A remarkably open account of opioid addiction in a young Vermont woman鈥檚 obituary is shining a light on the struggle of those trying to escape the drug鈥檚 grasp.
The obituary for Madelyn Linsenmeir, 30,
鈥淲hile her death was unexpected, Madelyn suffered from drug addiction, and for years we feared her addiction would claim her life,鈥� the obituary begins. 鈥淲e are grateful that when she died, she was safe and she was with her family.鈥�
Linsenmeir was born and raised in Vermont, but moved to Florida briefly to attend a high school for the performing arts. It was there where she tried OxyContin for the first time.
鈥淎nd so began a relationship with opiates that would dominate the rest of her life,鈥� the obituary continues.
Linsenmeir had her first child Ayden in 2014 and while she loved her son dearly, ultimately her addiction caught up with her once again.
鈥淢addie tried harder and more relentlessly to stay sober than we have ever seen anyone try at anything, but she relapsed and ultimately lost custody of her son, a loss that was unbearable,鈥� the obituary states.
After losing her child, Linsenmeir鈥檚 addiction spiralled into a dark place, but things began to look up this summer when she returned home for a 12-day span and remained mostly sober during that time. This gave her family hope that she would 鈥渙vercome her disease and make the life for herself we knew she deserved.鈥�
鈥淲e believed this until the moment she took her last breath,鈥� the obituary continues. 鈥淗er addiction stalked her and stole her once again. Though we would have paid any ransom to have her back, any price in the world, this disease would not let her go until she was gone.鈥�
The obituary has gained traction online for the writer鈥檚 raw and honest description of Linsenmeir鈥檚 life.
One Twitter user called the account while another called it an
