This article shares the story of Maria Volk’s journey of loss, grief, and addiction sparked by the sudden death of her brother, Dana Volk. Grappling with intense pain, Maria turned to cocaine as a source of escapism to gain reprieve from her recent trauma. It was “exactly what [she] needed” to keep her “dumb and numb” from the pain. She quickly spiralled; she increased her daily intake, endangering her relationships and destroying her own well-being. However, with the support of her loved ones and through psychiatric intervention, she found a path to recovery. She embraced her past and expressed her feelings to her loved ones, and had fostered the strength to overcome the grief and trauma caused by the loss of her brother. Her story, much like that of Richard Wagamese’s Medicine Walk, is one of resilience, perseverance, healing, and most of all, love.
Medicine…show more content… He had the opportunity to share his life with his wife, and yet, he refused. He allowed his trauma to fester within his mind, forcing him to drown in alcohol; he selfishly forwent his only purpose in life, to support his wife and son, because his cowardice had muted him. Eldon could have avoided this life, and yet, he chose not to; however, after years of erosion, he vocalized his trauma to the only person left in his life, Frank, and died with a sense of fulfillment, albeit marginal.
From a greater standpoint, the connection between these works emphasizes the importance of communication and shows just how far some people will go to escape their past. Both Eldon and Maria struggled to share their pasts with others, and it tore their lives apart. They found escape through unhealthy means – war, alcohol, and even cocaine – and struggled to overcome it. These works teach us the importance of communication, and from an alternative perspective, the importance of altruism and true
