Son’s Not Missing, He’s Still in Hospital

On Wednesday one of my neighbors called the paramedics for my 27-year-old alcoholic son, who’s been living in his car in my pkg lot for the last few weeks since he got thrown out of rehab after almost 8 months. This has led to him vomiting and passing out on the ground near his car.

My son refused to be evaluated, so the police were called. They said they were taking him to the psych ward on a 5150, which was confirmed by staff when I called. But later, when I looked on the online portal, it said that my son had been discharged the same day. And when I called again, they said he wasn’t there.

But my son WAS there. He’d been transferred to the hospital and is still there. I found out when he called while I was about to park at his 2-year-old son’s house, so we went to see my son.

We had a memorable visit, for which I live these days. The guy in the next bed, who’d gotten into a fight and had 2 black eyes and an orbital fracture, gave us a sealed box of Lemon Drops that my son and grandson shared. Then, for the next hour, my grandson pooled and dropped Lemon Drops that rolled all over the floor (I picked them up).

When it was time to leave, I told my grandson to say “Bye Daddy”, and he waved and did. My son absolutely melted. These are the moments when I see that he’s still in there, and I WILL TAKE THEM.