_I deeply respect this man for telling the naked, painful truth; about his own shortcomings & alcohol abuse. I hope that he finds peace in his life._ And may young Lexi rest in the arms of angels. ❤
As kind as you for that, the real fact remains, they took on a drug baby only to be an alcholic and other abuse from the adopted mom. She went from one rough family to the next and I don't think just because you adopted her makes you a saint. I think she deserved better given what she was born from. I do however commend him for being honest and taking accountability. That is hard. It's obvious he loved her.
@@feelthejoy I can't pass any judgement on this man, but I will say that this is HIS side of the story. I feel like it sounded pretty one-sided when describing his wife.
@@positivelastaction3957yea to me it sounds like a conservative man married a liberal woman and it caused fights between each other, then once the daughter got sick of living in a conservative way and wanted to get her own identity she went back to the mother to live liberally. Once she did that and started dyeing her hair and being lesbian he had a problem with that, which he probably had a problem with before which caused her to leave That’s what I’m picking up from how he’s describing it
Comment from another side. I admire your way of making these interviews. “Old school” journalism, no interruptions, just a humanity, stripped of any ornaments; a plain story, a real message. Please continue your work, giving people a silent space to talk, and us a hard listening experience.
Well, golly. Thanks. We do ask questions, but structure them so that the answer stands on its own without the audience hearing the question. Yes, it is old school journalism. I'm kinda old, have a degree in journalism, so yeah ... really appreciate the comment.
Hey Dad--my own father used to scratch my back and it was the best thing. I became an addict, too. None of this is your fault. Your daughter was doomed from infancy. You did a wonderful job, and your sobriety is an awesome achievement. These are circumstances beyond your control. The pandemic didn't help. You'll be in my thoughts for awhile. I wish you peace.
..she was ‘doomed from infancy?’ Based on what? That premise excludes everything in a person’s life from having an influence on their outcome, and l don’t believe that people are ‘doomed’ at birth.. environment has a huge impact, as well as genetics
@@Jkaye13Well you sure are not the sharpest knife in the kitchen cabinet are ya… let me break it down for you. Most addicts are born with the addictive mindset. We all cope differently.
No she wasn’t doomed from infancy. Both of my parents were heroin addicts, both in prison when I was born. My mum died when I was 18 months old, and I was put into foster care, until I was 5, I was placed back with my dad. Then the next 11yrs I was horrifically abused by my step mother. And I have never had any kind of dependency. I have trauma, my brain doesn’t quite work like many people’s brain. But I have free will, and self intellect, and purposefully chose to avoid what ruined my parents (my dad died young too, due to his previous years of drug use.)
@@siobhanrose1680 I think "doomed" is the wrong word, too. As they say: genetics loads the gun, and environment pulls the trigger. She probably inherited a disposition to become addicted; I wish she would have been able to appreciate the danger and never even tried coke
My sister is in her mid 50's still living the party lifestyle and she died five days ago and was brought back to life with Narcan and God's grace. It was fentanyl mixed with the cocaine and my daughter's father died the same way, but it was mixed in a Percocet. No matter what age, this has no discrimination and I pray for willpower amongst people to just get help and say no. Sorry for your lost.
I can see the pain behind his eyes. He took some very important lessons away from his daughter's passing and I commend him for that. May she rest peacefully and he continue healing
Something about the fact that his ex-wife got mad at him for helping his daughter go to sleep just breaks my heart. Who does that?? RIP Alexis, I’m so sorry this happened 💔
As a parent i get her concern. He said it himself. He was an alcoholic, would drink & go rub her to sleep. Although his intentions were sincere maybe she should have shown more love to both her husband & children & he would have starting drinking to begin with.
I know! Im wondering how she got through the adoption process? Her upbringing is so similar to mine. I was adopted, my mum always critisied and shamed me, her words, she was also a school teacher. My dad didnt drink but he would come in from work and id already be in bed and he would come straight to see me and scratch my back and tell me a story. I fell into addiction when he was diagnosed with cancer because my mother being my mother only she was loosing him. I had a son at 18 and him and his grandad were 2 peas in a pod so i was trying to keep him in university, support him emotionally, im a single parent, worked 4 jobs to make enough money for us and i decided to numb myself and i stopped usimg after my father passed. These stories are so so sad. The US government NEEDS to get a grip!!!
The pain and regret he carries is tremendous. You sir did the best you could. You love your kids and did your best to protect them. I hope you find the peace you deserve.
Losing a loved one is always tough but losing your underage child is beyond painful. I hope this father can go through the pain and make peace with the situation. RIP Lexi.
He makes no excuses! Sweet man! My 22 year old son died last year of a brain bleed. I remember when he was little my husband laid with him or his older brother. He loved it. I miss him so very much!
Im 32 days clean from fentanyl... its crazy how many kids and young adults are dying just by accidentally ingesting it, while i used it for almost 2 years and never had so much as 1 overdose. sometimes i feel like i shouldn't have made it but I'm so lucky i did.. RIP Lexi, i cant imagine the pain her father has gone through, and the fact he knows where the dealer lives and still hasn't done anything to him is amazing, i know i wouldn't be able to stop myself from sending him to hell.
