I just met Maggie on the 3 bus here in Philly! She rode from Erie-Torresdale and got off at K&A...we struck up a short conversation and she mentioned that "a guy from California" had recently interviewed her for his RUclips channel - I immediately guessed that it was Soft White Underbelly. Talk about serendipity! We chatted briefly about our experiences in Kensington as I'm also a recovering heroin/fentanyl addict with just over 10.5 months clean thanks to methadone maintenance and the SMART Recovery system, which is a non-12 Step alternative to NA. She mentioned her grandkids and great-grandkids and how she fears for their safety in this incredibly dangerous and crime-ridden city (we both carry a knife for self defense, out of sheer necessity). She seemed like a spunky and kindhearted soul...it hurts my heart to listen to her trauma, but it was a pleasure to meet her in person.
Even though her tremendous pain, she has something genuinely joyful coming from inside, her eyes, her laugh, the faces she does while she talks. A ray of light in all this drama. You can still see the child in her, innocent, care free, unattached. I wish from all my heart there will be better days for her.
The hell are you talking about? Please don't romanticise addiction. She's just a struggling, traumatised human that needs help. Not some inner child or other bs
She reminds me so much of my grandma who passed away 9 years ago. She wasn’t a drug addict but she had a tremendous amount of pain she carried with her from trauma and abuse. I hope Maggie finds value in herself and gets clean.
I was repeatedly raped as a young child by an older sibling too. And I too have been using opiates for decades to quell the emotional pain. I can relate to most people Mark interviews with these 2 things are common amongst us. Please. If you've been hurt by somebody. Tell a teacher. A cop. A firefighter. Family members. Friends parents. Do not hold it in. It will poison you from the inside out like it has me and this woman here. All my love to you sweetie.
Thank you for sharing your insight. I hope you seek therapy even if you are using. It will help more than you know. Sending you real love to a wonderful human!
Yes, I agree with the person who commented about childhood trauma being the gateway drug. Maggie, you never received the help you needed. As a 5-year-old little girl, you weren’t protected, and not even listened to, even though you had the courage to tell your mother. I love ❤️ you and I’m so very sorry for the lifetime of heartache you’ve carried with you. You deserved better. Hugs 🤗
There are so many of us who "don't want to feel anymore" and we are not drug addicts or homeless. We have what looks like a good life but inside the pain is so terribly real. Somehow I still have the strength to get up everyday but its so damn hard. More often than not I have to "pretend" things are good and that is exhausting. You actually inspire me Maggie and I will pray you find and receive the love and life you deserve. My best advice is keep the faith. I'm barely hanging on but that's all I've got. God sees your goodness.
It’s so sad to see someone who should be retiring, traveling, enjoying grandkids and great grands, is struggling with addiction and homelessness. Thank you, Mark, for bringing these stories to the world.
Found this quote the other day and it really summed up my feelings of going through and living with addiction: “When you’re in a certain kind of condition and it’s hard, it’s really hard, to get from one moment to the next. The room tilts and you’re down on your knees and you just can’t figure it out. The walls are closing in on you and you’re up against it. It’s not the blues. It’s not a bad weekend. It’s not that you can’t pull yourself up by your boot straps. It’s that you can’t survive from one moment to the next. Unless you’ve had that experience, you don’t know why and you’ll never know why, somebody takes a pill or takes a shot.” - Leonard Cohen Think it applies to lots of stories on this channel
It’s from a documentary called “The Genius of Lenny Breau” which is about a Canadian Guitar player. He was like a Mozart figure, without the recognition. An amazing film about music, addiction and the comfort of finding home. If you’re interested! :)
She deserves happiness for the rest of her life . I get the feeling that if she had a good place to stay and a good support system she could live and be happy . I can tell she has a heart of gold . Shes alone and very sad and tired of this life . I pray she gets the help she needs
After losing my mother, I watch this channel religiously… trying to see if I can capture a piece of her. Through all the hurt and pain of others. I never got a chance to understand her life and why she did what she did. But hearing these stories sometimes help me understand….
That is how baffling cunning and powerful addiction is. Do you think she wants to live this way? Of course she doesn’t. She has been clean before she knows what it feels like and how good it is. I have 624 days sober. There was a time I could not get 24 hours of sobriety. I working on his program. For me, that’s alcoholics anonymous. I understand that program is not for everyone. I share my experience my strength and my hope. If I can reach one person sharing my story that’s amazing. I love knowing every morning I wake up and I have a choice not to pick up a bottle. The obsession and desire has been lifted from me. I hope that this woman can get off the streets get back into a program and live out the rest of her years without having to stick a needle in her arm. I say this every day, if you can’t help an addict don’t hurt one. Addiction is a disease of thinking. Just like if I had diabetes I would take insulin every day. I have the disease of alcoholism so I work my program every day. I hope everyone reading this has an amazing day and if you are struggling with addiction please please find the help that you so desperately deserve.
Sending Maggie lots of prayers and love! I hope she finds her way off the streets. We can and do recover. One day at a time, it is possible. Thank you, Mark!
And I do feel genuinely sad for Maggie. She never stood half a damn chance but I hope she’ll be okay. Get outta Philly, Miss. You can’t get clean until you exit the sewer.
Maggie,💖I live in PA & am familiar w/Kensington. Please: Hustle enough money for a train/bus ticket to Harrisburg PA, (90 min.car trip). Harrisburg is in Dauphin County, Just West of Dauphin is Cumberland County. You can find the help you need, spec. in Cumberland County. This is a rich County, you Won't go homeless, nor will your son. County programs could help you get into rehab, shelters would be available immediately. Permanent housing is very possible there. This is a change, it would be scary, but you're a beautiful person you deserve to be happy. This could be your way out! You have nothing to lose at this point. I care!💖
So many people Maggie’s age began their addiction through prescription medication. The DEA was quick ( and harsh) cracking down on doctors,but refuse to enforce the same treatment on the fentanyl chain. Made in China and brought in through Mexico . Devastating an entire generation and quite frankly American society. God Bless Maggie ! My heart aches for her!
@@xgreasexmonkey5506 they were pretty harsh on doctors. You can go in with a broken back and in agony at a doctor is only allowed to prescribe probably 6 to 10 pills for you of anything from the bottom starting with Percocet all the way on up to oxy's and Fentanyl. The manufacturer of these drugs by big Pharma is that they are purposely designed to be addictive. It's a cash cow just like the whole trans movement is a cash cow for big Pharma. Did you know that the hormone suppressing drug that they give to trans women is the same drug that they use to castrate sex offenders? The statistics state that each trans person will cost at least 2 to 3 million dollars during their lifetime and medications and surgeries. All that money is going into someone's pockets. Just saying. Have a great day God bless you
@@xgreasexmonkey5506 they shut them down too quick with no answer. Trust me. I saw it in Florida. One day they made new laws and the dr offices were closed with no treatment available.
Agreed shut down like chronic pain doesn't exist, without a plan. Not everyone becomes addicted. If you experience that euphoria you're chasing you either don't need it or you're overprescribed. IMO those with debilitating pain have and are suffering the most.
