiction read this one with extreme caution and perhaps look at some of their actions as what not to do.

Horrible narration!

It was hard for me to get though this book due to the narrator's lisp, and monotone/emotionless voice. Although I do understand the author's reason for reading it. It ruined the book for me.
As far as the story goes, I felt as though, through the whole book she placed blame on her daughter's doctors, friends, and boyfriends for her daughters issues. She does admit to being manipulated and lied to by her daughter. She praises her daughter throughout the whole book, repeatedly telling the reader what a wonderful person she was.
This was a waste of money for me. Would have rather read it on my own. Hmmm maybe not, just not enough juice in the story.