Congrats man! I've got about 8 months in. I od'd last summer and I haven't looked back. I think God knew I needed it. I don't think I could have stopped without that experience. Now I watch these stories to remind myself how lucky I am and how I never want my family to be the ones telling my story. I hope that Lexi is at peace and that her family finds it as well. ❤
Thank you. My name is also Lexi & I’m 10 years older than her fighting this same demon. I watch this stories as motivation, I KNOW I’m so close. I’m GOING to beat this !! But I’m not gullible to the fact that the next pill could very well be my last one no matter how “careful” I think I’m being.
@@AlexusMusic🕊I am sending you love and light and hope that you find the strength to break from the shackles of addiction. You are a beautiful young woman and I think your story will be one of triumph, I hope your future is filled with support and kindness. A family in Australia will keep you I their prayers tonight. 💜🕯🙏
Lexi, there's help out there. In the US you can call or text 988 for some guidance. We're developing a series of stories about recovery you might find helpful. We've completed two stories so far, more are coming. Here's a link - ruclips.net/p/PLdCPA32W_p39Z8hi7xSIX3Fkqmhd7mRzj
Thank you for speaking about this. This weekend I think I'm going to sit down and talk to my 13 and 14 year old I know they are young but I feel like it needs to be discussed now.
Listening to this dad talk about his own wrongdoings as a father as well as his daughter's is as real as this hurt and pain gets. Love and prayers for him. ❤🙏🏻
Hearing a parent run through their guilty thoughts like this after such a traumatic event, like losing their child, is something very hard to hear. You can tell that he tries to wrap his brain around it every second that he is talking. He’s remembering all the pain and seeing all the missed opportunities to help her. That’s gotta be tremendously hard. I am a mother to two beautiful little girls and I could not imagine losing them. Either of them. My world would end.
Lexi was likely exposed to drugs etc in the womb. She started life with impaired thinking and development. We really need to do more study on the effects of in vitro exposures. You got saved and Lexi had the opportunity to know the Lord. You did your best sir.
Anyone who puts her child out and puts her things in trash bags in the front yard is not a stable influence. She had control issues over her husband and kids, I think. At the end of the day, the whole thing is tragic and heartbreaking and just so damn sad.
This man right here. ❤😢 he took full responsibility for his and his daughters actions yet he delivered an amazing testimony and awareness, and you could feel how much he lived his child. May god protect him always.
We agree. We're hoping to find enough fathers to create a smaller series that is just fathers sharing their stories. Fathers mourn differently, quietly, even secretly.
@@TexasPicturesI remember the father of Drew. Such a good father. Such an intelligent father and son. Still this tragedy happend. But he is doing so much to prevent it from happening to anybody else. I hope you find enough fathers for your project!
You can see the pain in his eyes, on his face and you can hear it in his words. I'm really really sorry this happened to your baby. Important advice given, however it gets to a stage that you can no longer force your kid to do something. You only speak to them, guide them and pray they make the right decision. It was not your fault, please don't let guilt weigh you down.
Gosh, it sounds like you loved her with all your heart and did the best you could. We never stop being humans, even if we have children. You took responsibility for your drinking, you cared for her, you were transparent with her, and you treated her with respect and gave her trust...THAT'S what a good father does. Please know that there are so many kids out there that do not have that. I miss may dad so much, and it warms my heart to listen to you talk about how much you loved her. When we were little my dad would lay in bed with us and tell us stories, and it's one of my happiest memories. Please please please don't go to your grave thinking you failed your daughter or anything like that. You deserve to be happy.
You are a great father who did everything he could for his daughter. Im sorry to see you hurting so badly and thinking that somehow its your fault. We can only do so much in this cruel world. Alexis knew you loved her. She wouldnt want you to hurt😢
She looks very precious. Her childhood pictures looks like a child who was loved. I can feel your heartbreak. And you give helpful encouragement for all of us.
He hit it on the head at the end.. social media and cell phones make it so much easier for kids to get into a multitude of different things that are not good for them and that can lead to harm and/or death. When I was growing up, we had none of those things and drugs and violence like what is seen today was almost nonexistent. My heart and prayers go out to this dad and the entire family of this precious soul. 🙏🏼
Sadly addiction & OD’s have been made readily available long before the age of cellphones & social media. Look at past generations/decades of the crack & heroin epidemic. It’s our own sad and disgusting system on all levels & all political parties. When it comes to this issue all are in it!!
I'm so sorry for your loss. It wasn't your fault that she died. To me your the perfect example of what a real father should be. Even though she wasn't your biological daughter you still raised her as your child. Some kids don't even have that but just know this she's always still with you in your heart.
You’re a good man, Dad… you’re daughter Lexi had the love that only a real parent can give, and you’re son still does too. I pray for you and your family.
Remember Dad… it’s never YOUR fault. I have a daughter that will be 45 yrs old in June, I have been hoping for nearly 25 yrs, that she was/is telling me the truth. Sadly… my daughter has been actively using meth for years & years and I really don’t have much hope, at this stage, that she will ever stop. I was addicted to opiates for years. Many operations and injuries and doctors willing to prescribe higher & higher amounts led me down a very sad path. I’m clean now for several years, but the genetics 🧬 for addiction are super strong in my family line. You did the best you could do with the hand you were dealt. You were a good father. You loved her “enough” and beyond. Please know that… may her soul be at peace ☮️ now. You know where she is now. Heaven is complete peace and beauty. 💔😭❤️🙏
I cannot imagine knowing who delivered the toxic drug that killed my child and potentially running into them….I may end up in prison myself in a scenario like this. Shame on the district attorney because this guy is still delivering the deadly stuff, no doubt in my mind, to other children.