When OxyContin entered the market in 1996, the FDA approved its original label, which stated that iatrogenic addiction was “very rare." The same FDA administrators responsible for approving OxyContin's label abruptly left to work for Purdue Pharma for a hefty salary so they were in on the humongous scam crippling so many American families. Check the US Dept. of Justice website & there are many arrests of people accused of drug trafficking of fentanyl although it's a case of whack-a-mole since the Mexican Cartels operate on an industrial scale. Since 2013, China has been the main source of fentanyl flooding the U.S. (or of the precursor agents from which fentanyl is produced most often in Mexico) which fueled the biggest drug epidemic in U.S. history, after the crack epidemic (that's a whole other story!.) Both Obama as well as Trump's administration devoted significant diplomatic capital persuading China to crack down on the export of fentanyl. After a lot of foot dragging, China announced in April 2019 that the production, sales, and export of all fentanyl-class drugs was prohibited, except by authorized firms which the Chinese government has granted special licenses. The problem is that their enforcement of their law is spotty at best & it seems that China either looks the other way or doesn't have the resources to oversee their pharmaceutical & chemical industries involving tens of thousands of firms & hundreds of thousands of facilities. Not to mention that US & China's relations have deteriorated greatly. They're much more efficient at blocking the export of meth into Australian because the two country's relationship is much stronger. Not to mention the conspiracy theory that China is just retaliating for the two opium wars waged against China by Britain (1st war) & France & Britain (2nd war) which involved saturating China w/ opium and ended up crippling China leading to their downfall for centuries.
My heart breaks for Maggie ✨💔✨… I wish she could live the remainder of her days, drug free, happy, knowing real Peace, and in a home with her family… She seems to be sooo misplaced in Kensington… I felt her genuineness during the interview, her heart is still tender with a spark of hope, despite the things she has endured… Blessings To You Maggie ✨✨, Thank you Mark for sharing her story, I’m sure she must have experienced the love, and concern from you during the interview ✨❤️✨ Blessings To You ✨❤️✨🙏🏽✨
5th and Jablip is so Philly. I've never heard it said any where else in all my travels. Maggie I understand your pain and the feeling of betrayal for having been abused by a loved one. My assault happened to me when I was four and continued on for many years. I too ran to self medication and I never really told anyone about it till I was 50. I'm still working on myself and I'm off the heroin now and I'm so grateful that I stopped in time before the fentanyl got real thick. Sending you love and understanding. I believe in you and one day you will be well. God bless
@@lifemusic1980 now that I'm thinking about it I have heard it before, I was in a foster home up in Camp Hill's / Harrisburg way and the Foster mother would say it. But that was a long time ago I'm in my fifties now.
"I really don't like to feel anymore" what a powerful but sad statement. It says a lot. I pray she gets off the streets and gets somewhere safe and hopefully sober.....such a nice lady with a background of pain 💔😥❤
That is possibly the most overlooked statement here. As a recovering addict of 20 years, I can say that this is a major determining factor in addiction.
I love you Maggie, truly from the bottom of my heart!!! I pray one day you will be able to laugh in comfort and be surrounded by your children and grandchildren.
The amount of insight one can gain by simply talking to someone is so incredibly valuable to society and hopefully the individual themselves. Housing is so hard to come by it’s sick. I can’t get anyone housed here in NJ. The only thing folks are getting access to are motels via SS which is a temporary and an even more expensive solution. It’s not a home… Maggie your laugh reminds me of my mother who succumbed to drugs. So much Love to you ❤️
Wow this lady is such a wonderful woman with so much pain that started at age 5 . That changed her forever!!! She’ll be in my prayers!!! She’d be a great woman to help others in recovery if she got clean!! She’s a good soul!!❤
Maggie has the most beautiful blue eyes. And a kind and sweet soul. I pray she can forgive herself and also heal from all she has been through. Praying for you, Maggie, that you heal and find a safe and loving place to be and back with your family too.
It's so Effed up - Just like me started out on Percocet for Migraine Headaches - a single mom - working 2 jobs & it made me feel like I could do it all! A statistic just like Maggie. I was blessed w.a family who supported & loved me. I have been on Subonxone for over 10 yrs at this point it saved my life in a lot of ways but it has its own side effects. The thought of getting off of it scares me to death! Maggie is a beautiful worman - what a gorgeous head of hair she has! She did not make her bed all by herself - getting raped at 5 - not being cared for properly - to say the least & winding up with a Viet Nam vet who abused her as she described - it's a wonder she's alive! I wish her peace of mind & finding a way with her daugther....you can tell she Does Love her children.
I understand if this is too personal but I'm curious what those side effects of suboxone are. No one ever talks about the side effects, it's treated like this miracle drug that helps addicts stay "sober". I've always been sceptical.. Would love to hear more about your experience with it.
@@baublesanddolls Thank you for your reply! I wonder if a placebo would make a difference. Maybe it's not the suboxone itself but simply the ritual of taking it. Anyway, glad you're sober. 👍
@@RamoArt Don't get me wrong - it is a miracle drug in that It has absolutely helped to keep me sober as it kept me from experiencing withdrawal from opiates - so I could work on myself without having to white knuckle it or feel like I had a monkey on my back - That is the miracle!! Now I have been on it for a very long time as I said. What I meant by side effect is that you wind up being addicted to the Sub!I It's just the nature of the drug - you will have to be weaned off. Over the years I weaned down to a 2mg dosage - the lowest dosage available as far as I know. It doesn't get me high - I iwll say it can give me a breif boost of energy & make me chatty as opiates used to sometimes. But that does not interfere with my life. Although it has been great.... I don't like being addicted to another substance whose withdrawal symptoms are worse to deal with than opiates themselves,,,,which I was not made aware of when I was first prescribed. I know the withdrawal from Methadone is also worse & that does get you high!! Very different than Sub. I am just over something else owning me. It is still a scheduled drug & therefore, I have to give a urine sample once a month in order to get a prrescrioption! I can't deny that it saves many lives. I have just been stuck at the 2mg for yrs & am ready to be done - but afraid at the same time. At the end of the day I would NOT trade my worst day living my life now for my best day using! Hope that helps!
@@baublesanddolls I hear the slow release part is the killer. Imagine Tylenol being cleared in a few days but Suboxone being more like a 30 day or more of severe symptoms. It's next to impossible
You are such a lovely lady with a such a sweet and sad laughter. You are honest to yourself and have no need to blush it anyone and that’s very important. I hope you can find some strength to get out of your addiction. Many women in similar situation say the best part of their l lives was when they have their children but not everyone see the addiction to black for all the later downfall. You see it clearly as a biggest problem and that’s already a good step out of there I guess. Of course your childhood trauma is massive and co ti yes to your abusive marriage but if you then were able to get support you might not end up addicted to heavy drugs.. We would know find out anymore but I hope you still have a chance to make it a happier life! Thank you for sharing your life story, it means a lot to me and there is so much to learn from you. ❤️
I feel as if I saw her entire life. I hear her regret, yet she doesn't know how it could have been different. When she said she shouldn't have had children, my heart got heavy....as it's obvious she has a lot of love for her family, seen or not seen. She is very beautiful.
A young woman called Bre was recently set on fire in Kensington, she's in a medically induced coma with 2nd and 3rd degree burns over the majority of her body. Her story is available on AML FILMS channel. There is a GoFundMe set up to help with expenses, if you'd like to help. Something has to change in Kensington and all the other places like it. Please pray for Bre and her family.
