Maureen Morella

Jesse was your typical, clean-cut suburban teen.  No one would have thought Jesse to be experimenting with drugs.  He was actively involved in his church, helping younger students as a coach and mentor.  He was an aspiring poet and artist, and dreamt of becoming a high school English teacher.  Meanwhile, he continued to hone his skills on his favorite quad, competing regularly at a local race track.

Despite his plans, he made decision that change his life.  An accidental overdose left him completely dependent upon others for his care.  His wheelchair replaced his quad.  He could not speak of swallow.  He is “fed” through a feeding tube.  Jesse’s decisions changed not only his life, but the lives of everyone around him.  To this day, Jesse has worked hard to regain control over his life – to regain abilities that he already had.  This reality is the consequence of believing this could only happen to others.

There is no “demographic” or “profile” to identify who might fall prey to drugs and alcohol.  Each child is only one decision away from consequences of a lifetime.  It may not happen the first time, but it just might happen the very next time you decide to drink or use drugs.

Maureen and Jesse present the story of how one bad decision changed their lives forever.  Through personal reflection and strong visual images, the Morellas deliver a powerful and moving message that reaches students and parents with the realities and consequences of substance abuse.