@@yomother-tw4sz was looking for this comment. nobody forces anybody to do drugs. And I find it hard to believe that in 2023 people are still taking these blue pills, not knowing it’s fentanyl when it’s all over the news, social media, etc. Now if it was 2019, 2020 when the pills first hit the streets then I understand. but cmon, accountability is the first and very important step. I know some people don’t wanna hear this but we gotta start stepping up and being responsible and accountable and stop playing the blame game.
Heartbreaking listening to this dad. His grief is so palpable..I just want to hug him and take his pain away. So sorry for the loss of your beloved daughter.
This is very true! I’ve seen the same thing with siblings who were adopted into different loving families. Addiction certainly doesn’t discriminate that’s for sure.💔
It has been proven that addicts have different brains than non-addicts. They have a much more exuberant reward reaction to the drug than non-addicts do, which drives them to keep seeking the drug.
By posting this, you do honor to your daughter, you warn others to keep watch on their children, and you educate people who may not know how lethal street drugs are. Thank you, I feel like I got to know your daughter. More than likely, it wasn’t the dealer that cut the drugs. I hope the police use him to get the people who did. Your beautiful daughter is now safe. I wish you peace.
It's so hard to see these parents suffering and saying they should have done this or done that. Bottom line is that teenager's do not want ANY parent to be too involved in their lives and definitely not on their social media. You CANNOT be there 24/7 when you have a teenager. I hope Lexi's father gets some peace in his heart.
You are a good dad! We see you and know that your heart is so genuine. Thank you for sharing you and Lexi's story, hopefully some lives will be saved from this. Sending so much love and blessings your way!
I'm so sorry for the loss of your loved one. It's always a father's love with their daughter that can never be broken. I wish someone could tell me how to deal with a 19 year old son that's been messing with drugs.
First of all, I am so extremely sorry for your loss. May your beautiful Lexi rest in peace. Secondly, I struggle with this docu series, and I mean in a good way. I see so much of my own family with these exact same problems. I still have my adult children, but they are so on the edge with the same problems I hear here. I have shared some of the stories with them, and we have talked about the dangers of drug use. I have had to really educate myself regarding Oxy and fentanyl and also on the use of social media as I try to keep up with what they are involved in. I want to thank all the parents and loved ones who share their story. You are making a difference.
Hello, sorry you lost your daughter 😰😩 I get so mad.. my oldest friends son shot himself in the head less than 7months ago due to mental illness and fentanyl. She is living with a void in her life.😞😭☠️ I give you my deepest condolences 🌷
My son is 11 and I still lay with him till he falls asleep. My daughter I did too...those special moments don't last every child needs nurturing...🙏😪❤ bless her soul
Alexis was such a beautiful girl. She seemed to have such cool interests & all of her different piercings & hair colours were so cute on her! I’m so sorry that this happened. The perfect parent does not exist but you seemed to be a very genuine, caring one so try not to beat yourself up, although it’s hard. You couldn’t monitor her 24/7, it isn’t your fault. Good on you for not regretting giving her freedom & trusting her. People make mistakes, hers was just an unfortunately fatal one. Rip Alexis. ❤
Accept didn’t you hear her father say that she was in distress and started to change and get into things like whichcraft? Not a “cool interest”. And honestly, the blond hair looked much nicer on her. My guess is that she wanted to rebel because of her Mother so she started trying to fit in somewhere to feel better. Didn’t go well. :(
And another thing. If I found out my child was smoking weed in the bathroom at school, that’s the end of trust. so you can “kudos” to that all day long, doesn’t mean it was the right thing to do. Trust is earned.
This is something one really may learn from. This humble man lays it all out - his mistakes, his marriage, but also his love for his daghter and his home, and still keeping his daughter responsible for taking the drug. I am so sorry for your loss Sir, it is so sad that your Alexis did not experience a lighter life, at the same time it seems that she had a lot of love from you. Love is never wasted. May God keep you and keep you safe, both you and your family!
I am so sorry Dad, please don't Beat yourself up about your parenting we all struggle and make mistakes as parents and your advice is sound we can all learn from it. Fly free sweet heavenly butterfly Lexì 🦋 ✨ 😇
Don't blame yourself. There is only so much we can do as parents. You did the best you could with what you had at the time. I'm sure she knew how much you loved her. My heart breaks for you and hope that you can find some piece.
This poor Dad! These poor parents in general! What a decent man. I take BIG issue with a parent that could leave the house for the day and not say a word to your child before you leave? Neither of them felt the need to say a word to this child before they left?!?! I think of all the Parents that have told their child’s story; I feel for him in a different way. I’m SO sorry for your loss Sir!
Mr. Shanks your story is absolutely heart breaking and I’m truly sorry for your loss! I work in juvenile probation and your heart breaking story is common with todays families. Plz don’t be so hard on yourself , I can tell you are a good dad who loves his kids with his whole heart ! Our children have a whole different environment to grow up in then we did as kids. Kids take separation and divorce harder then we realize I believe , so during divorce we are much more willing to give them more time with friends, outings, ect because we feel guilty to put them through a divorce . Kids then experiment with drugs/ alcohol , ect and it’s normal for parents not to have a clue what their kids are up to . Do not blame yourself , your daughter would not want this . Your advice is 100%!! Talk and communicate with ex for your kids best welfare .. open communication without extreme judging with your kiddos too … you are spot on! Bless you Mr. Shanks and your son .