My dear Maggie, you pain is palpable and I'm so sorry for what your brother did to you. It wasn't your fault, you were a beautiful little innocent girl and didn't deserve what happened to you. Please believe me when I say: you are never to old to start over. I promise that you have the ability to get well. Good luck my friend and blessings to you and your family.
I have this feeling, especially @9:19 that she has been stifling her pain for a long time. It’s okay, Maggie, we accept you, we love you. You can say that you are loved. You always deserved to be loved.
You don’t love her. If you did, you’d be traveling to Kensington to pull her off the streets. I don’t get why everyone in the comments are like, “We love you, you deserve better!” It’s just so fake
@DopamineDripz exactly I hate fake as well. I know people want to leave positive comments but how can you love someone 1- you don’t know 2-someone who picked drugs over their children????? I know she has a lot of trauma and I’m sorry that happened to her. But you can’t give up on yourself like she has.
Haha. You "love" her? Ummm. Ok. She can say that she is "loved" because you, a stranger, "loves" her? That's great. People who "love" other people, help them out any way that they can.. So I assume that you're going to send her some money or pay for her rehab? Maybe buy her a used car? Put a down payment on an apartment for her? She needs these things. If you don't have enough money to pay for all of that, you can get a part time job. Even if you only work a few hours, one night or weekend each week at Rite Aid, and give her that money, that would help her. It's the least that you can do for somebody that you love. Give us updates on how she is doing each step of the way as you're helping her. You're a great inspiration to all of us! I wish I could love and help a stranger like you do.
@@2CuteToShoot69 Haha. You "love" her? Ummm. Ok. She can say that she is "loved" because you, a stranger, "loves" her? That's great. People who "love" other people, help them out any way that they can.. So I assume that you're going to send her some money or pay for her rehab? Maybe buy her a used car? Put a down payment on an apartment for her? She needs these things. If you don't have enough money to pay for all of that, you can get a part time job. Even if you only work a few hours, one night or weekend each week at Rite Aid, and give her that money, that would help her. It's the least that you can do for somebody that you love. Give us updates on how she is doing each step of the way as you're helping her. You're a great inspiration to all of us! I wish I could love and help a stranger like you do.
Mark I can literally feel this ladies pain through my tablet. Very sad indeed and an excellemt example of how ome's world can fall apart due to trauma, addiction, drugs etc. Very compelling piece. Very sad lady yet she seems intelligent, and at times humouress.
What a story. I just want to scoop Maggie up and bring her back to my home and give her a safe space to be. I hope she finds somewhere to live very soon. Blessings to you Maggie x
Such a heartbreaking story. You can tell she’s a good person she just had some very bad breaks in life. My heart goes out to her. I pray she stays safe. She is amazing she can still smile and you can tell she’s very beautiful woman in her time. It’s shame to feel so trapped and you can’t get out because you’re so addicted.
Im 14 years sober and I became homeless 9 months ago due to Covid. I'm now living with an ex boyfriend because I can't afford the rents in Australia anymore. I left home at 15 due to sibling abuse and a narcissist mother, was literally homeless for 3 years. Life can take you back to a place you thought you wouldn't never be again and not having stability is hard. I have so much in common and empathy with everyone on this channel, I might be sober but I still have the disease of alcoholism.
I am amazed at her memory recall,(through drug use and age) the way she remembers the ages of her children, the age she was abused etc🥹.. I am someone who was abandoned and forgotten about by family and my parents, growing up and having so much pain and guilt as an adult lead me to blanking out not remembering a lot of details of my life… All her dates and stories about her children are on the tip of her tongue tumbling out so powerfully and lovingly, I feel that Maggie may be forever ruminating and hating on herself for her “mistakes” and addiction…but you can clearly see Maggie has so much love for her children, she is a mother that can clearly admit the trauma her children experienced in her care. The guilt and her love for her children is very strong. I relate to her using substances not to feel anymore. I’m rambling now.
I am so happy you came to Kensington! It is truly devasting to watch this situation. The girl found in the suitcase, these other girls found dead, overdoses, the children around this madness. I don't know how to make this stop.
I really enjoyed Maggie's interview as she doesn't use excuses I relate to Maggie and I said no to drugs and the battle never ends as we will never see justice for what is done to us in life. No justice no healing I pray you find a home (apt) Maggie for you and your boy.
Maggie.. what a light you have! ❤️ Your laugh lifted my heart 💖 in my mind I'm wiping your tears away.. sending prayers for healing and understanding.. you are loved and understood... Never alone ⭐✨
She's not lying I live in Philadelphia and it's scary Kensington is very very scary you see the homeless everywhere sleeping & shooting drugs right on the sidewalk
@@KimbradleyMasterGardener yes he is. Idk if you saw when he was passing out the clothes but it was me who sent them and in like 4 weeks were doing it again but this time there's so much more and i can't wait to see how happy they are gonna be. I have a ton of men's clothes women's clothes a bunch of flip flops and sneakers and i even put skin care and drugstore and a few high end stuff too. I put this awesome pink book bag in there and Joe is the real deal and doesn't do it for the clout. It's for his love of God unlike someone I know.But nevertheless I'm glad God put him in my life
I've never been to Philly, but from what I've read on this thread, you're absolutely right Kensington is a scary place...I wonder if it's worse than Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles 🤔
Maggie is my Mum's name. Out of all the interviews this is the saddest I've seen. Bless you Maggie. I am so sorry for your suffering. I wish you were more comfortable. I wish there was more help for you.
I'm 63 and there no way I could make it in the streets. You should have peace at this age. So sorry you're mother didn't protect you. I just can't understand how a mother can do that. I'll be praying for you sweetie. Be careful out there the streets don't love anyone. Sending you love.
I truly hope this precious lady can get off the streets! She deserves so much more! I will pray that she can live out her golden years in comfort and happiness. How else can we help her and her drug addicted son?
Maggie, I wish I could just hug you.. ❤️😢 you are such a kind soul. You would think after 30 years of being addicted off and on her heart would be hardened but she still has a sparkle in her eyes and a gentle demeanor. I hope you and your son find your way out of this horrible place. You don’t deserve this you deserve to enjoy your grandchildren and just live a fulfilled life as you get older. I don’t want this to be the way that you go you are so so much more than this.💔 Please stay strong and fight this.
Such great videos of different life and events so sad. Mark you are bringing these life stories to us and brings some love for humanity. I used to some years ago after work go by the shelters and talk to some homeless and help them with clothes and shoes and asked them their story. I love your work Mark.
Maggie is a special soul. I can imagine with proper love and support she would be in a different state than what she is in today. If this were my mother or grandmother I’d be doing everything I could to get her help and comfortable, but I also know the battle you fight is with the addiction not with the loved one. It’s all just so heartbreaking to see. Big big hugs and lots of prayers to you sweet Maggie ❤
I have 30 years of sobriety. The day my daughter was taken from me, I checked myself into rehab. I got clean and sober and got my daughter back. This story conjures no sympathy from me.
What a heartbreaking story.So sad Maggie has had such a tragic life. I keep thinking about her being 5 years old and what happened to her and her mother not defending or helping her. It seems that drugs numb the pain for a short time. All of these stories that are told go back to all of them not being loved. God help us as a society to love our children and show love and kindness to everyone we cross paths with.
