Episode Details

ABOUT THE EPISODE:
Danielle Schaffer is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to her business and her family, but not even this determined, dynamic Italian "momshell" who hails from New York City could save her baby brother from the grip of addiction. As founder of the insanely popular blog and Instagram account, City Girl Gone Mom, and host of The Mom Confidential podcast, Danielle puts her mind to something and then makes it happen. But sadly, when it comes to addiction, even when you love someone to the ends of the earth, you can't always save them. 

This episode is the second in my pursuit of telling the siblings' stories around families, addiction and coping - a side of the opioid crisis and addiction in general, that doesn't get told nearly enough. Danielle generously shares her family's story and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like to grow up in a family riddled with addiction and how she attempted to save her brother Scott, who ultimately lost his battle to an overdose in 2018.

Listen in to this vulnerable and heart-wrenching episode as Danielle shares;

• what she aspired to be when she was a little girl and how that’s so relevant now
• her life as a child growing up with a mom who was an addict
• what it was like dealing with her brother while having a growing family and business empire
• her relationship with her brother Scott and how her role as "sissy" also blurred with being a mother figure to him
• how well her brother hid the extent of his use from everyone close to him
• the constant lies her brother used to cover up his drug use and overdoses
• the disturbing combination of drugs that showed up in Scott's toxicology report
• the agony of telling her kids their uncle had died of an overdose and how her family dealt with the blow of their loss
• the good and bad sides of sibling support groups 
• some of her COVID coping skills and how she's staying healthy right now
• why she’s so open about her brother’s death and how he died
• the questions she asks herself about her brother’s struggle with drugs
• and how she recently honored her brother’s life 

Settle in for this one, it's so real and so honest. 

EPISODE RESOURCES:

• Sibling Support Resources (addiction related - this is an Australian site but has some good information)
• Culpeper Overdose Awareness (grief support for siblings)

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream Community
Learn about The Stream, our private online community for moms
Find us on Instagram here
Watch the podcast on YouTube here
Download a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol

Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.