Cath Adams
Founder of Aperture of Hope, LLC
Certified Peer Support Specialist
Recovery Coaching Awareness Photography Outlets Healing Through Arts Facilitator Cath is available for public speaking engagements and sharing her story to support groups, schools and organizations, helping others in their recovery. Let's come to the table together! |
“I will always try to be a light to someone else’s life, no matter the circumstances. Mom lets you and I talk to the high school about addiction, let’s write a book and take photos. You and I, mom, we can do this together and save lives.” - Emily Irene Adams |
Our Story
"A child's first footstep is just the beginning of many more footsteps in the journey of life."
- Cath Adams
February 13, 2017 the day I said to my sweet daughter “This day is the first day of the rest of your life”. Early the same morning my husband and two younger children shed a million tears and embraced our daughter and older sister with fear and hope at the same time. The day, myself and my daughter departed on a flight from our Colorado home to Arizona to begin her journey in a recovery center for substance addiction that was stealing every bit of her life. Her soul, built with amazing compassionate for others was trapped and prisoner inside her fragile frame of skin, bones and sunken face. Our sweet beautiful girl who just turned 18 was being taken away from herself and family by the use of drugs feeding her disease of addiction. Her last three months of high school senior year were spent in Arizona in a recovery home.
Shortly after dropping our daughter in Arizona to commence her journey, I was given the official news of a cancer diagnosis. Our family was faced with navigating through two different major life events and two separate treatment plans. We needed systems of support in which we found within our community.
I was truly blessed that my body freed itself from cancer but still searching and holding onto HOPE as our daughter continued to struggle with her addiction of substance. Her life was a story of traveling in and out of rehab centers, sober living and living in a "trap house" where drugs traveled throughout the household. We prayed, struggled without enabling and began seeing HOPE as our daughter and older sister to her siblings began to face substance in the eye and fight everyday to free herself. She has now embarking on a sober life and reaches out to others who are struggling with substance. Though everyday can present a challenge in recovery she has gained strength to build upon a healthy lifestyle.
April 28, 2020 we received the most heartbreaking devastating telephone, Emily passed away from accidental fentanyl intoxication. She had been suffering from extreme tooth pain and ended up purchasing, what she thought were painkillers, from another individual. Unbeknownst to her, she was given fentanyl that had been pressed to resemble counterfeit prescription pills. As her toxicology report ultimately showed, but for the disguised fentanyl, she was clear of all other substances. Emily always said, "I will always try to be a light to someone else's life, no matter the circumstances” and this was truly how she lived her life. Emily will never have grey hair or even a wrinkle, but what she had was wisdom beyond measure. Emily's motivation in life was to serve others with her genuine gift of heart. Emily gave back to our community in remarkable ways for a person of her young age. Emily suffered from the disease of addiction and it was something she fought extremely hard. She knew she was not her addiction; her life was more than that. She reached out to others to help them navigate this beast, brought many into recovery and ultimately saved lives. Emily's dream was to go on a speaking tour, reach out to teens and write a book sharing her journey. In her 21 years, she gave more HOPE than most can emanate in a lifetime. Throughout her life Emily opened many eyes to the importance of being present for others and understanding the chaos of addiction. NOW she will guide me in continuing this road of HOPE in walking with others on their recovery journey.
Given my "lived experience" that contains many layers of learning how to be a support and the process of addiction, recovery and grief, I have vowed that I will never let any parent, family member and the one with the disease of addiction walk alone. I launched Aperture of Hope to support those in recovery and families of addicted loved ones by connecting with community.
- Cath Adams
February 13, 2017 the day I said to my sweet daughter “This day is the first day of the rest of your life”. Early the same morning my husband and two younger children shed a million tears and embraced our daughter and older sister with fear and hope at the same time. The day, myself and my daughter departed on a flight from our Colorado home to Arizona to begin her journey in a recovery center for substance addiction that was stealing every bit of her life. Her soul, built with amazing compassionate for others was trapped and prisoner inside her fragile frame of skin, bones and sunken face. Our sweet beautiful girl who just turned 18 was being taken away from herself and family by the use of drugs feeding her disease of addiction. Her last three months of high school senior year were spent in Arizona in a recovery home.
Shortly after dropping our daughter in Arizona to commence her journey, I was given the official news of a cancer diagnosis. Our family was faced with navigating through two different major life events and two separate treatment plans. We needed systems of support in which we found within our community.
I was truly blessed that my body freed itself from cancer but still searching and holding onto HOPE as our daughter continued to struggle with her addiction of substance. Her life was a story of traveling in and out of rehab centers, sober living and living in a "trap house" where drugs traveled throughout the household. We prayed, struggled without enabling and began seeing HOPE as our daughter and older sister to her siblings began to face substance in the eye and fight everyday to free herself. She has now embarking on a sober life and reaches out to others who are struggling with substance. Though everyday can present a challenge in recovery she has gained strength to build upon a healthy lifestyle.
April 28, 2020 we received the most heartbreaking devastating telephone, Emily passed away from accidental fentanyl intoxication. She had been suffering from extreme tooth pain and ended up purchasing, what she thought were painkillers, from another individual. Unbeknownst to her, she was given fentanyl that had been pressed to resemble counterfeit prescription pills. As her toxicology report ultimately showed, but for the disguised fentanyl, she was clear of all other substances. Emily always said, "I will always try to be a light to someone else's life, no matter the circumstances” and this was truly how she lived her life. Emily will never have grey hair or even a wrinkle, but what she had was wisdom beyond measure. Emily's motivation in life was to serve others with her genuine gift of heart. Emily gave back to our community in remarkable ways for a person of her young age. Emily suffered from the disease of addiction and it was something she fought extremely hard. She knew she was not her addiction; her life was more than that. She reached out to others to help them navigate this beast, brought many into recovery and ultimately saved lives. Emily's dream was to go on a speaking tour, reach out to teens and write a book sharing her journey. In her 21 years, she gave more HOPE than most can emanate in a lifetime. Throughout her life Emily opened many eyes to the importance of being present for others and understanding the chaos of addiction. NOW she will guide me in continuing this road of HOPE in walking with others on their recovery journey.
Given my "lived experience" that contains many layers of learning how to be a support and the process of addiction, recovery and grief, I have vowed that I will never let any parent, family member and the one with the disease of addiction walk alone. I launched Aperture of Hope to support those in recovery and families of addicted loved ones by connecting with community.
you are not alone in your recovery journey
All images on this site are the copyright property of Gregg & Cath Photographers and are not in public domain.
©Gregg & Cath Photographers. All rights reserved
www.greggandcathphotographers.com
©Gregg & Cath Photographers. All rights reserved
www.greggandcathphotographers.com
Disclaimer: The content on this website and third party resources is for informational purposes only. It is not to be used as a substitute for medical advice or therapy/counseling, diagnosis, or treatment of any physical and/or mental health condition including addiction and recovery. Any questions and/or concerns regarding all aspects of your health should be addressed with a professional health care provider. Aperture of Hope, LLC provides Peer Support/Recovery Coach and Photography Creative Outlets in the interest of promoting recovery by removing barriers and obstacles to recovery, and by serving as a personal guide and mentor for people seeking, or in, recovery and/or support the family members of an addicted love one. Generally, a recovery coach’s goals are to promote recovery; remove barriers to recovery; connect people with recovery support services; support family members of an addicted loved one; and encourage hope, optimism, and healthy living. Your recovery is your choice and responsibility.