“I would of stayed single so I can’t hurt no one” How sad 😞 She has been one hurting for so long sounds like , yet she is worried she hurt everyone- She said non of her kids use , took no pride in herself for that. 😞 Sometimes a mother can be less nurturing or not nurturing at all and I can bet 1 million dollars that was what her mom wanted to tell her and died before hand she wanted say sorry to her. ☹️
"I don't wanna feel" This is mostly what keeps people enslaved to addictions. You have to not run but embrace those feelings & fears that you've squashed by addiction. It's scary & emotional but not as much as not changing.
She reminds me of my mom ( not in a bad way ), I really hope the the best for her and her family. Her story is tragic and even she had a hard time telling her tale without tears and rightfully so. It's so bad the way people are being treated.
Poor Maggie. She was destroyed by her brother and then her first husband. She has so much pain. She seems like a sweet woman. She has beauty in her eyes.
All of us that haven't found ourselves in this type of life or addiction can truly be thankful. Many of these people recognize the dire circumstances they are in but are trapped. What tragedy.
This one made me so sad. You can see that Maggie has a beautiful and kind spirit. My heart hurts for 5 year old her and the life that experience led to.
It’s so sad as a younger recovering addict to see a woman nearly double my age living her last years out on the street. I’m also eternally grateful that won’t be my story anymore.
Love this lady, shes soo sweet and precious 100%. I really hope she gets freed from this addiction, she has soo much to offer...still has her witts to her and is wise. God bless, free, renew and bring her back to life, in Jesus name🙏✝️❤️
Mother and son using together; what a toxic situation! If you want to clean you need to separate from each other, this isn’t the way! You’re enabling each other! You both have to want it and it’s next to impossible for one to get sober while the other is still using! Please get it out and stop before it’s too late! Do it for you kids; they deserve so much more from their mother! It can be done, I did it!!!
I know these are very deep problems these people speak about but I can't help but notice in almost all of these painful stories there are some very simple solutions to be had. Preventitive medical care could be just one solution. Using myself as an example I started developing high blood pressure which caused me to get heart failure and kidney failure. I resisted going to the doctor because I didn't have health care. I kept calling around and couldn't get a doctor to see me for less than five hundred bucks cash. Long story short I ended up going to the emergency room and the hospital got stuck with a bill for a quarter million dollars. I could of been fixed with less than ten dollars a month of generic blood pressure medications. Plus the doctors visit and yearly visits. A fraction of the cost of what the system had to eat. Same with this woman. She gets zero care until she has a crater in her flesh and then goes for ten days and thousands of dollars a day. Its cheaper to provide small efficiency housing which is monitored versus sending out ambulances and fire trucks to find people under bridges, deep in the woods nodding out on whatever bad drug they got that day. Somehow I don't see America doing this. I think we may be too broken as a society.
I live and work in salt lake city Utah in a healthcare center. There's this one guy named John that is one year younger than me. 50. He was homeless in the streets in SLC and it was the middle of winter, someone stole his boots as he slept and was strung out on heroin( he never took fentanyl because this was before heroin pretty much disappeared off the streets) and he lost one foot and one leg right beneath the knee from almost freezing to death.. He's a cool guy, now drug free and lives at our center with the help of Medicaid
Something about this women is just so real. Life is so sad just so so sad but it is what it is. And this is the picture of that. She seems very aware of it all too bless her heart
I give her props she’s an older lady and been on the streets for 30 years ! That’s wild to think about. Now the drugs are just complete junk and who knows what’s in it. Not like when she first started but it’s just to hard to get off it not from the dope sickness.D…. Man I hope you can help her get into some sort of housing so she can shower and sleep on a good bed instead of a box. Maggie I hope better days head your way ✨
I fell for this lady...people like her shouldn't be on the street even if they do drugs...we can do better with all the abandoned houses and buildings all throughout America
childhood trauma is the real gateway drug.
Absolutely
No one could have framed the cause and effect any better than that.
All of them have one thing in common...BEING RAISED BY SINGLE MOMS..I have never in my life seen a "strong independent single mom"..
It was my trigger and the combination of being with the wrong kind of boyfriend, I was given heroin by him to smoke at 18, it ruined my life.
Not always. Addiction doesn’t discriminate in any way. Marijuana is just as much of a gateway drug.
I just met Maggie on the 3 bus here in Philly! She rode from Erie-Torresdale and got off at K&A...we struck up a short conversation and she mentioned that "a guy from California" had recently interviewed her for his RUclips channel - I immediately guessed that it was Soft White Underbelly. Talk about serendipity! We chatted briefly about our experiences in Kensington as I'm also a recovering heroin/fentanyl addict with just over 10.5 months clean thanks to methadone maintenance and the SMART Recovery system, which is a non-12 Step alternative to NA. She mentioned her grandkids and great-grandkids and how she fears for their safety in this incredibly dangerous and crime-ridden city (we both carry a knife for self defense, out of sheer necessity). She seemed like a spunky and kindhearted soul...it hurts my heart to listen to her trauma, but it was a pleasure to meet her in person.
I hope u are still doing well. Love to u..
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Even though her tremendous pain, she has something genuinely joyful coming from inside, her eyes, her laugh, the faces she does while she talks. A ray of light in all this drama. You can still see the child in her, innocent, care free, unattached. I wish from all my heart there will be better days for her.
That is some subjective nonsense
The hell are you talking about? Please don't romanticise addiction. She's just a struggling, traumatised human that needs help. Not some inner child or other bs
@@GuerrillaWallFlair the original commentor. 😭😭Are you okay?
Very well said and I agree with you
She reminds me so much of my grandma who passed away 9 years ago. She wasn’t a drug addict but she had a tremendous amount of pain she carried with her from trauma and abuse. I hope Maggie finds value in herself and gets clean.
I was repeatedly raped as a young child by an older sibling too. And I too have been using opiates for decades to quell the emotional pain. I can relate to most people Mark interviews with these 2 things are common amongst us.
Please. If you've been hurt by somebody. Tell a teacher. A cop. A firefighter. Family members. Friends parents. Do not hold it in. It will poison you from the inside out like it has me and this woman here.
All my love to you sweetie.
I’m truly sorry that happened to you. I hope you can find peace someday.
🧡🙏
Jesus can set you free from your trauma check out danial adams, katherine krick
God bless you ,from australia💙 ✝️🙂🙏🏻❤️
What if they don't do anything
Thank you for sharing your insight. I hope you seek therapy even if you are using. It will help more than you know. Sending you real love to a wonderful human!
Yes, I agree with the person who commented about childhood trauma being the gateway drug. Maggie, you never received the help you needed. As a 5-year-old little girl, you weren’t protected, and not even listened to, even though you had the courage to tell your mother. I love ❤️ you and I’m so very sorry for the lifetime of heartache you’ve carried with you. You deserved better. Hugs 🤗
There are so many of us who "don't want to feel anymore" and we are not drug addicts or homeless. We have what looks like a good life but inside the pain is so terribly real. Somehow I still have the strength to get up everyday but its so damn hard. More often than not I have to "pretend" things are good and that is exhausting. You actually inspire me Maggie and I will pray you find and receive the love and life you deserve. My best advice is keep the faith. I'm barely hanging on but that's all I've got. God sees your goodness.
I love you sister. Keep on pushing.