I am so very sorry. What a beautiful daughter and young woman. There’s a lot of things he talked about that are going to be a very heavy burden to carry for the rest of his life. I wish him so much love, strength and peace. Cheers, from Country Victoria, Australia 🇦🇺 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Heartbreaking. I'm so sorry for your loss 😢. This is a tragedy like no other for any parent 💔.. Laws need to change everywhere. It's now been a year since my son passed due to accidental fentanyl poisoning and because it happened in California I'm waiting for the investigating official to contact me because we too know how this happened. Prayers for peace and healing during this most difficult time.
I’m so sorry for your loss 🙏🙏🙏🙏 I hope Justice prevails. I live in CALI and unfortunately these demons get away with it here. My sincere condolences 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
What an incredibly kind, caring man. He should not have regrets…he counts, he had his own pain and dealt with it how he could, then got clean. He was very, very good to his kids and the fact that he would soothe his little girl to sleep shows how present he really was. ♥️
From Denmark 🇩🇰✌ What a wonderful father, my thought and prayers go out to him, his family and all those who go through this sad fate 🙏 I wish them the best ♥
Behold, an honest man. Sounds like this good man has been down a hard road, and the wisdom he speaks is a gift. I hope he finds a way to make joy for himself. He earned it the hard way, and that sticks in this world.
Im so very sorry for your loss ❤❤❤. You did your best, you are everything that a dad should be 🤗. Please don't take the law into your own hands. He will get whats coming to him. ❤❤❤
My daughter's baby daddy who was 19 died of fentanyl overdose. Now my 2 yr. Old grandson is without his father and will never know him. He passed away on August 14, 2022.....
_I deeply respect this man for telling the naked, painful truth; about his own shortcomings & alcohol abuse. I hope that he finds peace in his life._
And may young Lexi rest in the arms of angels. ❤
Bless you for adopting 2 children who needed your love and attention.
Forgive yourself. You adopted two children who needed families. You are to only be commended sir. ❤️
As kind as you for that, the real fact remains, they took on a drug baby only to be an alcholic and other abuse from the adopted mom. She went from one rough family to the next and I don't think just because you adopted her makes you a saint. I think she deserved better given what she was born from. I do however commend him for being honest and taking accountability. That is hard. It's obvious he loved her.
@@s.c.2424we're all flawed. But he truly loved her
Why is he praised? She was adopted from one addict to another addicted and abusive household
This dad is straight up mature, evolved and truthful. I admire that hes not deflecting his parental responsibility.
Is he though? He thinks her being gay and getting into crystals and “dark stuff” was a red flag
@@feelthejoy I can't pass any judgement on this man, but I will say that this is HIS side of the story. I feel like it sounded pretty one-sided when describing his wife.
@@positivelastaction3957yea to me it sounds like a conservative man married a liberal woman and it caused fights between each other, then once the daughter got sick of living in a conservative way and wanted to get her own identity she went back to the mother to live liberally. Once she did that and started dyeing her hair and being lesbian he had a problem with that, which he probably had a problem with before which caused her to leave
That’s what I’m picking up from how he’s describing it
The son is blessed to have this man for a dad
This man is so precious. He needs a hug ❤ “vaping on a blunt” oh he is so sweet
He is telling wise advice in a raw form and telling the whole truth…not skirting around the bad parts…being accountable for all the down falls.
Yes, and these problems we are seeing in society will not improve if more people do not take responsibility for their actions.
Comment from another side. I admire your way of making these interviews. “Old school” journalism, no interruptions, just a humanity, stripped of any ornaments; a plain story, a real message. Please continue your work, giving people a silent space to talk, and us a hard listening experience.
Well, golly. Thanks. We do ask questions, but structure them so that the answer stands on its own without the audience hearing the question. Yes, it is old school journalism. I'm kinda old, have a degree in journalism, so yeah ... really appreciate the comment.
The pain in his eyes tells all 💔
Hey Dad--my own father used to scratch my back and it was the best thing. I became an addict, too. None of this is your fault. Your daughter was doomed from infancy. You did a wonderful job, and your sobriety is an awesome achievement. These are circumstances beyond your control. The pandemic didn't help. You'll be in my thoughts for awhile. I wish you peace.
..she was ‘doomed from infancy?’ Based on what? That premise excludes everything in a person’s life from having an influence on their outcome, and l don’t believe that people are ‘doomed’ at birth.. environment has a huge impact, as well as genetics
@@Jkaye13Well you sure are not the sharpest knife in the kitchen cabinet are ya… let me break it down for you. Most addicts are born with the addictive mindset. We all cope differently.
@@Jkaye13 You’re correct. One can be born with a predisposition or grow up with addicts for parents but we all have free will.
No she wasn’t doomed from infancy. Both of my parents were heroin addicts, both in prison when I was born. My mum died when I was 18 months old, and I was put into foster care, until I was 5, I was placed back with my dad. Then the next 11yrs I was horrifically abused by my step mother. And I have never had any kind of dependency. I have trauma, my brain doesn’t quite work like many people’s brain. But I have free will, and self intellect, and purposefully chose to avoid what ruined my parents (my dad died young too, due to his previous years of drug use.)
