Megan Angelina Webbley, 31, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, September 29. Specifically, she died of an overdose, finally losing her battle with addiction. She was in Manchester, N.H., seeking treatment for her addiction. We have no clear picture of what went wrong. Megan leaves behind her mother, Dorothy Provenzano, of Boca Raton, Fla.; her father, Edwin Webbley, of Middlebury, Vt.; and her brother, Michael Henderson, of Los Angeles, Calif.; as well as many loving cousins, aunts and uncles. She also left behind four beautiful children who were collectively the light of her dark life.
Though shadowed by opiate addiction, Megan enjoyed a big smile and an infectious laugh. She loved all kinds of music, dancing and doing her makeup. Empathetic in the extreme, she was the underdog’s biggest advocate. And against all circumstances, when she could be, she was a loving, gentle and doting mother. Just last year, she spent a few hours in the pool with all four kids (the youngest has since been adopted by a loving family), and it was a rollicking, madcap outing featuring a waterslide and peals of laughter. It was at that point when she was the happiest we had seen her in years.
Megan grew up in St. Albans and Georgia, Vt., participating in dance and swimming. She proved to be an adventuresome reader and a fearless jumper off cliffs. But on July 1, 2005, she was once again at a cliff on Eagle Bay in Burlington. I was sitting at my desk on the first day of a new job, and a Vermont State Policeman called to tell me to drive to the emergency room at the University of Vermont Medical Center. I was told that she had been pushed off the cliffs and hit the rocks below … with her face. Having been rescued by a man in a kayak and EMTs, she was being stitched up, and her jaw was wired shut. They suspected a TBI, but when they prescribed her liberal doses of opiates, she lost control of her life. She would be in and out of rehab — and jail — for the next 14 years.
To editorialize, I am hoping that the Department for Children and Families rethinks its mission to be the punisher of addicted mothers, the separator of families and the arbiter of children’s futures, and instead embrace a mission of enhanced rehabilitation. We, as a state, are overwhelmed by addiction. We have almost nowhere to turn. I encourage enhanced funding for treatment in general and using DCF as a gateway for mothers with addiction to get help. Because, as one would guess, once the mother is separated from her children, desperation sets in, even with the brightest and most determined of mothers — and Megan Angelina Webbley was that bright and determined mother … with a fatal disease and a dearth of treatment options.
—Submitted by Megan’s father
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This article appears in Oct 2-8, 2019.
Thank you for sharing your story, may it bring full attention to this crisis! Strength and prayers are being sent to you and your family
Why isn’t it is drug control important to you? We are losing our children daily bc of drug dealers, slack of education and drug programs. It’s right here on our islands, our beautiful city, your community!!
Why isn’t this a main focus? Brittney Nichole Fisher I will fight for you!
She couldn’t bare losing the love of her life, her baby. So she chose not again to reach out. She knew DSS would not close her case. Again she thought she could just stop and once everything was settled she’s begin a new life. I beg you to educate yourself on the mind of addiction and how powerful of a drug heroine is. It’s not always your typical junkie persona. I found this out when it was too late with my daughter lifeless, purple, and slumped over the bathtub after she stepped out of the shower. She was brain dead and no matter how much CPR wss given as I wiped the throw up from her mouth which each compression given it didn’t change. I sat with her four days at MUSC day and night until they could make the final call. This is the story of an addict, the story of my daughter. 11.11.94-09.24.19
I thought the same we way until it happened to my daughter. She kept it a secret. She was introduced to the drug by her long term bf who shot her up the first time. I truly believe she wanted to know why he loved heroine more than her. He was toxic for her but she loved him. After years of being with him, trying to save him from his destructive life I guess she gave in. She threw in the towel you could say and he finally convinced her. She was brought up to be strong, to fight the bad and she thought she could all by herself. She became pregnant and tried to quit but became so sick and being convinced by her bf that quitting wasn’t an opition she continued to use, never reaching out for help bc she wss slave ashamed. She was always a bright, smart, caring, and loving girl. She was cared for by many and many families. Then she had her baby girl. She kept from everyone that she was born addicted to heroine until DSS told her that she must have a protector for Hollyn. My granddaughter. She lived with us and her baby. She was ordered to have drug classes and pass drug tests. She passed but not truthfully. She went to every class, worked, and took outstanding care of her daughter.
Placing the blame for addiction on doctors who prescribe medications to assist with pain control and a system that aims to protect children is foolish. Millions of people take opioid medications to control pain and stop taking them upon resolution of that pain with no issues. DCF removes children in order to protect them from addiction and the harm that comes from it. Regardless of our age, we are always deeply influenced by the people who raise us. These influences include not only the genes inherited from biological parents, but also the behaviors, habits, values, and communication styles that we learn from our adult caregivers. This same pattern applies to the way we use alcohol or drugs. In homes where one or more adults abuse alcohol or drugs, children are approximately twice as likely to develop addictive disorders themselves. These children are also more likely to experience poor performance in school, emotional and behavioral problems, Low self esteem, a higher risk of developing anxiety or depression, earlier onset of experimentation with drugs or alcohol…..I could go on and on. Blaming other people means never having to say sorry. If other people are responsible for the bad things that happen in life then the individual can avoid feelings of culpability. Those who fall into addiction will frequently blame other people for their predicament. It is only when they take responsibility for their situation that they can be free. There are resources available for addicts, but they dont stand any chance of helping if the addict doesnt want to help themselves. Advocating for placing blame is only enabling addicts to justify their addiction.
I too have that awful disease but fortunately I am currently winning. I will continue to advocate and fight for others like myself and Megan in hopes that one day this disease will no longer take any lives. Prayers for Megan’s family.
Am praying for the children, family and friends of Megan. My heart breaks for you all. Such a tragic loss. I agree that our country needs to make substance abuse a top priority as it is killing our youth. We need easy affordable access to treatment. We need the public to stop looking down at those afflicted. These people need rehab not jail. As the mother of an adult child that suffers with addiction I know the pain, fear, heartache that comes with this disease. I pray constantly for my son to overcome. I know if he lost his children he would join Megan. Those children are his life. His reason to keep trying even if he relapses he fights once more to climb out of that pit he calls hell. God Bless you Megan. God bless those babies of yours. And God bless this entire family. Many prayers for all who are dealing with this horrible affliction.
My prayers for the family of these warrior. So very sorry she lost her battle. Sending love and prayers for her family. Bless her family for speaking the truth in this heartbreaking time. She was not her addiction. She was a daughter and a mother and my heart breaks for all the wonderful young people lost from this horrible disease. Prayers for comfort
I’m truly sorry for your loss. But it’s not DCF’s fault that she loss her children. She had a drug problem. Sadly, the drugs took over and she could find her way back. Sorry but it was her fault that she loss her children. Drugs were more important and that is the sad part about drug addicts and drug addiction is a disease. If she truly wanted her kids back she would have fought hard to find her way back. Again sorry for your loss.
Thank you for being so amazingly brave. I am so deeply sorry for your loss.