Mother’s substance abuse strong, but love still prevails

This season a woman sits in a room thinking of Christmas past, present, and future.

That woman is 40 year old Doreen Morris of Lake Stevens.

Her children are not physically far from her, but mentally they are distant, and the only thing a mother wants, is to be with her children on Christmas day.

Morris sits in an inpatient recovery center located in a densely wooded area of Purdy, WA where she is undergoing treatment for her drug and alcohol addictions.

The setting at the treatment center is a beautiful one, but all who come to this place have a side that many consider ugly, harsh, or irresponsible.

Desperately wanting some normalcy for her children, Morris ponders how it all happened.

“I don’t know how it happened,” Morris said.

Like many men, women, and teens, Morris is trying her best to understand why, and how things got out of hand, and where she went wrong.

Morris had been a resident of Lake Stevens for about ten years, and had a happy marriage, with a loving family.

“My life was a pretty storybook,” Morris said.

Morris says she reflects back to the summer of 1997 often; with her third child on its way, and having her oldest just turning four, life was very good.

Like any “normal” family with two parents, children, a lovely home, and friends in the neighborhood, hers was an envy of many friends.

Morris took part in many of her children’s school activities before and after school.

“My children went to Mt. Pilchuck, and I went on field trips, and helped in class. We carved pumpkins in the gym every year,” Morris commented.
Now boyfriend Guy Quinnett says that Morris has a big heart, and is full of love.

“Doreen is a very loving person,” Quinnett said.

But, as quick as her fairy tale dream came, it was taken away just as suddenly, but she remained optimistic as always.

“She is very optimistic,” Quinnett stated.

Depression set in after the untimely death of her friend Patty, whom she met at B.C. McDonalds in Lake Stevens.

Soon after, Morris lost two more friends, and found herself in a marriage that was no longer the picture perfect scenario.

No longer in love with a husband who did not spend time with her, and who had his own addictions, Morris found herself seeking solitude in drinking.

“She broke off the marriage because of lack of support,” Quinnett added.
Missing the comforts and attention that she had for years with her husband, Morris sought the affection of a then close friend, which worsened her situation.

“I don’t know how it happened, I was unhappy in my marriage and ended up starting something with his (husband’s) friend,” Morris said.

Morris continued, and said, “I needed a friend and good sex, so I took it.”
The relationship lasted about two years according to Morris, but there was more drinking, and the new man “Rob” only fed her addictions.

Rob, had found her weakness in cocaine.

“By the time I found out how much he had been doing, I wanted my share, and I got my share, and enough for half the town I believe,” Morris stated.

“My ex was doing his own thing, the same thing. Our kids now didn’t have any responsible parents,” Morris said.

Often times people closest are hurt just as much as the addicted person.
Morris sadly speaks of the missed years, and how badly she feels for not giving her children more attention when they needed it.

“They were late for school, and missed a lot of activities. We all missed too much during those last 2 years in Lake Stevens,” Morris said.

Morris lost her children to CPS, but was fortunate with where they were placed.

“My kids fortunately went to my mother’s and are all now getting A’s and B’s in school,” Morris said.

Morris also says all her children are very anxious to have their mother back, and live like a family again.

Morris says that her son Tyler likes school now, and he’s probably the smartest of the children, and daughter Kelsea was nominated by someone to go to Europe on a student program.

“Kelsea is going to Europe this summer with a worldwide student People to People Program that someone nominated her for,” Morris said.

She says Kelsea is very excited, and Morris herself wanted to thank the person for nominating her daughter.

She says it may have been a teacher at Mt. Pilchuck named Mr. Wyant, but whoever it was, she says, “Thank you.”

Boyfriend Quinnett said, “What she needed was to be shook-up a little bit.”

He also added, “I know for a fact that she will make it, Doreen is a very intelligent woman.”

Quinnett continued saying, that all the children are super kids, and they are all self achievers.

This Christmas brings back something that was never gone; the love of a mother, and her children.

“They are all anxious to be back with me, and be a normal family, whatever that is. But for now, I am doing my treatment,” Morris said.