@@siobhanrose1680 I think "doomed" is the wrong word, too. As they say: genetics loads the gun, and environment pulls the trigger. She probably inherited a disposition to become addicted; I wish she would have been able to appreciate the danger and never even tried coke
My sister is in her mid 50's still living the party lifestyle and she died five days ago and was brought back to life with Narcan and God's grace. It was fentanyl mixed with the cocaine and my daughter's father died the same way, but it was mixed in a Percocet. No matter what age, this has no discrimination and I pray for willpower amongst people to just get help and say no. Sorry for your lost.
I can see the pain behind his eyes. He took some very important lessons away from his daughter's passing and I commend him for that. May she rest peacefully and he continue healing
Something about the fact that his ex-wife got mad at him for helping his daughter go to sleep just breaks my heart. Who does that?? RIP Alexis, I’m so sorry this happened 💔
So sick. People can have very evil souls.
As a parent i get her concern. He said it himself. He was an alcoholic, would drink & go rub her to sleep. Although his intentions were sincere maybe she should have shown more love to both her husband & children & he would have starting drinking to begin with.
Because she suffered some abuse as a child and although she knew he was a good man, the mother felt bad and suspiscous
I know! Im wondering how she got through the adoption process? Her upbringing is so similar to mine. I was adopted, my mum always critisied and shamed me, her words, she was also a school teacher. My dad didnt drink but he would come in from work and id already be in bed and he would come straight to see me and scratch my back and tell me a story. I fell into addiction when he was diagnosed with cancer because my mother being my mother only she was loosing him. I had a son at 18 and him and his grandad were 2 peas in a pod so i was trying to keep him in university, support him emotionally, im a single parent, worked 4 jobs to make enough money for us and i decided to numb myself and i stopped usimg after my father passed. These stories are so so sad. The US government NEEDS to get a grip!!!
Kes ?? What does the USA have to do with this? Iam American and yet i have no idea what your talking crazy about 🤪
The father finds proof in five minutes and the police turn a blind eye. Shame on them!!
Being present in the moment with your daughter was the BEST thing you could ever do. ❤
💜🙏🏽
Go above that DA!!!! If it was her daughter she’d do something
The pain and regret he carries is tremendous. You sir did the best you could. You love your kids and did your best to protect them. I hope you find the peace you deserve.
I can feel this father’s pain.
My condolences to him. I’m happy that he was able to reconnect with his daughter and show her real love in the end. ❤
Losing a loved one is always tough but losing your underage child is beyond painful. I hope this father can go through the pain and make peace with the situation. RIP Lexi.
My heart hurts for this dad. He admits to his faults and takes responsibility for his actions. He also has a lot of restraint!❤❤
I hurt so badly for this father
Yeah
DA doesn’t want to prosecute?!! This father has EVERY RIGHT to have her disbarred.
He makes no excuses! Sweet man! My 22 year old son died last year of a brain bleed. I remember when he was little my husband laid with him or his older brother. He loved it. I miss him so very much!
Im 32 days clean from fentanyl... its crazy how many kids and young adults are dying just by accidentally ingesting it, while i used it for almost 2 years and never had so much as 1 overdose. sometimes i feel like i shouldn't have made it but I'm so lucky i did.. RIP Lexi, i cant imagine the pain her father has gone through, and the fact he knows where the dealer lives and still hasn't done anything to him is amazing, i know i wouldn't be able to stop myself from sending him to hell.
🎉🎉 congrats 👏 keep going you got this 🎉 ❤
Congrats man! I've got about 8 months in. I od'd last summer and I haven't looked back. I think God knew I needed it. I don't think I could have stopped without that experience. Now I watch these stories to remind myself how lucky I am and how I never want my family to be the ones telling my story. I hope that Lexi is at peace and that her family finds it as well. ❤
Are you still sober today? I sure hope so. Prayers for you ❤️
@@Amy-zv4kc I am 🙏 it’ll be 7 months on Christmas Day ❤️ thank you and I hope you’re doing well too 🙂 happy holidays!
@@lexonline2424 Thank you ☺️ I’m proud of you 💚 hope you’re doing well these days 🙏
Such a loving man. So sorry for you loss. Praying for all those who are battling with this demon named Fentanyl. This has to get better.
Thank you. My name is also Lexi & I’m 10 years older than her fighting this same demon. I watch this stories as motivation, I KNOW I’m so close. I’m GOING to beat this !! But I’m not gullible to the fact that the next pill could very well be my last one no matter how “careful” I think I’m being.
@@AlexusMusic🕊I am sending you love and light and hope that you find the strength to break from the shackles of addiction. You are a beautiful young woman and I think your story will be one of triumph, I hope your future is filled with support and kindness. A family in Australia will keep you I their prayers tonight. 💜🕯🙏
Lexi, there's help out there. In the US you can call or text 988 for some guidance. We're developing a series of stories about recovery you might find helpful. We've completed two stories so far, more are coming. Here's a link - ruclips.net/p/PLdCPA32W_p39Z8hi7xSIX3Fkqmhd7mRzj
@@AlexusMusic please get help. Your family will be devastated if they lose you.