Past trauma and life in general can be draining PERIOD! You're definitely here for a reason! I'm here if you ever need to talk or anything! 💯
I feel you. I hear you. May you find the love and strength keep fighting the good fight 🤍
VERY well said! God bless 🙏
It’s so sad to see someone who should be retiring, traveling, enjoying grandkids and great grands, is struggling with addiction and homelessness. Thank you, Mark, for bringing these stories to the world.
Found this quote the other day and it really summed up my feelings of going through and living with addiction:
“When you’re in a certain kind of condition and it’s hard, it’s really hard, to get from one moment to the next. The room tilts and you’re down on your knees and you just can’t figure it out. The walls are closing in on you and you’re up against it. It’s not the blues. It’s not a bad weekend. It’s not that you can’t pull yourself up by your boot straps. It’s that you can’t survive from one moment to the next. Unless you’ve had that experience, you don’t know why and you’ll never know why, somebody takes a pill or takes a shot.” - Leonard Cohen
Think it applies to lots of stories on this channel
Thanks for this! Love Leonard Cohen and have never come across this! Ty! Ty!
It’s from a documentary called “The Genius of Lenny Breau” which is about a Canadian Guitar player. He was like a Mozart figure, without the recognition. An amazing film about music, addiction and the comfort of finding home. If you’re interested! :)
I will look up the documentary. The quote is true. To everyone who doesn't understand, if you've not been there, be thankful.
She deserves happiness for the rest of her life . I get the feeling that if she had a good place to stay and a good support system she could live and be happy . I can tell she has a heart of gold . Shes alone and very sad and tired of this life . I pray she gets the help she needs
After losing my mother, I watch this channel religiously… trying to see if I can capture a piece of her. Through all the hurt and pain of others. I never got a chance to understand her life and why she did what she did. But hearing these stories sometimes help me understand….
That's awesome that you're trying to get some understanding about how her lifestyle was and I'm so sorry for your loss.
I too watch these stories to learn. I will forever look for ways to help my bonus daughter AND my brother 🙏
Samantha your Mothers with you. God bless you sweetie. 🙏👼
Me too. Mine passed in April. I found this channel shortly thereafter.
In just a few short sentences, you are able to convey something so deep and meaningful. Thank you.
That is how baffling cunning and powerful addiction is. Do you think she wants to live this way? Of course she doesn’t. She has been clean before she knows what it feels like and how good it is. I have 624 days sober. There was a time I could not get 24 hours of sobriety. I working on his program. For me, that’s alcoholics anonymous. I understand that program is not for everyone. I share my experience my strength and my hope. If I can reach one person sharing my story that’s amazing. I love knowing every morning I wake up and I have a choice not to pick up a bottle. The obsession and desire has been lifted from me. I hope that this woman can get off the streets get back into a program and live out the rest of her years without having to stick a needle in her arm. I say this every day, if you can’t help an addict don’t hurt one. Addiction is a disease of thinking. Just like if I had diabetes I would take insulin every day. I have the disease of alcoholism so I work my program every day. I hope everyone reading this has an amazing day and if you are struggling with addiction please please find the help that you so desperately deserve.
✅
Congrats on your sobriety 🙌
Bravo Donna! Keep counting! I hope you can be one of the success stories. Tee
I'm so very proud of you. Congrats. Please remember me and my family in your prayers. ♥️
🙏❤️❤️❤️
Sending Maggie lots of prayers and love! I hope she finds her way off the streets. We can and do recover. One day at a time, it is possible. Thank you, Mark!
I'm going to get help tomorrow morning.. love your kind words ❤
I feel so deeply for this women. She really touched my heart and I can only hope that she will find help somewhere out there
And I do feel genuinely sad for Maggie. She never stood half a damn chance but I hope she’ll be okay. Get outta Philly, Miss. You can’t get clean until you exit the sewer.
Yeees, and at least get out for your son, maybe he'll follow ❤️
@@ariasworld9991 ✌️
I agree with you 💯, even tho I don't know much about Philly, from her story I can only imagine 💔 I hope she leaves there too
Maggie,💖I live in PA & am familiar w/Kensington. Please: Hustle enough money for a train/bus ticket to Harrisburg PA, (90 min.car trip). Harrisburg is in Dauphin County, Just West of Dauphin is Cumberland County. You can find the help you need, spec. in Cumberland County. This is a rich County, you Won't go homeless, nor will your son. County programs could help you get into rehab, shelters would be available immediately. Permanent housing is very possible there. This is a change, it would be scary, but you're a beautiful person you deserve to be happy. This could be your way out!
You have nothing to lose at this point. I care!💖
@@ksoliel9347 ❤️😍
So many people Maggie’s age began their addiction through prescription medication. The DEA was quick ( and harsh) cracking down on doctors,but refuse to enforce the same treatment on the fentanyl chain. Made in China and brought in through Mexico . Devastating an entire generation and quite frankly American society. God Bless Maggie ! My heart aches for her!
@@xgreasexmonkey5506 they were pretty harsh on doctors. You can go in with a broken back and in agony at a doctor is only allowed to prescribe probably 6 to 10 pills for you of anything from the bottom starting with Percocet all the way on up to oxy's and Fentanyl. The manufacturer of these drugs by big Pharma is that they are purposely designed to be addictive. It's a cash cow just like the whole trans movement is a cash cow for big Pharma. Did you know that the hormone suppressing drug that they give to trans women is the same drug that they use to castrate sex offenders? The statistics state that each trans person will cost at least 2 to 3 million dollars during their lifetime and medications and surgeries. All that money is going into someone's pockets. Just saying. Have a great day God bless you
@@xgreasexmonkey5506 they shut them down too quick with no answer. Trust me. I saw it in Florida. One day they made new laws and the dr offices were closed with no treatment available.
Agreed shut down like chronic pain doesn't exist, without a plan. Not everyone becomes addicted. If you experience that euphoria you're chasing you either don't need it or you're overprescribed.
IMO those with debilitating pain have and are suffering the most.
The USA is never going to criticize China. Look at Covid_19. Maybe because we helped them? I dunno.
When OxyContin entered the market in 1996, the FDA approved its original label, which stated that iatrogenic addiction was “very rare." The same FDA administrators responsible for approving OxyContin's label abruptly left to work for Purdue Pharma for a hefty salary so they were in on the humongous scam crippling so many American families. Check the US Dept. of Justice website & there are many arrests of people accused of drug trafficking of fentanyl although it's a case of whack-a-mole since the Mexican Cartels operate on an industrial scale.
Since 2013, China has been the main source of fentanyl flooding the U.S. (or of the precursor agents from which fentanyl is produced most often in Mexico) which fueled the biggest drug epidemic in U.S. history, after the crack epidemic (that's a whole other story!.) Both Obama as well as Trump's administration devoted significant diplomatic capital persuading China to crack down on the export of fentanyl. After a lot of foot dragging, China announced in April 2019 that the production, sales, and export of all fentanyl-class drugs was prohibited, except by authorized firms which the Chinese government has granted special licenses. The problem is that their enforcement of their law is spotty at best & it seems that China either looks the other way or doesn't have the resources to oversee their pharmaceutical & chemical industries involving tens of thousands of firms & hundreds of thousands of facilities. Not to mention that US & China's relations have deteriorated greatly. They're much more efficient at blocking the export of meth into Australian because the two country's relationship is much stronger. Not to mention the conspiracy theory that China is just retaliating for the two opium wars waged against China by Britain (1st war) & France & Britain (2nd war) which involved saturating China w/ opium and ended up crippling China leading to their downfall for centuries.
