Pubdate: Thu, 15 Mar 2001
Source: Mission City Record (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 The Mission City Record
Contact:  33047 1st Ave., Mission B.C., V2V 1G2
Website: http://www.missioncityrecord.com/
Author: Carol Aun
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

DRUGS: MIRANDA'S STORY NOT UNIQUE

Miranda ranks loved cars and snowboarding. She was popular among her 
friends and her family loved and supported her in almost every way.

She was loud, but spirited and was full of hopes and dreams. Those dreams 
disappeared when Miranda overdosed on drugs and died. She was 16-years-old.

Miranda had fallen in love with a man who was addicted to heroin in the 
spring of 1998. She soon began snorting the drug.

"I thought death only came to people who had been using for year and 
years," said Miranda's mom, Yvonne. "I didn't think snorting was addictive, 
but it is."

Yvonne thought her daughter was terrified of needles and never thought 
she'd use them. Yvonne was wrong.

Miranda was with friends at a party the night she overdosed. Nobody knew 
what to do, not even the people Miranda bought the drugs from.

She was left by a coffee table to die as everyone else went on with the 
party. It wasn't until 12 hours later when someone finally called an 
ambulance. By then Miranda's legs were so swollen, Yvonne thought they 
would burst.

At the hospital, Miranda had seven heart attacks. The doctors at Mission 
Memorial Hospital and Royal Columbian Hospital did everything possible, but 
could not save her.

The night Miranda died was the night she was going to turn things around. 
After six months of using drug, she was going to go to Fraser House for help.

"I never really realized I did love her until she was gone," said Trina, 
Miranda's older sister. "Growing up, we never got along. We fought over 
everything."

Nearly every day Miranda sat in Trina's room, watching her put on her makeup.

"I just wanted my sister to go away," said Trina, who didn't like being 
watched, but now misses the talks they had at the time.

Miranda looked up to her older sister who was always going to parties and 
having a good time. Trina told Miranda about what happened at the parties, 
including the drug use.

"I never though about what effect it might have on her," said Trina. "I 
never told her I didn't like being high."

Two months before her death, Trina learned Miranda wanted to be just like her.

"I couldn't save her," said Trina. "I never gave her guidance and now I 
carry that guilt with me."

"You never get over losing a child," said Yvonne. "Not your own child."
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