Welcome back to the peripheral.

Typically, most of my guests are people that have written in about their stories.

But tonight is a special occasion because this was somebody that I had reached out to,

and they agreed to come on.

As we all know, the opioid and heroin epidemic has truly left no one untouched,

even those we would consider the most unlikely to be affected.

Tonight, I speak with a father who suffered a terrible loss.

He's a former police officer, and he started a wonderful organization called Brooks House.

So without further ado.

Why don't you introduce yourself, Kevin, and what you had been doing for over 20 years of your life?

Okay.

My name is Kevin Simmers.

I'm 58 years old.

Father of two, Counting Brooke, I was father of two kids and one stepchild.

I'm married to a beautiful woman who is really my, she's everything to me.

She's what keeps me going.

She's giving me the inspiration and do what I'm doing now.

Her name is Dana.

We've been married for over 20 years.

And she was for all intents and purposes.

She was the stepmother to Brooke, but I call it step parents are the ones that step up.

And she was for all intents and purposes of the mother to both of my children, Grant, and

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