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.
Oh my…I am very sorry for the loss of this beautiful woman, daughter, mother, cousin,n aunt..Such a huge problem in this crazy world in which we live in…I agree that DSS should help these parents and not keep the children from the parents..It only makes the parent weaker n more lost by not having her children n feeling like a failure…The Drs. don’t help, the system is all backwards…If there’s no help 4 the parents to get clean n get their children back, it becomes a vicious cycle, n with the kids not having their parents in their life, as they get older, either they follow the same steps or they are able 2 get counseling n have close family 2 love them, and they choose not to use…Unfortunantely, there are always going 2 be meds and drugs. How people choose 2 take them or not, is a result of how their life might end up being…SO SAD…
May Megan Rest In Peace. Thank you Edwin fit sharing her story. She represents the ills of opioid addiction of too many. Im sorry for your loss. Prayers for peace to all who loved her
We grieve for you and ALL the families out there suffering with the addiction of a loved one. It is a horrid existence for them and for us. Something truly needs to be done before an entire generation is obliterated. Its not a problem for someone else, addiction is a horror that can affect anyone. Im so sorry for your daughter, her children and her entire family.
Heart wrenching story I think everyone knows someone who is addicted sadly. prayers and peace for the whole family
What is grief?
Ive had grief in my life, most people have. But I can tell you one thing, Ive never had grief like this.
What does Grief look like? It looks like someone who is just trying to breathe and cant even manage to brush their own teeth. It looks like sorrow, despair, hopelessness, stress and anxiety.
It looks like searching for answers Questions Never finding what will make it feel better
Its the endless thought of why? Why? Why did this happen?
Grief. What is grief?
Grief is the aftermath from loving someone more than life itself. That is grief.
Wonderful response by Megan’s father. I am behind you all the way. I have one child clean after many years of drugs and alcohol. Another that needs help. Our economy is so stretched right now for many of the wrong things. There are so many out there not getting the help they need.
I also have a son that is a police officer. He says so much of what they do is with addicts or the mentally ill. I pray that you and your family can find the peace you need. I know Megan is in peace. Love and prayers to all of you.
This is such a horrible tragedy. My heart goes out to you and your family. We need to do more, we need to do better. Too many lives lost because adequate help was not available. May you find strength and blessings and may her soul rest in peace.
Thank you for sharing, I am so sorry for your loss and my heart breaks for Meagan and her children and her parents and family. God has her now she is not suffering,may he help each and everyone of you to get through your great loss
Addiction is indeed a family disease, and I congratulate you on your overcoming your tragic grief and using this as a forum to reach out to others. May you find peace as you educate others and may your beautiful daughter now find the peace that escaped her here on earth. God Bless you all during this most difficult time.
My condolences on ur loss.. no amount of words can ever ease ur pain ..so I only leave u with two #Tears&TIME