S.O.B.E.R. - A Special Presentation by Anita Baglaneas Devlin: Author/Mother/Recovery Advocate

Be part of an exciting “caring without judgment movement” that will begin in Rhode Island!

A 40th Anniversary Program of The Samaritans of Rhode Island
Prelude to Mother’s Day: Author/Mother returns home to tell her story of heartache, anger and hope on the journey to her son’s recovery.
A UNIVERSAL STORY FOR MOTHERS AND CAREGIVERS
Anita Baglaneas Devlin, Author/Mother/Recovery Advocate
Coming back to Rhode Island under such circumstances was something Anita Baglaneas Devlin never imagined. Neither was the idea of letting go of the façade of the perfect Greek family, especially one strongly rooted in religious faith – after all her father was a Greek Orthodox priest. Then again, Anita Baglaneas Devlin never imagined she would be the mother of a son addicted to opiate pills and heroin.
A native of Pawtucket, Anita together with her son Michael, wrote a compelling new memoir entitled S.O.B.E.R.* The story is written from two perspectives. Anita writes as a mother grappling with the stigma of her son’s addiction, fearing for his life, struggling to understand the disease and his thoughts of suicide while her son writes of suffering emotionally and physically while in the grips of the disease, and offers an empowering message of recovery.
But even more, Anita’s side is a story of the unspoken challenges faced by caregivers.
Women as caregivers - especially mothers - bear exceptional burdens which can be misunderstood and criticized. Anita’s passionate message, as told in her book and her presentation, is the efforts and decisions of mothers and caregivers often come at a heavy personal price and should never be judged. She wants women to care for each other without judgment, help each other and respect each other’s journey – no matter the outcome.

This free event will be held on May 10th aT 7PM at the Church of the Annunciation, 175 Oaklawn Ave., Cranston; and May 11th at 7pm at Thursday, May 11th at 7:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Park Place, Pawtucket
Please join us on either night for an inspiring evening of love, hope and caring!

A special thank you to our program supporters! The Ladies Philoptochos Societies of the Pawtucket, Cranston and Newport Greek Orthodox Churches and St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Reverend Greta Getlein, pastor and SHRI Urban Revitalization Yoga, Pawtucket.
Questions? Call The Samaritans of RI Business Line at 401.721.5220
Or visit www.samaritansri.or