A nursery worker has written an open letter to her drug addict parents to show other young people that it is possible to survive the “heartbreak” of a broken childhood.
In the moving letter to her absent family, Lori-Anne Wiseman reveals she has always struggled to tell people about her upbringing.
But now Miss Wiseman, 20, has reached out to tell other young people living in homes ravaged by addiction that they are not alone.
“Although I am surrounded by people who love me I will always have an empty space that should be filled with a mother’s love,” she said.
“Now I’m 20-years-old and you two have missed so much, everyone tells me that I’ve grown up to be such an amazing, smart and clever young woman.
“But where were you when I passed my Level Three? And when I passed my driving test? Where were you on my prom day? Where were you when I had boy trouble and needed someone to talk to?
“There is no real cure for the heartbreak of a little girl longing for the love of her mum, because if there were, I wouldn’t lie in bed every night crying myself to sleep.”
The decision to share her story with friends and acquaintances on social media was inspired by the efforts of Dundee teenager Chelsea Cameron.
Miss Cameron’s own heartfelt letter to her drug addict parents went viral early this year and the teen has now been recognised with a Young Scot Award.
“I saw the post from the girl from Dundee, writing a letter to her drug addict parents thanking them for what they had taught her,” Miss Wiseman said. “It gave me a bit of inspiration.”
Miss Wiseman, who moved in with her aunt after leaving home, added: “I just wish that more people in the same situation as me would come forward and open up.
“I’m totally overwhelmed at the response I’ve had on Facebook as well, I didn’t realise so much people were affected by addiction.”
Dozens of people have responded to and shared her open letter.
But last night Miss Wiseman’s mother insisted their relationship was not affected by drug addiction.
“Our relationship did not suffer,” she said. “We went on holiday, we went to the beach, we went to the cinema and we went to the fair.”
