As a father who lost a daughter to addiction, I share the emotional journey of struggling to understand my daughter’s battle with addiction, the grief of losing her and our valiant efforts as parents to make a difference in the lives of others fighting the same addiction.
Through real-life examples and sharing my book, The CALLing, this is a transparent reality talk filled with emotion and energy that offers hope to others who have lost a loved one to addiction, experiencing addiction or in recovery, or seeking help and guidance.
Check out more - Listen to Mike on the Our Hearts Our Home Podcast
About Mike
Addiction and Death Through the Eyes of a Grieving Father
You are not alone when it comes to grief after losing a loved one to addiction.
Mike Straley is like so many other parents who have lost a child to addiction. He grieves every day. His life has been forever changed since that fateful call on Valentine's morning 2018.
With a burning desire to help others either on the road to recovery or grieving a loss, he has put his journalistic, fundraising and speaking skills to work. With his wife Robin, they formed Leah's Legacy, a nonprofit established in memory of their beloved daughter, Leah Renee.
As a public speaker, Mike shares his daughter's journey of addiction and his daily grief as a dad. He has spoken to wide-ranging audiences, including women in recovery, families who are grieving, and those who want to know more about the warning signs of addiction.
As an author, Straley penned The CALLing, a heartfelt piece that takes the reader on an emotional journey of his daughter's struggles with addiction, theirs as parents struggling to understand her battle and the valiant efforts to make a difference in the lives of others fighting addiction.
Talk Topics
Discover a range of speaking topics that delve into the complexities of grief and addiction. Mike's engaging presentations provide valuable insights and foster meaningful discussions, helping audiences navigate these challenging subjects with compassion and understanding.
Calamity Brought Comfort.
Misery Brought Mission.
Pain Brought Passion.
Mike Straley paints a picture of his daughter’s battle with addiction and ultimate death. He shares the struggles he and his family navigated through, ultimately leading to helping other women with the same battle.
Transparent.
Poignant.
Heartfelt.
An energetic and emotional journey with speaker/author Mike Straley as he chronicles his struggles with grief after losing his daughter on Valentine’s Day. And his passion to live life with a purpose while honoring his daughter.
Battling Addiction
and Grief Impacts
the Entire Family
When a loved one is battling addiction and ultimately loses their life, it impacts family and friends alike. I discuss the anger, grief, depression and remorse of losing our daughter and the coping skills that were used in the various stages of our lives. Grief doesn’t go way, but then neither does her memory.
Testimonials
"Beautiful words about Leah, who was a precious soul, and an impactful message to our ladies who are in recovery. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. And it made a lasting impact on them."
Irene Danjolu
Substance Abuse Counselor, Brooke’s House
Connect with Mike
