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.
May she rest in peace. I’m so sorry for her children and family and friends. I know myself how hard this is. I have been clean for 1 year & 1/2 just about. I lost my youngest to DCF for almost a year. I did a program for three months and then went into a program for mother’s and children. I have sole custody of her now but my case is still open. Which was my choice at that time to leave it open. I completed the program but now I’m struggling with finding shelter or housing for us and the only help DCF has offered is to put her back in a foster home for now. My heart breaks for you and your grand hildren and all the children connected with DCF. God bless you all.
I lost my youngest of four daughters six years ago. She died as the result of a sepsis infection caused by a dirty needle. She left behind two beautiful children and a heartbroken Mother, Father and three sisters. We need to help the addicts not criminalize them. This madness needs to stop, we are losing our precious children. I am praying for your family, so sorry for your loss.My daughter was 33 years young.
My condolences to this family right now. A former pill pooper also. I started after date raped in 08 and suffer from tbi and ptsd after 21 years of abuse and a domestic also 13 years ago.
Our family also lost a special, smart, incredible human being to this senseless drug. Every week I hear of another death and life taken way to soon and I wonder when does it end. Your tribute to your daughter and all who suffer from this tragic disease is commendable. I wish our countries leaders would focus on this epidemic and do something to stop it. I pray for you and your family. The days ahead are going to be filled with questions, emptiness, anger, grief and the longing to see your beautiful daughter. Please know you are not alone and we are praying for comfort and peace. Thank you for having the courage to bring another face to this tragedy. I know your daughter is smiling as she looks down at you from her safe new home without pain and suffering. I am so so very sorry for your loss.
Thank you for sharing the story of your daughter. May God give you the grace and mercy to carry out your mission and help others in similar situations. Sending you special prayers for you and her children. May your daughter soul rest in glory with God. Take good care of yourself.
So sorry I for the loss of your daughter. And it is so sad that our country spends millions of dollars on senseless
Things and don’t see what really needs to be addressed is addiction and parenting homelessness, if we don’t do something now we are really going to.be in big trouble worse than we even know. We need to go back to the basics start over teach these young parents how to be good mother’s fathers and how to love themselves and the rest will follow respect trust and love we are all equal and deserve a chance to life a healthy and long life people get a clue it’s time to stop blaming everyone and start healing com
e on to many people are dieing. God bless everyone
Heroin is a bitch. I lost my sister to it 5 years ago. I feel your pain, it’s such a senseless tragedy. <3
The addiction is real and hard to overcome. I have a loved one who tried to od last week. We were in the ICU and once they were able to speak and decline any further treatment, we left! I tried to keep telling the staff please dont release and please tell the mental health people to hurry and assess so we can admit. But I was told the MH had 24 hours to come and the hospital cant force treatment. Are you kidding me? A bottle of muscle relaxers taken for the purpose of death is not a person who should have the choice to choose for themselves!!!! The system is broken! My loved one is addicted to opioids and feels helpless at times. This story is SO SAD and unfortunately will not be the last one until we find a system that works. May God grant the family peace and comfort in knowing Megan is no longer suffering. I feel so bad for the frustration it leaves for the ones left behind. Prayers for all.
So sorry for your loss, you are so brave for telling her story. It is terrible how the drugs take over our kids life and distory it to the point that we don’t even know who our kids are my son was addicted to heroin and meth before he went to prison I really believe if he hadn’t went to prison I would’ve buried him. I pray you find peace.
The system itself at fault ect..we all blame someone or something..
Rather it be education..communication..or having that someone that will make sure u never go in the wrong path or give up..the person that diesnt take no for an answer and can follow u everywhere
.its HARD to fight..such a strong overpowering addiction..this..gave me chills and touched me..rip angel..ur at peace now..look down and give companybto thpse that gace the same struggles..so they arent alone..