My heart breaks for Maggie ✨💔✨… I wish she could live the remainder of her days, drug free, happy, knowing real Peace, and in a home with her family… She seems to be sooo misplaced in Kensington… I felt her genuineness during the interview, her heart is still tender with a spark of hope, despite the things she has endured… Blessings To You Maggie ✨✨, Thank you Mark for sharing her story, I’m sure she must have experienced the love, and concern from you during the interview ✨❤️✨ Blessings To You ✨❤️✨🙏🏽✨
5th and Jablip is so Philly. I've never heard it said any where else in all my travels. Maggie I understand your pain and the feeling of betrayal for having been abused by a loved one. My assault happened to me when I was four and continued on for many years. I too ran to self medication and I never really told anyone about it till I was 50. I'm still working on myself and I'm off the heroin now and I'm so grateful that I stopped in time before the fentanyl got real thick. Sending you love and understanding. I believe in you and one day you will be well. God bless
East Jabip was definitely said all throughout my childhood. I grew up 20 outside of Philly.
@@lifemusic1980 now that I'm thinking about it I have heard it before, I was in a foster home up in Camp Hill's / Harrisburg way and the Foster mother would say it. But that was a long time ago I'm in my fifties now.
Definitely one of my favorite videos. I love this woman. Prayers & good vibes sent her way 💗
"I really don't like to feel anymore" what a powerful but sad statement. It says a lot. I pray she gets off the streets and gets somewhere safe and hopefully sober.....such a nice lady with a background of pain 💔😥❤
That is possibly the most overlooked statement here. As a recovering addict of 20 years, I can say that this is a major determining factor in addiction.
@@ryanmelnick8793 So very true...I thought the same...💯
@@ryanmelnick8793 💯
I love you Maggie, truly from the bottom of my heart!!! I pray one day you will be able to laugh in comfort and be surrounded by your children and grandchildren.
Maggie seems like such a caring person. I pray she finds joy and a safe place to live. She deserves that!!!
Reading your text makes me feel so good and I believe you are a beautiful person 😊
65 years of pain, heartbreaking. Love and light to you❤️
I love this woman, because she has a huge heart and is sweet as they come. I wish nothing but the best for her.
The amount of insight one can gain by simply talking to someone is so incredibly valuable to society and hopefully the individual themselves. Housing is so hard to come by it’s sick. I can’t get anyone housed here in NJ. The only thing folks are getting access to are motels via SS which is a temporary and an even more expensive solution. It’s not a home…
Maggie your laugh reminds me of my mother who succumbed to drugs. So much Love to you ❤️
Wow this lady is such a wonderful woman with so much pain that started at age 5 . That changed her forever!!! She’ll be in my prayers!!! She’d be a great woman to help others in recovery if she got clean!! She’s a good soul!!❤
Maggie has the most beautiful blue eyes. And a kind and sweet soul. I pray she can forgive herself and also heal from all she has been through. Praying for you, Maggie, that you heal and find a safe and loving place to be and back with your family too.
It's so Effed up - Just like me started out on Percocet for Migraine Headaches - a single mom - working 2 jobs & it made me feel like I could do it all! A statistic just like Maggie. I was blessed w.a family who supported & loved me. I have been on Subonxone for over 10 yrs at this point it saved my life in a lot of ways but it has its own side effects. The thought of getting off of it scares me to death! Maggie is a beautiful worman - what a gorgeous head of hair she has! She did not make her bed all by herself - getting raped at 5 - not being cared for properly - to say the least & winding up with a Viet Nam vet who abused her as she described - it's a wonder she's alive! I wish her peace of mind & finding a way with her daugther....you can tell she Does Love her children.
I understand if this is too personal but I'm curious what those side effects of suboxone are.
No one ever talks about the side effects, it's treated like this miracle drug that helps addicts stay "sober". I've always been sceptical..
Would love to hear more about your experience with it.
@@baublesanddolls Thank you for your reply! I wonder if a placebo would make a difference. Maybe it's not the suboxone itself but simply the ritual of taking it. Anyway, glad you're sober. 👍
Allow Jesus to heal you, see danial adams , katherine krick , God bless you ❤️✝️🙂🙏🏻💙
@@RamoArt Don't get me wrong - it is a miracle drug in that It has absolutely helped to keep me sober as it kept me from experiencing withdrawal from opiates - so I could work on myself without having to white knuckle it or feel like I had a monkey on my back - That is the miracle!! Now I have been on it for a very long time as I said. What I meant by side effect is that you wind up being addicted to the Sub!I It's just the nature of the drug - you will have to be weaned off. Over the years I weaned down to a 2mg dosage - the lowest dosage available as far as I know. It doesn't get me high - I iwll say it can give me a breif boost of energy & make me chatty as opiates used to sometimes. But that does not interfere with my life. Although it has been great.... I don't like being addicted to another substance whose withdrawal symptoms are worse to deal with than opiates themselves,,,,which I was not made aware of when I was first prescribed. I know the withdrawal from Methadone is also worse & that does get you high!! Very different than Sub. I am just over something else owning me. It is still a scheduled drug & therefore, I have to give a urine sample once a month in order to get a prrescrioption! I can't deny that it saves many lives. I have just been stuck at the 2mg for yrs & am ready to be done - but afraid at the same time. At the end of the day I would NOT trade my worst day living my life now for my best day using! Hope that helps!
@@baublesanddolls I hear the slow release part is the killer. Imagine Tylenol being cleared in a few days but Suboxone being more like a 30 day or more of severe symptoms. It's next to impossible
You are such a lovely lady with a such a sweet and sad laughter. You are honest to yourself and have no need to blush it anyone and that’s very important. I hope you can find some strength to get out of your addiction. Many women in similar situation say the best part of their l lives was when they have their children but not everyone see the addiction to black for all the later downfall. You see it clearly as a biggest problem and that’s already a good step out of there I guess. Of course your childhood trauma is massive and co ti yes to your abusive marriage but if you then were able to get support you might not end up addicted to heavy drugs.. We would know find out anymore but I hope you still have a chance to make it a happier life! Thank you for sharing your life story, it means a lot to me and there is so much to learn from you. ❤️
Maggie is a sweetheart 💕 may God deliver 🙏🏾 her soul
I feel as if I saw her entire life. I hear her regret, yet she doesn't know how it could have been different. When she said she shouldn't have had children, my heart got heavy....as it's obvious she has a lot of love for her family, seen or not seen. She is very beautiful.
Maggie is a beautiful soul! May the lord be with her and her son!
Over and over I'm reminded with these interviews , to not judge a book by its cover ...
A young woman called Bre was recently set on fire in Kensington, she's in a medically induced coma with 2nd and 3rd degree burns over the majority of her body.
Her story is available on AML FILMS channel.
There is a GoFundMe set up to help with expenses, if you'd like to help.
Something has to change in Kensington and all the other places like it.
Please pray for Bre and her family.
Prayers for alyssax
My dear Maggie, you pain is palpable and I'm so sorry for what your brother did to you. It wasn't your fault, you were a beautiful little innocent girl and didn't deserve what happened to you. Please believe me when I say: you are never to old to start over. I promise that you have the ability to get well. Good luck my friend and blessings to you and your family.
