In 2009, we published Stay Close. Shortly thereafter, we launched a website and blog in order to create a community of support for all those suffering from the consequences of addiction. We started with a team of three dedicated people, who believed that we could make a difference. Jeff and I wrote weekly meditations, and Aamir Syed brought our vision to technological life.
Today, July 21, 2022, we celebrate Jeff’s 16th anniversary of sobriety. After suffering through a 14-year heroin addiction, he stands as a testament to the hope of recovery. A noble and gentle man, he is a good son, brother, and uncle; a productive businessman; and a loving friend to many.
On this significant day, with gratitude and grace, we’ve decided to close this chapter and stop writing Thursday Meditations. We thank you, our readers, for staying close all these years. You have humbled us with your outpouring of support and compassion, all the while sharing your stories of suffering and hope.
We also thank a team of talented artists, who helped us along the way with visual and technical support. We couldn’t have achieved our goals without Michele Borzoni, Mikele Roselli-Cecconi, Maria and Carolina Usbeck, Davood Madadpoor, George Burroughs and Lauren Giordano.
We thank John Boss, Jeff’s former sponsor, whose faith and wisdom continue to inspire us. Our beloved Dr. Patrick MacAfee has passed on, but not before he was able to help Jeff with compassion and love. He showed me, through his example, how to open my heart and understand the conundrum that is addiction. He taught us that only by taking addiction out of shadows and into the light can it be healed. He will be forever in our hearts, and his teachings will continue to light our way.
Our love to all of you. Stay Close.
Libby, Jeff, and Aamir
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Thank you for all of your openness and encouragement throughout these years. I have been touched in many ways and it has helped me not feel alone in the recovery process for my own son. I wish you all the best and a lifetime of God’s blessings!! -Sheryl
Dear Sheryl, Thanks for your kind and compassionate words. I'm so grateful that our messages helped you to feel less alone. Addiction is such an isolating disease. Thanks for the good wishes. God bless us all. xoxo My love to you.
Libby,
I have read and shared your blog with friends for many years.
One such friend suffered many years with 3 addicted children. Everything eventually worked out but Wally continued to attend Al-Anon meetings for years, seeking to help others, until his death 2 years ago.
What comfort and hope you have provided for those seeking solace and peace.
God bless you and your family.
Woody
Dearest Woody, Your message touches me. Your friend had three addicted children. My heart breaks for his horrendous suffering. Thank the Lord that everything eventually worked out. Al-Anon was the saving grace in my life, too. I'm humbled that we were able to provide ssome sense of help to him and those who suffer. God bless you, too. My love to you and yours.
I’m crying- tears of sadness and tears of joy.
I look so forward to your blog every Thursday, and words can’t express the the appreciation I have for you and Jeff. You turned your pain into something so selfless and generous as writing this blog. You have helped SO many, myself included. So the blog ending are the tears of sadness. The tears of joy is imagining 16 years of sobriety for Jeff! What a beautiful testimony to hope. I wish you both nothing but love and joy as you move on in this wonderful miracle that we call LIFE! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Laurie
My precious Laurie, Thank YOU for staying close all these years. You have inspired me by sharing your comments and compassion. Thanks, too, for your joy in Jeff's recovery walk. You and I both know it's one day at a time, and I remain both grateful and prayerful. Yes, life is a wonderful miracle. Thanks for walking this journey with me. My love to you. We'll stay close in love and prayer.
Thank you both! My son is 3 years clean sober and active in the recovery community. Your words have given me hope and inspiration along the way.
Dear Beth, Your son is 3 years sober. This is huge, and I celebrate with you. We give each other hope and inspiration. Thanks for walking this walk with me. My love to you and your precious son.
Thank you for your writings. I found comfort in your book while my daughter struggled with heroine addiction. I struggled with how to help her, my family and myself during this time. I loved the premise of your book and I felt encouraged by your words.
I am so proud of my daughter - she has been clean for over 7 years, obtained her under grad and grad degrees and works full time to help youngsters become the best version of themselves. Thank you again and I wish you and your family only the best.
Thank you again.
Dear N.S., Your daughter is 7 years healthy, and she has accomplished so much. She is now working full time to help young people. What a blessing!! I'm grateful that we could be some help along the journey. Stay Close guided us, and I'm glad it guided you, too. My love to you and your daughter.
It's been wonderful to share the journey with you.
Ahhh, Debbie. Thanks for your love and compassion, and thanks for sharing your insightful comments that you learned along the way. You, Jeff, and others in recovery have been my best teachers. Your courage and strength inspire me. Thanks for walking with me and for helping us to help others. I'm grateful. With love and respect.
"Stay Close" was truly the first step for me to be able to deal with my son's substance abuse disorder. Your book gave me hope and a mantra that I use to this day. I have since recommended the book and the Thursday meditations to too many people suffering with this family disease. Thank you both... but especially Libby whose journey as a parent with a struggling loved one really touched my heart. All the best on your next chapter and many congratulations to Jeff on his 16th year!
Dear Janice, Stay Close was my first step, too, in really understanding how to manage all my conflicting feelings about my son's substance abuse disorder. When Jeff was suffering, 'tough love' was the mantra, and I'm grateful that "Stay Close' offered another way of loving through the trauma. Thanks, too, for your good thoughts for Jeff's recovery. Please keep him and us in your prayers. It's one day at a time, and I remain prayerful. My love to you.
Dear Libby,
Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Your book was life changing for me. Stagli vacino. My son and I say that to each other often. You taught me to be more compassionate and accepting. To just simply love him where he’s at. I will miss these Thursday morning messages so much but I understand. You’ve been of service for so long I guess it’s time. I’ll continue to share your book with new parents I encounter on my journey. I hope that one day my son will be able to get clean like Jeff has. I will forever be grateful what you have given me.
With love and respect, Carri
Dearest Carri, Your words touch me deeply. Stagli vicino. You and your son say these words to each other. It's powerful, I think, when our children know that we will stay close and love them through it all. Thanks for staying close to us all these years. I join you in prayer your your son. Where there is life, there is hope. My love and respect to you.
Thank you. You gave me hope when I couldn’t find it anywhere. My son has been sober a year and now you’re giving me hope it can last.
Will the old posts still be available so I can get my Thursday dose of hope?
Dear Terri, Your son has been sober on year. This is huge! Jeff says that one day is a celebration. God bless him, and you.
Your sentence affirms our work - 'You gave me hope when I couldn’t find it anywhere.' That's why we did what we did. Thank you for your love and compassion.
Yes, the old posts will always be available, and I'll stay close in love and prayer. My love to you and your son.
Thank you Libby and Jeff for sharing your journey with us and helping all of us. Your story, your book and constant message “stay close” has resonated and become part of my daily conversations as we journey through my son’s path to sobriety. Finding out about your book and hearing your story helped me believe and not give up on “hope”. Your Thursday Meditations will be missed BUT not forgotten and will continue to be the cornerstone that helped me find healing and peace among the chaos and again most importantly stay close and not give up!!
Prayers and Thanks. God Bless you all.
Dear Tanya, Thank you for your loving and gracious message. I'm humbled that we were part of your your journey toward healing and peace. Addiction feeds off chaos and misery, and hope and love are our antidotes. Yes, we'll stay close and not give up! I join you in prayer for your son, and please keep Jeff in your prayers. My love to you and your precious family.