MaryBeth Cichocki is a retired registered nurse living in Delaware. She lost her youngest son, Matt, to an overdose of prescription drugs on January 3, 2015.
After his death, she was unable to return to her world of taking care of critically ill babies in the NICU. She now spends her time advocating and writing about the disease of addiction. She started a blog shortly after Matt died titled Mothers Heart Break, which tells the story of Matt’s addiction and continues into the present as she deals with complicated grief.
MaryBeth also facilitates SADD, a support group for those who have suffered the loss of a loved one to the disease of addiction.
MaryBeth has testified in her state capitol at the Joint Finance Committee hearings, sharing her story of the difficulty she experienced while trying to find comprehensive treatment for her adult son during his addiction. She works with legislators in her state to implement changes in how the disease of substance use disorder will be treated in the future. She played a pivotal role in the passing of six bills in Delaware related to treatment for those suffering from substance abuse disease.
MaryBeth is passionate about saving other mothers from her grief. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, and dog rescuer.
Her love for Matt transcends off the pages and into the soul of every single loved one who shares this common heartbreak.
–RYAN HAMPTON, American Fix: Inside the Opioid Addiction Crisis
This book is a must read!
-TIM RYAN, Dope to Hope
A powerful book that voices what many of us feel after loss of our child yet too afraid to say aloud. A definite must read for anyone who has lost a child. -Amazon review
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How to address the grieving elephant in the room