I have this feeling, especially @9:19 that she has been stifling her pain for a long time. It’s okay, Maggie, we accept you, we love you. You can say that you are loved. You always deserved to be loved.
You don’t love her. If you did, you’d be traveling to Kensington to pull her off the streets. I don’t get why everyone in the comments are like, “We love you, you deserve better!” It’s just so fake
@DopamineDripz exactly I hate fake as well. I know people want to leave positive comments but how can you love someone 1- you don’t know 2-someone who picked drugs over their children????? I know she has a lot of trauma and I’m sorry that happened to her. But you can’t give up on yourself like she has.
Haha. You "love" her? Ummm. Ok. She can say that she is "loved" because you, a stranger, "loves" her? That's great. People who "love" other people, help them out any way that they can.. So I assume that you're going to send her some money or pay for her rehab? Maybe buy her a used car? Put a down payment on an apartment for her? She needs these things. If you don't have enough money to pay for all of that, you can get a part time job. Even if you only work a few hours, one night or weekend each week at Rite Aid, and give her that money, that would help her. It's the least that you can do for somebody that you love. Give us updates on how she is doing each step of the way as you're helping her. You're a great inspiration to all of us! I wish I could love and help a stranger like you do.
@@2CuteToShoot69 Haha. You "love" her? Ummm. Ok. She can say that she is "loved" because you, a stranger, "loves" her? That's great. People who "love" other people, help them out any way that they can.. So I assume that you're going to send her some money or pay for her rehab? Maybe buy her a used car? Put a down payment on an apartment for her? She needs these things. If you don't have enough money to pay for all of that, you can get a part time job. Even if you only work a few hours, one night or weekend each week at Rite Aid, and give her that money, that would help her. It's the least that you can do for somebody that you love. Give us updates on how she is doing each step of the way as you're helping her. You're a great inspiration to all of us! I wish I could love and help a stranger like you do.
Totally interesting beginning to end. The human experience; I could listen all day long.
One of the saddest interview. My heart is broken listening to Maggie's story. You can tell she was a beautiful woman back then... and she still is.
AHHH YOU ARE SO SWEET THANK YOU BABE
Mark I can literally feel this ladies pain through my tablet. Very sad indeed and an excellemt example of how ome's world can fall apart due to trauma, addiction, drugs etc. Very compelling piece. Very sad lady yet she seems intelligent, and at times humouress.
Please lord place your healing hands on Maggie and heal her from all drugs abuse and find her a safe loving place. What a beautiful old soul.
What a story. I just want to scoop Maggie up and bring her back to my home and give her a safe space to be. I hope she finds somewhere to live very soon. Blessings to you Maggie x
DO IT!! SHE IS WORTH SAVING!!!
From a recovering alcoholic/addict 👈
Maggie, you're delightful !!! I hope you find the will you have inside, to get clean. You can DO it...
Such a heartbreaking story. You can tell she’s a good person she just had some very bad breaks in life. My heart goes out to her. I pray she stays safe. She is amazing she can still smile and you can tell she’s very beautiful woman in her time. It’s shame to feel so trapped and you can’t get out because you’re so addicted.
I wonder if counseling might help the rape trauma. I'm not sure if there's any free therapy where she lives. Praying for her well-being 🙏💝
Im 14 years sober and I became homeless 9 months ago due to Covid. I'm now living with an ex boyfriend because I can't afford the rents in Australia anymore. I left home at 15 due to sibling abuse and a narcissist mother, was literally homeless for 3 years. Life can take you back to a place you thought you wouldn't never be again and not having stability is hard. I have so much in common and empathy with everyone on this channel, I might be sober but I still have the disease of alcoholism.
I am amazed at her memory recall,(through drug use and age) the way she remembers the ages of her children, the age she was abused etc🥹..
I am someone who was abandoned and forgotten about by family and my parents, growing up and having so much pain and guilt as an adult lead me to blanking out not remembering a lot of details of my life…
All her dates and stories about her children are on the tip of her tongue tumbling out so powerfully and lovingly, I feel that Maggie may be forever ruminating and hating on herself for her “mistakes” and addiction…but you can clearly see Maggie has so much love for her children, she is a mother that can clearly admit the trauma her children experienced in her care. The guilt and her love for her children is very strong.
I relate to her using substances not to feel anymore.
I’m rambling now.
I am so happy you came to Kensington! It is truly devasting to watch this situation. The girl found in the suitcase, these other girls found dead, overdoses, the children around this madness. I don't know how to make this stop.
Maggie take care of yourself 🤍🤍
Thank you, Mark 🙏🏼🙏🏼
This lady still is a good lady regardless of all the Bad she’s done.
I really enjoyed Maggie's interview as she doesn't use excuses I relate to Maggie and I said no to drugs and the battle never ends as we will never see justice for what is done to us in life. No justice no healing I pray you find a home (apt) Maggie for you and your boy.
I hope she finds happiness and peace
You can do it!
What a sweet lady. I really feel for her and I really hope she can get clean and enjoy the rest of the time she has.
Maggie.. what a light you have! ❤️ Your laugh lifted my heart 💖 in my mind I'm wiping your tears away.. sending prayers for healing and understanding.. you are loved and understood... Never alone ⭐✨
So incredibly sad. I can feel her pain! Seniors are definitely underserved in our society.
She's not lying I live in Philadelphia and it's scary Kensington is very very scary you see the homeless everywhere sleeping & shooting drugs right on the sidewalk
I send clothes to Kensington and its gonna be in like a month. I worked with preacher Joe and I dk if you know who he is but he's amazing
@@rachelrae860 I follow Preacher Joe's channel.
He's devoted !
@@KimbradleyMasterGardener yes he is. Idk if you saw when he was passing out the clothes but it was me who sent them and in like 4 weeks were doing it again but this time there's so much more and i can't wait to see how happy they are gonna be. I have a ton of men's clothes women's clothes a bunch of flip flops and sneakers and i even put skin care and drugstore and a few high end stuff too. I put this awesome pink book bag in there and Joe is the real deal and doesn't do it for the clout. It's for his love of God unlike someone I know.But nevertheless I'm glad God put him in my life
@@rachelrae860 God bless you, what a beautiful soul you are for helping in this way ❤
I've never been to Philly, but from what I've read on this thread, you're absolutely right Kensington is a scary place...I wonder if it's worse than Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles 🤔
I have true empathy for this beautiful soul
God bless you Maggie. You deserve so much more in this life.
Going to 11th grade being in an impoverished family was a Huge deal! Good for you, especially since you kept working as well!
Maggie is my Mum's name. Out of all the interviews this is the saddest I've seen. Bless you Maggie. I am so sorry for your suffering. I wish you were more comfortable. I wish there was more help for you.
My heart breaks for this lady. Bless her
Someone else was burned alive recently and is in a medically induced coma. Kensington is a hard place…
I'm 63 and there no way I could make it in the streets. You should have peace at this age. So sorry you're mother didn't protect you. I just can't understand how a mother can do that. I'll be praying for you sweetie. Be careful out there the streets don't love anyone. Sending you love.
I truly hope this precious lady can get off the streets! She deserves so much more! I will pray that she can live out her golden years in comfort and happiness. How else can we help her and her drug addicted son?
