A Mother’s Love, a Son’s Story: Addiction
As I welcome Liz Ledarney to The Phoebe Project as a Prayer Partner, I want you to know a little of her story. It includes a deep love for her son, David, the heartbreak of watching him struggle with addiction, and a desire to help other families understand what hers learned through loss.
It is a tender story to share. Liz is my sister. And David was my nephew.
The son she knew and loved
Liz remembers David as a capable young man who knew how to work hard and make a living. He loved motocross, pursued his dream of building a track on his farmland, and spent time mentoring children who shared his love of riding.
He farmed alongside his dad. He loved his family. There were dreams he wanted to pursue and people he wanted to help.
At 28, David went to work in Alberta’s oil fields. According to Liz, that was where he was introduced to cocaine, in an environment where using it was treated casually. Two years later, he told his parents what was happening and asked whether he might need rehabilitation.
Liz has spoken honestly about that conversation. She was shocked and did not know what questions to ask. At the time, she hoped that his willingness to admit it, along with attending church and continuing in faith, would be enough to help him move forward.
Looking back, she wishes they had understood the seriousness of his request.
That part of her story stays with me. As parents, we can love our children deeply and still find ourselves facing something we do not understand. We want to believe they will be okay, and we do the best we can with what we know at the time.
Seasons of hope
In 2017, David attended an outpatient rehabilitation program. Afterwards, he began a ministry called Finding Freedom, connected to the program and supported by his family’s church.
There was hope in seeing him move forward and reach out to others. He was also working toward his motocross dream.
By the fall of 2019, however, several parts of his life were becoming difficult. The ministry eventually closed, a relationship ended, and a dispute over permission for his motocross track put that dream in jeopardy. Liz described this as a season when David returned to cocaine.
Over the years that followed, there were further struggles and renewed moments of hope. He moved home in 2021 because he was lonely. Later, he rededicated his life to God, shared his story at church, and read his Bible.
His family continued to love him and hope for his recovery.
A loss no mother can prepare for
By 2023, David’s addiction had become increasingly severe. His family discussed residential treatment with him, but he worried about leaving work and his responsibilities.
On August 1, 2023, we got the news that David had died of a cocaine overdose. A mother's worst nightmare.
Earlier that day, he had spoken with his sister, Angie, about going to rehabilitation. He wanted to stop, but did not know how.
She also remembered the love he expressed for his family in those final months. That matters.
David was loved, and so lovable, throughout his struggle, and he remains loved today.
What Liz wants other families to know
One of Liz’s strongest messages is to take someone seriously when they say they need help. She wishes she had known more when David first raised the possibility of rehabilitation, and she now encourages families to learn about addiction and help their loved ones connect with support.
She also challenges the idea that a person must reach “rock bottom” before help can begin. For her, that phrase carries the weight of what her family lost.
As I reflect on her story, I think about how faith can move us to respond when someone is hurting. We can pray, listen carefully, and help someone take a practical step toward the care they need. Seeking help can be part of how we live out our faith.
Welcome Liz to The Phoebe Project
Liz will be joining The Phoebe Project as a Prayer Partner, coming alongside women in prayer. Her heart is big and her love for the Lord is deep and wide.
Since losing David, Liz's desire is to help those struggling with addiction, to come alongside those who have friends and family dealing with addiction, and to simply show everyone she meets the love of God. She is a mighty prayer warrior.
I am grateful to welcome her to The Phoebe Project and to share this part of her life with you. We want The Phoebe Project to be a place where women can bring what is on their hearts without feeling they need to tidy it up first. Sometimes that means being honest about grief, uncertainty, or a situation we cannot fix for someone we love.
Psalm 34:18 reminds us that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted. I find comfort in that nearness; the assurance that we can come to Him while our hearts are still hurting and our questions remain unanswered.
Thank you, Liz, for allowing your story to be shared. We honour David’s memory, and we are grateful to welcome you as you prepare to pray alongside the women of The Phoebe Project.
Adapted with from “Overdose Awareness Month: David Ledarney’s Story,” published by PembinaValleyOnline.
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