THE DALTON AND COOK FAMILIES, front row from left, Think of Michael Foundation Vice President Jamie Dalton, Think of Michael member Ava Cook, Think of Michael Treasurer Dick Dalton, Think of Michael President Carmela Dalton and Think of Michael member Maddie Cook, led the 400 attendees to the Town Common for the fifth annual “A Night of Hope” ceremony on Sept. 17. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Recovery is possible.
That was the message that 400 attendees heard during the fifth annual “A Night of Hope” on the Town Common on Sunday, Sept. 17. A Healthy Lynnfield and the Think of Michael Foundation hosted the event as part of National Recovery Month once again.
Town Administrator Rob Dolan, who served as the master of ceremonies, recalled that Select Board member Dick Dalton and his family formed the Think of Michael Foundation in honor of their late son and brother, Michael, who passed away from an opiate overdose in January 2018.
“The foundation is very proud of the fact that, in its five years of existence, it has never denied assistance to a qualified candidate,” said Dolan. “In most communities in America, drug addiction and recovery is met with stigma, an uncomfortable exchange or, at worst, total silence. Lynnfield was really no different at one point. But the Dalton family, defined by a devotion to church, family and community, broke the silence bravely with compassion and dignity by going public about their family’s tragedy.”
Dick addressed the 400 attendees with his wife, Think of Michael Foundation President Carmela Dalton, standing by his side. He recalled that the foundation awards sober house scholarships to people in recovery, and supports a number of recovery-related initiatives.
“Over these past five years, we have had the privilege of helping people in need,” said Dick. “We have experienced the joy of witnessing individuals transform their lives. Tonight, we take the time to applaud those who are in recovery. Unfortunately, not every encounter has a positive outcome. But as my wife has said since the beginning of this journey, if we can spare just one family the tragedy we endured losing our son, it will all be worth it.”
Dick and his son, Think of Michael Foundation Vice President Jamie Dalton, presented a Michael V. Dalton “Making a Difference Award” to First Justice of the Chelsea District Court Matthew Machera.
“Judge Machera presides over the Recovery Court, which is admired throughout New England and is regarded as a model drug court,” said Dick. “Individuals are sentenced to intensive court supervision, mandatory drug testing, substance use treatment and other social services instead of adjudication or incarceration. For those who successfully complete the program, Judge Machera conducts a graduation ceremony. It’s common for alumni to attend and speak to the graduates. Judge Machera is truly making a difference.”
After Dick and Jamie presented Judge Machera with the award, the ceremony’s attendees gave him a round of applause.
“I tell my Recovery Court all the time that I am the least important person in that group,” said Judge Machera. “When people ask me, ‘what is the greatest thing about your job,’ I always say that I get to work with my heroes. A hero is not a person who can act or can hit a ball 400-plus feet. A hero is the recovery coaches’ who are here, have toppled this disease and give back. A hero is each and every one of you who is in recovery right now. This award doesn’t belong to me. This award belongs to each one of you.”
Judge Machera stressed that people need to “fight the stigma” that surrounds addiction.
“Somebody who has cancer doesn’t have the stigma when they get treatment,” said Judge Machera. “This is a terrible disease that has taken many lives. It’s an honor and a privilege to work with the recovery coaches each and every day. And for those of you who are struggling with this awful disease, don’t give up. Help is there and you can do it.”
After Judge Machera concluded his remarks, he was given a round of applause.
Dick recalled that the Think of Michael Foundation has awarded a large number of sober home scholarships to people struggling with alcoholism. He encouraged the adolescents in attendance not to drink, and urged parents not to allow underage drinking in their homes.
“Alcohol is prevalent in this community and other communities,” said Dick. “Alcoholism and drug addiction both deserve our attention.”
A Healthy Lynnfield Substance Use Prevention Coordinator Peg Sallade said National Recovery Month is a “celebration” of people in recovery and honors the memory of people who lost their battles to addiction.
Think of Michael Foundation Vice President Jamie Dalton said the passing of his brother and best friend led him to his recovery journey. He now works as a recovery coach at North Suffolk Community Services.
“I started my day today at Woodlawn Cemetery, which is where I go to get my strength,” said Jamie. “I have since found my own path in recovery, and have dedicated my life and work to helping people do the same. I am trying to make Mike proud, and I know he is with me tonight. I also hope to prevent another little brother and family from going through a similar tragedy. I am not afraid to talk about it because hearing other people’s stories was what really helped me find hope when I was hopeless after my brother passed. Through my pain, I found purpose and through my purpose, I found peace. It’s a purpose that is much bigger than me.”