@@AlexusMusic Hugs. 💫
Thank you for speaking about this. This weekend I think I'm going to sit down and talk to my 13 and 14 year old I know they are young but I feel like it needs to be discussed now.
Listening to this dad talk about his own wrongdoings as a father as well as his daughter's is as real as this hurt and pain gets. Love and prayers for him. ❤🙏🏻
Hearing a parent run through their guilty thoughts like this after such a traumatic event, like losing their child, is something very hard to hear. You can tell that he tries to wrap his brain around it every second that he is talking. He’s remembering all the pain and seeing all the missed opportunities to help her. That’s gotta be tremendously hard. I am a mother to two beautiful little girls and I could not imagine losing them. Either of them. My world would end.
Lexi was likely exposed to drugs etc in the womb. She started life with impaired thinking and development. We really need to do more study on the effects of in vitro exposures. You got saved and Lexi had the opportunity to know the Lord. You did your best sir.
*in-utero
I totally agree
wh a r ht ti
Damn, his ex wife sounds like a real piece of work
I was thinking the same thing.
Remember we’re only getting his side of the story though. When she was married to him, he was an alcoholic. That’s not easy.
@@ClaireBeatty In sickness and in health….?
@@ClaireBeatty exactly
Anyone who puts her child out and puts her things in trash bags in the front yard is not a stable influence. She had control issues over her husband and kids, I think. At the end of the day, the whole thing is tragic and heartbreaking and just so damn sad.
This man right here. ❤😢 he took full responsibility for his and his daughters actions yet he delivered an amazing testimony and awareness, and you could feel how much he lived his child. May god protect him always.
Drug dealer should be charged with manslaughter. The family needs some justice.
Nice to see a father on this show.
We agree. We're hoping to find enough fathers to create a smaller series that is just fathers sharing their stories. Fathers mourn differently, quietly, even secretly.
@@TexasPictures so true!!!!!!!!
@@TexasPicturesI remember the father of Drew. Such a good father. Such an intelligent father and son. Still this tragedy happend. But he is doing so much to prevent it from happening to anybody else.
I hope you find enough fathers for your project!
You can see the pain in his eyes, on his face and you can hear it in his words. I'm really really sorry this happened to your baby. Important advice given, however it gets to a stage that you can no longer force your kid to do something. You only speak to them, guide them and pray they make the right decision. It was not your fault, please don't let guilt weigh you down.
A kind and decent man and father who loved his daughter despite all the challenges.I hope he finds some peace moving forward.
I can feel his pain and hear it in his voice 💔
Gosh, it sounds like you loved her with all your heart and did the best you could. We never stop being humans, even if we have children. You took responsibility for your drinking, you cared for her, you were transparent with her, and you treated her with respect and gave her trust...THAT'S what a good father does. Please know that there are so many kids out there that do not have that. I miss may dad so much, and it warms my heart to listen to you talk about how much you loved her. When we were little my dad would lay in bed with us and tell us stories, and it's one of my happiest memories. Please please please don't go to your grave thinking you failed your daughter or anything like that. You deserve to be happy.
A real stand up Father, who takes accountability. I’m sorry for your loss sir, I hope Alexis finds peace 🙏🏾🙏🏾
You are a great father who did everything he could for his daughter. Im sorry to see you hurting so badly and thinking that somehow its your fault. We can only do so much in this cruel world. Alexis knew you loved her. She wouldnt want you to hurt😢
She looks very precious. Her childhood pictures looks like a child who was loved. I can feel your heartbreak. And you give helpful encouragement for all of us.
He hit it on the head at the end.. social media and cell phones make it so much easier for kids to get into a multitude of different things that are not good for them and that can lead to harm and/or death. When I was growing up, we had none of those things and drugs and violence like what is seen today was almost nonexistent. My heart and prayers go out to this dad and the entire family of this precious soul. 🙏🏼
I thank God my kids are grown. I would NEVER want to raise kids in today's information age. They're exposed to way too much! Horrible 😢
Oh honey it existed ,, there’s just now a magnifying glass onto the mutated cancer cell it’s become. Aka social media😊
Sadly addiction & OD’s have been made readily available long before the age of cellphones & social media. Look at past generations/decades of the crack & heroin epidemic. It’s our own sad and disgusting system on all levels & all political parties. When it comes to this issue all are in it!!
@@catrinajohnson-kk2gy Yeah right?! I‘ve always wanted kids, not so sure anymore
@@RaexaiThankyou.
What a guy! May God comfort you through this loss. RIP Alexis 🙏🏾
You can see his pain and anguish…..bless him
We all do the best we can. The hardest thing is to be a parent.
❤❤
Her mother sounds as toxic as mine was. The impact of having a parent like that is indescribable. So sad.
Is difficult. Sending blessings your way.
WHY/HOW do 90% of chicks in these comments somehow ALWAYS make it about themselves?!?! It’s bizarre.
@@johnbags2525Not only chicks. A lot of people do that.
She sounds just like mine too.
@@johnbags2525and yet you read them.then comment?? Weird af
My heart goes out to him. So very heartbreaking, no parent should feel this kind of pain.
God Bless you Sir...
The dads heartbreak is palpable. You can see it written all over his face. My heart and prayers go out to this broken man.
