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StoryCorps / Karen Goodwin and Marlene Shay

Karen Goodwin and Marlene Shay #

https://storycorps.org/listen/marlene-shay-and-karen-goodman-171117/

He had been in and out of rehab over the last three years, but he had been sober for a year and seemingly had it all together. But, as a mother, you always dread that call. And that day, we got a call from his fiancée that he overdosed and was slipping away.

  • sober (adj.) not drunk or affected by alcohol
  • dread (verb.) to feel extremely worried or frightened about something that is going to happen or that mighthappen
  • slip away (p. verb.) to leave secretly

The reason you have this donor is because he OD’d on heroin.

  • donor (n. C) a person who gives some of their blood or apart of their body to help someone who is ill
  • OD (slang) to take an overdose (= too much) of a drug
  • heroin (n. U) a powerful illegal drug

And right after I had my transplant — I was still in the hospital even — my sister brought me a copy of Adam’s obit.

  • transplant (n. U/C) a medical operation in which a neworgan is put into someone’s body
  • obit (formal: obituary) (n. C) a report, especially in a newspaper, that gives thenews of someone’s death and details about theirlife

Then your beautiful letter came and you told us about, you know, your addiction. And it was just this gentle reassurance that came over me that this is going to be okay. And I will say again, thank you.

  • addiction (n. C/U @US) the need or strong desire to do or to have something, or a very strong liking for something
  • reassurance (n. C/U) words of advice and comfort intended to make someone feel less worried