Lynn-based New Way Sober Home owner Michael Diblasi shared his recovery story in an emotional and powerful speech. He also founded a nonprofit organization called No Lost Cause.
“I just celebrated nine years in recovery on Aug. 28,” said Diblasi.
Diblasi recalled that he grew up in a “good home” in Winchester, but admitted his stepfather had “issues.”
“I ended up turning to the things that made me feel better,” said Diblasi. “I would smoke weed and drink beers. It started out as an innocent pastime. I didn’t want to go home when the party was over, so I just kept going.”
Diblasi said he became a “child in need of services” when he was 16, but said he continued to “get high because it took away the pain.”
“I was a kid who didn’t know how to feel,” said Diblasi. “I didn’t have the proper support. I thought I was alone. It’s really nice to be here and see everyone. When I was getting high at a young age, I didn’t feel like I had anyone to support me. Obviously my mother would have done anything for me, but it didn’t matter. Inside, I felt alone and empty. I ended up going to prison in another country when I was 17-years-old.”
Diblasi decided to get sober while living in a crack house in Billerica in 2014.
“I wanted to get clean,” said Diblasi. “I moved into a sober home, put the Clydesdale blinders on and went to meetings every single night. I would walk miles to get there just to feel a little bit better. For an addict like me who felt empty inside and didn’t know how to feel, it was important for me to put in the work to teach myself about the traumas that I had experienced as a kid. I realized that self-worth was something worth chasing after.”
Diblasi noted that he just got engaged, and has a daughter and a stepdaughter.
“I have put together a really good life,” said Diblasi.
After Diblasi concluded his remarks, he was given a round of applause.
Danvers-based Chapters Recovery Center Recovery/Community Engagement Director Shannon Lundin recalled that she has been in long-term recovery for 19 years.
“I have outlived most of my childhood friends,” said Lundin, who grew up in Charlestown. “I have pictures with people in them, and I am the only one in the photo who is still alive.”
Lundin recalled that her father was an alcoholic and a drug addict, and abused her, her mother and her siblings.
“A lot of people talk about how marijuana and alcohol are gateway drugs,” said Lundin. “I believe that trauma is the gateway drug.”
Lundin said she started drinking when she was 12, which led her to using marijuana, pills, ecstasy, cocaine and OxyContin.
“I went through the whole OxyContin epidemic, which is where I lost most of my friends,” said Lundin. “It was heroin that brought me to my knees. I had the Department of Children and Families in my life. I was furious. I was sitting around a table with a DCF worker and my mother, and I was badgering this lady about who called them. My mother slammed her hand on the table and said, ‘I called on you.’ My mother took temporary guardianship of my daughter at the time. I had warrants out for my arrest, was on probation and was in and out of detox.”
Lundin enrolled in the East Boston-based Meridian House’s recovery program in 2004.
“They called me their most challenging client,” said Lundin. “My plan was to stay there for 30 days to get probation off my back, get my mother off my back and get DCF off my back. I graduated from the Meridian House 15 months later. I learned a lot about my disease and myself while I was there.”
Lundin said her recovery journey led her to going back to school and working as a recovery coach. She also went on to help establish the Charlestown Recovery Court.
“It’s modeled after the Chelsea Recovery Court,” said Lundin. “If you told me I would be where I am now 19 years later, I would never believe you. I have four girls. My oldest daughter was 4 going on 5 when I got sober, and my other three daughters have never seen me drunk or high. And God willing, they never will.”
After Lundin concluded her remarks, she was given a round of applause.
A Healthy Lynnfield Youth Council members Addie Connelly, Liv Scire and Ereeny Georges encouraged the 400 attendees to make healthy decisions and have hope.
“For a person in recovery, hope can feel hard to find,” said Scire. “When a community like this comes together, it’s a reminder that hope is all around us. Together, we can offer hope, embrace acceptance and celebrate the power of recovery.”
Wakefield-Lynnfield United Methodist Church Rev. Glenn Mortimer and Ave Maria Parish Rev. Paul Ritt gave the closing blessings during “A Night of Hope.” The ceremony concluded with attendees lighting the electronic purple votive candles in support of people in recovery and in remembrance of the lives lost to addiction while Boston Bruins National Anthem singer Todd Angilly sang, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Frank Sinatra.