Hey friends! Welcome back to Hard Beautiful Journey. I’m beyond grateful you're here today for a deeply personal episode, and one that holds a special place in my heart. Why, you ask? Well, today, I’ve got my beautiful Momma on the podcast with me. I’ve wanted her to join me for some time, and now, it just felt right.
Our family has been through a lot, as many of you know. We’ve experienced deep, devastating loss. My brother, Cory, passed away from a fentanyl overdose, and it shattered us in ways I can’t even describe. But through that heartbreak, we’ve held onto love, hope, and the belief that sharing our story might help others who are living through similar pain.
So, yes—there will be tears in this episode. There always are when we talk about Cory. But you’ll also hear laughter, because even in the darkest moments, there’s beauty to be found. My mom and I are here to show that while grief is heavy, joy can still break through.
A Mom’s Love, Strength, and the Power of Vulnerability
From the moment I asked my mom to join me, she was a little nervous—OK, a lot nervous. But she knew how important it was to share her perspective. This is a woman who’s lived through the unimaginable. Losing a child to addiction is every parent’s worst nightmare. But what makes my mom so remarkable is her bravery and desire to help others, even while she’s still healing herself.
In this episode, we dive into some really tough topics—addiction, trauma, and loss. But we also talk about the beautiful memories of my brother, Cory. We laugh about our sneaky childhood moments, the silly things we got into (like sliding down schoolyard slides when we definitely shouldn’t have been), and how my mom always “knew” but let us have our fun.
The Journey Through Addiction
Losing Cory wasn’t just a sudden, unexpected event—it was a long and painful journey. My mom opens up about the early signs of Cory’s struggles, from mischief in school to his addiction later in life. We reflect on the moments when things felt like they were spiralling, how Cory tried to numb his pain through substances, and the incredibly hard decisions my mom had to make along the way.
But through it all, my mom held onto hope. She never gave up on Cory. She loved him fiercely and unconditionally, even when it was hard. And that’s a message I think is so important: Love people through their struggles, even when it feels impossible.
Dancing in the Rain: Choosing Joy in the Darkest Moments
One of the most beautiful memories I have of Cory happened just three months before he passed away. It was an unexpected moment during one of his lowest points. After a terrifying overdose scare, we were sitting on my mom’s front porch when out of nowhere, it started pouring rain. And Cory—despite how weak he was—stood up and said, “Come on, Tiff, let’s go dance in the rain like we did when we were kids.”
In that moment, something magical happened. Even in the midst of his battle, Cory chose joy. He invited me to share in that joy with him, and it’s a memory I will hold onto for the rest of my life. It’s moments like these that remind me: Even when life feels impossibly hard, there is still beauty to be found if we’re willing to open our hearts to it.
Gratitude and Healing
As always, I like to end each episode with gratitude. Today, I’m beyond grateful for my mom—for her vulnerability, her strength, and her willingness to share our family’s story in the hope that it might help others. She’s taught me so much about resilience and love, and I know her words will touch the hearts of many.
Thank you, Momma, for showing up today, for being vulnerable, and for allowing others to see your heart. Your bravery inspires me every day.
If this episode resonated with you, or if you know someone who could benefit from hearing our story, please share it. And if you’re walking a similar path—whether you’re dealing with addiction, loss, or grief—know that you are not alone. There is hope, there is healing, and there is light on the other side of the darkness.
Join the Conversation
If you’d like to learn more about my book, Dancing in the Rain, which dives deeper into our family’s journey, head to my website at https://tiffcarson.com to grab your copy. And if you’ve already read it, I would be so grateful if you’d leave a review on Amazon—it helps more people find the book and hopefully, find some healing in our story.
Until next time, friends, please be kind to yourselves and each other. And remember, even in the storm, there’s always a chance to dance in the rain.
With love,
Tiff
