Aaron's Childhood
Aaron & Ryan
By all accounts Aaron had a great childhood.
He had 2 younger brothers and a older sister. We were a close and loving family.
He lived in nice neighborhoods, went to top rate schools
pre-school through High School, he attened religous school, played Pop-Warner Football, Tee-ball and Community Basketball. He was in Cub-Scouts, Y-Indian guides and youth groups. His father and I (and Grandparents) were involved in all of his activities, volunteering, coaching and supporting all the organizations he was a part of. Aaron was a very active little guy! He was a happy little boy who always looked up to is big sister and would get frustrated if he couldn't accomplish tasks the way she could. She was 5 years older but that didn't matter to Aaron, inside he had a pressure on himself that was unforgiving.
He was a good student in the things that intrested him and average in the things that didn't. He was very cute and had many friends. In elementry school he felt none of his teachers liked him except one. This was very devasting to him as a young child. He was left handed, couldn't concentrate or sit still for long periods of time, so he started clowning around in class. So as you might guess we were encouraged to have him tested for ADD. He passed with fling colors. Aaron seemed to be just a very healthy, active little boy, so we kept him busy, which kept us very busy!
He had 2 younger brothers and a older sister. We were a close and loving family.
He lived in nice neighborhoods, went to top rate schools
pre-school through High School, he attened religous school, played Pop-Warner Football, Tee-ball and Community Basketball. He was in Cub-Scouts, Y-Indian guides and youth groups. His father and I (and Grandparents) were involved in all of his activities, volunteering, coaching and supporting all the organizations he was a part of. Aaron was a very active little guy! He was a happy little boy who always looked up to is big sister and would get frustrated if he couldn't accomplish tasks the way she could. She was 5 years older but that didn't matter to Aaron, inside he had a pressure on himself that was unforgiving.
He was a good student in the things that intrested him and average in the things that didn't. He was very cute and had many friends. In elementry school he felt none of his teachers liked him except one. This was very devasting to him as a young child. He was left handed, couldn't concentrate or sit still for long periods of time, so he started clowning around in class. So as you might guess we were encouraged to have him tested for ADD. He passed with fling colors. Aaron seemed to be just a very healthy, active little boy, so we kept him busy, which kept us very busy!
Aaron's High School Years
Aaron was a handsome popular, charming athlete. He played football at Poway High School, of course on the defensive end of it! Aaron's compassion and his beliefs made him a best friend to all. He would protect fellow students regardless of race, creed or color if they were being attacked, humiliated or treated unfairly at all costs. Even though it landed him in detention or anger management a few times in high school he didn't care, he could not witness a senseless unfair act on others. Aaron, as far as academics was as good student if he wanted to be, and wasn't if he thought what he was studying couldn't help him as an adult. Aaron challenged authority debating the rights of students and athletes if he felt the "establishment" was unfair. For the most part an average student that charmed his way through high school excelling in the subjects that interested him. Girls, Weight Lifting, Girls, Football, Girls Volleyball ( which he joined because it would be discrimination if they didn't let him!) Friday Night Parties and Girls! Aaron graduated in 2000 we took a deep breath and were relieved. Unaware of what was to come, or how he was suffering behind his gorgeous smile and sparkling blue eyes.
Aaron's Battle With Addiction
Visiting Aaron In Dana Point Rehab 3 Month Mark
Aaron's battle with addiction started in high school about the 10th grade. He first experimented with marijuana and alcohol and then move on to prescription pills. We were unaware at the time of his involvement with prescription pills. We continually battled with him over the use of alcohol and marijuana, their health risks and unlawfulness. Aaron ( from his rehab journals) started taking Soma's, Vicodin, Norco and OxyContin.
Aaron's Overdose
October 9th 2005, was the day we received a call that our son "Aaron" was not breathing and was taken to the hospital emergency room, we were advised to get to the hospital as soon as possible.
On arrival we were told by the emergency room Doctor "you are going to lose your son today."
Aaron, was in a coma for 3 weeks. The hospital was advocating for us to withdraw care. We gathered the family from throughout the country for his funeral. I asked for an additional MRI & Cat-scan. The Dr.s said it would only show more infarcts and damage. I responded "We need to see them anyway". My husband and I struggled to write a eulogy. The following day we were approached by Aaron's ICU Doctor, he wanted to speak with us. He had received the results from the tests I requested. He informed us "we don't know why or how but his white matter is improving" the next morning Aaron started to open his eyes. They looked like the eyes of someone in a vegetative state. My stomach sank. Aaron continued to improve against all odds. Aaron's original injury due to an accedential overdose of OxyContin and other prescription medications were, a heart attack and two strokes. The strokes effected the front, back and both sides of his brain. 3/4 of his brain had been damaged.
It will be five years this October since that fatal day. Aaron is now a quadriplegic unable to speak confined to a wheelchair. He responds and makes choices with his fingers. 1 for yes and 2 for no.
Local News Reports
Hooked on a New High Teens are making heroin the drug of choice By MARI PAYTON Updated 10:31 AM PDT, Sat, Jul 3, 2010 San Diego teenagers have a new drug of choice, heroin, and it isn't just here, but across the nation. At one time teens preferred oxycontin, but Detectives with the San Diego Sheriff's Department say users are finding out that heroin is much cheaper choice that produces a similar high, and that high is producing a big low for San Diego families that are feeling the ill effects of drug use. For 27-year-old Aaron Rubin, a night of wild partying changed his life and the lives of his family forever. Three years ago, Rubin, once a talkative, well-liked athlete, overdosed on oxycontin. When Aaron's parents arrived at the hospital, they were told Aaron was going to die. "We just held each other and fell on the floor and were screaming and crying," said Aaron's mother Sherrie Rubin. Aaron was in a coma for 3 weeks, he survived several heart attacks and strokes. Finally he returned home - nearly three years after the incident. Now confined to a wheelchair, Ruben can no longer walk or speak. He can only communicate using his hands, one for yes, and two for no. Aaron started using pills while at Poway High School, his parents tried everything they could to get him to stop using. Aaron had been in and out of rehab. On that fateful night, he relapsed after five months of being sober. Aaron said a lot of kids in school used drugs. His drugs of choice included muscle relaxers and Vicodin. Detective Dave Ross says kids are starting earlier than before, some as young as 12-years-old. "It’s predominately in middle-upper class areas, widespread through the areas of Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, Del Mar, and Solana Beach," Ross said. The detective says the number of oxycontin and heroin related deaths are going up in San Diego County. Aaron and his mother now speak to students throughout San Diego County telling them about the dangers of drug use and how it can change your life forever. |