I'm so sorry for your loss. It wasn't your fault that she died. To me your the perfect example of what a real father should be. Even though she wasn't your biological daughter you still raised her as your child. Some kids don't even have that but just know this she's always still with you in your heart.
Honestly I feel the same.... I didn't have my parents hardly in my life and would of gave anything for a father like this!❤
You’re a good man, Dad… you’re daughter Lexi had the love that only a real parent can give, and you’re son still does too. I pray for you and your family.
Remember Dad… it’s never YOUR fault. I have a daughter that will be 45 yrs old in June, I have been hoping for nearly 25 yrs, that she was/is telling me the truth. Sadly… my daughter has been actively using meth for years & years and I really don’t have much hope, at this stage, that she will ever stop. I was addicted to opiates for years. Many operations and injuries and doctors willing to prescribe higher & higher amounts led me down a very sad path. I’m clean now for several years, but the genetics 🧬 for addiction are super strong in my family line. You did the best you could do with the hand you were dealt. You were a good father. You loved her “enough” and beyond. Please know that… may her soul be at peace ☮️ now. You know where she is now. Heaven is complete peace and beauty. 💔😭❤️🙏
Please try and not be filled with guilt. You did the best you could as a father. You are a good person.
I cannot imagine knowing who delivered the toxic drug that killed my child and potentially running into them….I may end up in prison myself in a scenario like this. Shame on the district attorney because this guy is still delivering the deadly stuff, no doubt in my mind, to other children.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes
@@yomother-tw4sz was looking for this comment. nobody forces anybody to do drugs. And I find it hard to believe that in 2023 people are still taking these blue pills, not knowing it’s fentanyl when it’s all over the news, social media, etc. Now if it was 2019, 2020 when the pills first hit the streets then I understand. but cmon, accountability is the first and very important step. I know some people don’t wanna hear this but we gotta start stepping up and being responsible and accountable and stop playing the blame game.
Awwww 😢so sad I wished I had a father in my life so so sorry for your loss mr
This guy put it all out there for the world to see. God bless you friend.
RIP ALEXIS
Heartbreaking listening to this dad. His grief is so palpable..I just want to hug him and take his pain away. So sorry for the loss of your beloved daughter.
What a beautiful man.
Genetics is a big factor. I know two adopted individuals and they're both addicts even though they grew up in loving families without addictions.
This is very true! I’ve seen the same thing with siblings who were adopted into different loving families. Addiction certainly doesn’t discriminate that’s for sure.💔
It has been proven that addicts have different brains than non-addicts. They have a much more exuberant reward reaction to the drug than non-addicts do, which drives them to keep seeking the drug.
I hope you can get to a place of peace. You are a wonderful man and you did your best.
By posting this, you do honor to your daughter, you warn others to keep watch on their children, and you educate people who may not know how lethal street drugs are. Thank you, I feel like I got to know your daughter. More than likely, it wasn’t the dealer that cut the drugs. I hope the police use him to get the people who did. Your beautiful daughter is now safe. I wish you peace.
It's so hard to see these parents suffering and saying they should have done this or done that. Bottom line is that teenager's do not want ANY parent to be too involved in their lives and definitely not on their social media.
You CANNOT be there 24/7 when you have a teenager.
I hope Lexi's father gets some peace in his heart.
You are a good dad! We see you and know that your heart is so genuine. Thank you for sharing you and Lexi's story, hopefully some lives will be saved from this. Sending so much love and blessings your way!
Rest In Peace Alexis 🙏🏼 My Condolences. God Bless This Father 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Anyone that adopts, God Bless your heart and soul! May she RIP❤
My sympathies go out to you!
Know that you did the best you could!
I’m so sorry for the loss of your beautiful daughter. 🙏
I'm so sorry for the loss of your loved one. It's always a father's love with their daughter that can never be broken. I wish someone could tell me how to deal with a 19 year old son that's been messing with drugs.
First of all, I am so extremely sorry for your loss. May your beautiful Lexi rest in peace. Secondly, I struggle with this docu series, and I mean in a good way. I see so much of my own family with these exact same problems. I still have my adult children, but they are so on the edge with the same problems I hear here. I have shared some of the stories with them, and we have talked about the dangers of drug use. I have had to really educate myself regarding Oxy and fentanyl and also on the use of social media as I try to keep up with what they are involved in. I want to thank all the parents and loved ones who share their story. You are making a difference.
The cops or anyone never does anything about drug dealers selling that killer drug 😡
What a very beautiful special young woman...I am so very sorry for your loss 😢😢
Hello, sorry you lost your daughter 😰😩 I get so mad.. my oldest friends son shot himself in the head less than 7months ago due to mental illness and fentanyl. She is living with a void in her life.😞😭☠️ I give you my deepest condolences 🌷
We can’t stop it the person has to stop it. Being a parent of a recovering addict, don’t lose yourself to a person’s addiction. It will drain you
My son is 11 and I still lay with him till he falls asleep. My daughter I did too...those special moments don't last every child needs nurturing...🙏😪❤ bless her soul
Alexis was such a beautiful girl. She seemed to have such cool interests & all of her different piercings & hair colours were so cute on her! I’m so sorry that this happened. The perfect parent does not exist but you seemed to be a very genuine, caring one so try not to beat yourself up, although it’s hard. You couldn’t monitor her 24/7, it isn’t your fault. Good on you for not regretting giving her freedom & trusting her. People make mistakes, hers was just an unfortunately fatal one. Rip Alexis. ❤
Accept didn’t you hear her father say that she was in distress and started to change and get into things like whichcraft? Not a “cool interest”. And honestly, the blond hair looked much nicer on her. My guess is that she wanted to rebel because of her Mother so she started trying to fit in somewhere to feel better. Didn’t go well. :(
And another thing. If I found out my child was smoking weed in the bathroom at school, that’s the end of trust. so you can “kudos” to that all day long, doesn’t mean it was the right thing to do. Trust is earned.