Yes, sheis sooo nice 😭❤️
The part about mother & son both living on the streets of Kensington is the saddest part of all
One of the best so far. Prayers for PA and our great nation.
Maggie, I wish I could just hug you.. ❤️😢 you are such a kind soul. You would think after 30 years of being addicted off and on her heart would be hardened but she still has a sparkle in her eyes and a gentle demeanor. I hope you and your son find your way out of this horrible place. You don’t deserve this you deserve to enjoy your grandchildren and just live a fulfilled life as you get older. I don’t want this to be the way that you go you are so so much more than this.💔 Please stay strong and fight this.
THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND YOUR KIND HEART ❤️
What a moving interview Maggie. Thank you for sharing your story.
20 years from now surviving on the street/beach in a world of addiction may be the norm. Time will tell. Always interesting, thanks!
Food for thought.
Why do you think that? Just wondering.
First interview I have watched start to finish in a long time and I don’t know why I couldn’t stop watching
Such great videos of different life and events so sad. Mark you are bringing these life stories to us and brings some love for humanity. I used to some years ago after work go by the shelters and talk to some homeless and help them with clothes and shoes and asked them their story. I love your work Mark.
Maggie is a special soul. I can imagine with proper love and support she would be in a different state than what she is in today. If this were my mother or grandmother I’d be doing everything I could to get her help and comfortable, but I also know the battle you fight is with the addiction not with the loved one. It’s all just so heartbreaking to see. Big big hugs and lots of prayers to you sweet Maggie ❤
To get on here and talk down on someone for being sick is Sad. I pray for your recovery Maggie♥️
I just wanna give Maggie a hug ... bless you dear lady ♥
What a beautiful fashionista!!! Mark you are an incredible photographer ❤️
Lovely lady reminds me off my nan god bless her!!!!
I have 30 years of sobriety. The day my daughter was taken from me, I checked myself into rehab. I got clean and sober and got my daughter back. This story conjures no sympathy from me.
What a heartbreaking story.So sad Maggie has had such a tragic life. I keep thinking about her being 5 years old and what happened to her and her mother not defending or helping her. It seems that drugs numb the pain for a short time. All of these stories that are told go back to all of them not being loved. God help us as a society to love our children and show love and kindness to everyone we cross paths with.
Maggie, don’t give up… you are worthy.💟
“I would of stayed single so I can’t hurt no one”
How sad 😞
She has been one hurting for so long sounds like , yet she is worried she hurt everyone-
She said non of her kids use , took no pride in herself for that. 😞
Sometimes a mother can be less nurturing or not nurturing at all and I can bet 1 million dollars that was what her mom wanted to tell her and died before hand she wanted say sorry to her. ☹️
None of her kids use? One son is with her addicted to fentanyl, one is in prison and one is in recovery.
would've*
"I don't wanna feel"
This is mostly what keeps people enslaved to addictions.
You have to not run but embrace those feelings & fears that you've squashed by addiction. It's scary & emotional but not as much as not changing.
God Bless her she's been on the streets for a long time.
Our World is so broken 💔 😢
This nation specifically.
Whole world Been broken.
Yep 😰
It truly is....broken alllll the way down 💔💯
@@cwblackistonio1641 our nation is supplied by other nations. It doesn't start nor stop in the US
She reminds me of my mom ( not in a bad way ), I really hope the the best for her and her family. Her story is tragic and even she had a hard time telling her tale without tears and rightfully so. It's so bad the way people are being treated.
God bless this dear lady❤️🙏❤️
Her innocent heart shines still bright.
Poor Maggie. She was destroyed by her brother and then her first husband. She has so much pain. She seems like a sweet woman. She has beauty in her eyes.
All of us that haven't found ourselves in this type of life or addiction can truly be thankful. Many of these people recognize the dire circumstances they are in but are trapped. What tragedy.
This one made me so sad. You can see that Maggie has a beautiful and kind spirit. My heart hurts for 5 year old her and the life that experience led to.
It’s so sad as a younger recovering addict to see a woman nearly double my age living her last years out on the street. I’m also eternally grateful that won’t be my story anymore.
Love this lady, shes soo sweet and precious 100%. I really hope she gets freed from this addiction, she has soo much to offer...still has her witts to her and is wise. God bless, free, renew and bring her back to life, in Jesus name🙏✝️❤️
Mother and son using together; what a toxic situation! If you want to clean you need to separate from each other, this isn’t the way! You’re enabling each other! You both have to want it and it’s next to impossible for one to get sober while the other is still using! Please get it out and stop before it’s too late! Do it for you kids; they deserve so much more from their mother! It can be done, I did it!!!
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Exactly ! And with some when one dies it's like everyone is in shock there was a death .. with full time drugs it's death or jail ..
@@wesleyAlan9179 ❤️❤️❤️
@@pjrichards3974 💯🎯💯
I love Marks work. I hope we get another follow up from Evelyn
Unfortunately, Evelyn passed in late March 🥺
She passed in a hospital, fortunately, and had recommended with her daughters ⭐️
I know these are very deep problems these people speak about but I can't help but notice in almost all of these painful stories there are some very simple solutions to be had. Preventitive medical care could be just one solution. Using myself as an example I started developing high blood pressure which caused me to get heart failure and kidney failure. I resisted going to the doctor because I didn't have health care. I kept calling around and couldn't get a doctor to see me for less than five hundred bucks cash. Long story short I ended up going to the emergency room and the hospital got stuck with a bill for a quarter million dollars. I could of been fixed with less than ten dollars a month of generic blood pressure medications. Plus the doctors visit and yearly visits. A fraction of the cost of what the system had to eat. Same with this woman. She gets zero care until she has a crater in her flesh and then goes for ten days and thousands of dollars a day. Its cheaper to provide small efficiency housing which is monitored versus sending out ambulances and fire trucks to find people under bridges, deep in the woods nodding out on whatever bad drug they got that day. Somehow I don't see America doing this. I think we may be too broken as a society.
Oh the pain in her voice .. ):
God bless you, Maggie.
I live and work in salt lake city Utah in a healthcare center. There's this one guy named John that is one year younger than me. 50. He was homeless in the streets in SLC and it was the middle of winter, someone stole his boots as he slept and was strung out on heroin( he never took fentanyl because this was before heroin pretty much disappeared off the streets) and he lost one foot and one leg right beneath the knee from almost freezing to death.. He's a cool guy, now drug free and lives at our center with the help of Medicaid
My heart goes out to Maggie. When she laughs she reminds me of my paternal grandmother.
Maggie I send you prayers 🙏 I'm around your age and have by the grace of God got into a clinic for 4yrs. I quit before the fentynol problem got me.
Something about this women is just so real. Life is so sad just so so sad but it is what it is. And this is the picture of that. She seems very aware of it all too bless her heart
I give her props she’s an older lady and been on the streets for 30 years ! That’s wild to think about. Now the drugs are just complete junk and who knows what’s in it. Not like when she first started but it’s just to hard to get off it not from the dope sickness.D…. Man I hope you can help her get into some sort of housing so she can shower and sleep on a good bed instead of a box. Maggie I hope better days head your way ✨
I fell for this lady...people like her shouldn't be on the street even if they do drugs...we can do better with all the abandoned houses and buildings all throughout America
She's just the cutest thang....God bless her. I hope her and her son get out of this.
I can feel such a real person from her. I really wish she could have the best life she deserve it