When Your Child Becomes an Addict | POW22

We sit down with Kathy Nay & Sheridyn Cannon in two separate interviews to talk about their children and how addiction changed their lives. Kathy is honest and real with what she didn’t know and what she has learned since losing Burgandi to an overdose. Sheridyn shares how her son Cades addiction started at a young age and how years of addiction affected them both through rehab, jail and finally sobriety.

About the Guests:

Sheridyn and her husband Gary have been in the Real Estate industry for a combined 55+ years. They own their own brokerage and have for over 30 years. They were married in 1998 with Sheridyn having 2 children and Gary 1, they blended their family and had twins in 2001 together. His, mine and ours! Sheridyn’s oldest son, at the age of 15 was in a motocross racing accident and had broken several bones. While recovering he was prescribed pain meds (opioids) and loved the effect they had on him. He quickly became addicted to oxycontin which led to heroin. Sheridyn is gracious to share her 5+ year battle with child addiction. She hopes to encourage and inspire anyone who is searching, hoping and praying there is something you can do as a parent to save your child. Her then 23 year old daughter got caught up in and addicted to crack cocaine. Blending families brings on it’s own challenges itself, throw in a couple of drug addicts and there you have it! Grateful to say now both her son and daughter are doing remarkable and both clean.

Kathy Nay is a kindergarten teacher in Utah and has been teaching for the last 20 years.  She is married has been married for 12 years to Coleman Nay they have  4 children, two daughters Burgandi 25, Ella 10  and two boys Cole 27, Casey 24. Kathy is also an advocate for addicts and their families.  She believes that there is a huge stigma about this topic, especially here is Utah.  She began her journey in this role after her twenty-one-year-old daughter Burgandi died of an opioid overdose in 2017.  She felt alone and ostracized in her journey of parenting and then burying a child who suffered from addiction.  People just don’t talk about this disease. She wanted to put a name and a face on this topic that is not often delt with and associated with a mark of disgrace. She feels talking about her family and their story will open many doors for other families and give them a safe place to share their journey in this rampant epidemic. There is a stigma out there and we need to tear down that wall! 

Kathy has been talking to rehabs, working with Utah naloxone and putting her daughters face on many Utah billboards, promoting naloxone, guest speaker on podcasts and sharing with anyone she can about this crisis.  Kathy wants families to be able to share their stories without shame too.  We know that there is a stigma when it comes to talking about our loved ones that are addicted and her hope is that we can change this mindset. 

Kathy Nay lives in West Jordan Utah and participates in many community groups that are dealing with addiction. 

To get in touch with Kathy Nay, call/email/message me at 801-809-6666, kathynay.kn@gmail.com

About the Host:

DeAnna Robbins - is a lover of learning and connecting with REAL people. A Grandma of 4, mom of 4 and wife of one. Her role of being "middle aged" is the current Life Lesson. How to take care of aging parents, be a mom, step mom, wife and professional woman, oh the fun. DeAnna has seen the dark and ugly side of abuse, alcoholism and suffering but believes you are either a victim or a player. She chose to be a player. DeAnna has been in Real Estate since 1997. Serving as President of the Salt Lake Board of Realtors and President of the Utah Association of Realtors. Currently serving on the board of directors for UtahRealEstate.com and two Committee's for the National Association, she remains heavily involved. DeAnna is managing a successful Sotheby's International Realty office in Draper, Utah. DeAnna's passion for people and commitment to personal development has inspired her to do a podcast. "I would not be who I am today, were it not for great authors, entrepreneurs, therapists and incredible humans I call friends".  She is excited for this new journey to grow, learn and live inspired for the next half of her life. 

Cristie North is a wife, mother of 6 and grandmother of 2.  She just turned 50 and is learning to navigate the reality of empty nesting.  She has endured trials of divorce, alcohol abuse, blended family and grief. She celebrates every part of her journey as her belief is that each challenge makes us the remarkable, complicated beautiful souls we are today. She has been in the mortgage industry for over 28 years and currently manages a top producing mortgage company in Salt Lake City, Utah.  She is also the founder of the Taylor Hagen Memorial Foundation which brings awareness to suicide prevention and mental health awareness, the foundation was started in honor of her son Taylor after losing him to suicide.  Since losing her son she has committed to being more present in living her life, to honor herself and to be more open to every opportunity. This podcast is a way for her to continue her journey and commitment to learning and growing in this next chapter.

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