Silly chick comment. The girl was mentally Ill and SCREAMING for help
This is something one really may learn from. This humble man lays it all out - his mistakes, his marriage, but also his love for his daghter and his home, and still keeping his daughter responsible for taking the drug. I am so sorry for your loss Sir, it is so sad that your Alexis did not experience a lighter life, at the same time it seems that she had a lot of love from you. Love is never wasted. May God keep you and keep you safe, both you and your family!
Sir please do not blame yourself. You are clearly a great dad who did his best. RIP Lexi
I am so sorry Dad, please don't Beat yourself up about your parenting we all struggle and make mistakes as parents and your advice is sound we can all learn from it. Fly free sweet heavenly butterfly Lexì 🦋 ✨ 😇
Don't blame yourself. There is only so much we can do as parents. You did the best you could with what you had at the time. I'm sure she knew how much you loved her. My heart breaks for you and hope that you can find some piece.
This poor Dad! These poor parents in general! What a decent man.
I take BIG issue with a parent that could leave the house for the day and not say a word to your child before you leave?
Neither of them felt the need to say a word to this child before they left?!?!
I think of all the Parents that have told their child’s story; I feel for him in a different way.
I’m SO sorry for your loss Sir!
This channel brings awareness this is just one state, it’s happening in every state!!
Some of our stories are from other states - Florida, New Mexico, California, and Oregon.
Im so sorry for your loss, Sir. She was just a baby.
Mr. Shanks your story is absolutely heart breaking and I’m truly sorry for your loss!
I work in juvenile probation and your heart breaking story is common with todays families. Plz don’t be so hard on yourself , I can tell you are a good dad who loves his kids with his whole heart ! Our children have a whole different environment to grow up in then we did as kids. Kids take separation and divorce harder then we realize I believe , so during divorce we are much more willing to give them more time with friends, outings, ect because we feel guilty to put them through a divorce . Kids then experiment with drugs/ alcohol , ect and it’s normal for parents not to have a clue what their kids are up to . Do not blame yourself , your daughter would not want this .
Your advice is 100%!! Talk and communicate with ex for your kids best welfare .. open communication without extreme judging with your kiddos too … you are spot on!
Bless you Mr. Shanks and your son .
I am so very sorry. What a beautiful daughter and young woman. There’s a lot of things he talked about that are going to be a very heavy burden to carry for the rest of his life. I wish him so much love, strength and peace. Cheers, from Country Victoria, Australia 🇦🇺 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Finally a truthful man. So many say we had a perfect everything our children did drugs once and died.
1:59 beautiful core memories ❤ your a wonderful father!!
Heartbreaking. I'm so sorry for your loss 😢. This is a tragedy like no other for any parent 💔.. Laws need to change everywhere. It's now been a year since my son passed due to accidental fentanyl poisoning and because it happened in California I'm waiting for the investigating official to contact me because we too know how this happened. Prayers for peace and healing during this most difficult time.
I’m so sorry for your loss 🙏🙏🙏🙏 I hope Justice prevails. I live in CALI and unfortunately these demons get away with it here. My sincere condolences 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
GodSpeed, Love and Peace for You. I know the quiet when they're gone.
brave man sharing this trying to save someone's life 😢😢
What an incredibly kind, caring man. He should not have regrets…he counts, he had his own pain and dealt with it how he could, then got clean. He was very, very good to his kids and the fact that he would soothe his little girl to sleep shows how present he really was. ♥️
I just just finished listening to this dad and I cried.
Billy, you are an amazing father. Wish I had a father like you. Fly high angel Lexi 🕊
I am so sorry you lost your daughter! I pray you find comfort in your memories of her.
This man is in such abject pain!😢. I hope & pray he’s surrounded by love.❤️
Sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, usually there is one in the divorce that "can't/won't " put things aside for what is best for the kids.
Sad that he's blaming himself for so much. Sometimes these kids go down that path regardless of how much love you show and give them.
I'm so sorry. How incredibly, sad.
From Denmark 🇩🇰✌ What a wonderful father, my thought and prayers go out to him, his family and all those who go through this sad fate 🙏 I wish them the best ♥
Behold, an honest man. Sounds like this good man has been down a hard road, and the wisdom he speaks is a gift. I hope he finds a way to make joy for himself. He earned it the hard way, and that sticks in this world.
God be with you and your family. People are listening keep up your message
Im so very sorry for your loss ❤❤❤. You did your best, you are everything that a dad should be 🤗. Please don't take the law into your own hands. He will get whats coming to him. ❤❤❤
My daughter's baby daddy who was 19 died of fentanyl overdose. Now my 2 yr. Old grandson is without his father and will never know him. He passed away on August 14, 2022.....
I’m sorry very sorry for your loss, what a beautiful girl 🥰