Maybe helping someone would boost her self-esteem. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Fune. Amanda Wendler always brought light to every room entered. I am so excited and honored to have a meaningful conversation about trauma and addiction with Amanda Wendler, Libby Alexander, Eli Saslow, Gabor Mat and surprise guests! Four Good Days Plot Synopsis. The kindness to put this out there at some risk to her. For anyone who has loved an addict, its a poignant representation of the complexities of life tinted by drug misusewhich only becomes clearer after learning this movie is based on a true story. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Summary: Amanda Wendler is 36 years old today because Amanda's birthday is on 01/01/1985. She was clean. Libby stood close so she could listen. Seventy-one. Amanda's struggle to get clean was profiled by Eli Saslow in a 2016 Washington Post article. Related stories: Story ideas can be sent to bailee.hill@fox.com, Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Fine. He looked good and it was nice to see him, Mary said, but later that night he had called her a dozen times, harassing her and begging for money. But what if I kick her out and she dies in some abandoned house? "Clear-eyed and sober," read a report from one drug counselor, and so Amanda . Texas dwarfs . Seventy. It had been a week since shed seen her 9-year-old twin sons, who lived in a nearby suburb with their father, and lately the most frequent text messages coming into her phone were from a dealer hoping to lure her back with free samples: Got testers, he had just written. A pair of Cincinnati police officers recently used the medication to help a woman who was experiencing a drug overdose. This is bullshit, she texted to Amanda, but there was no response. (Photo By MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images), Former opioid addict on road to recovery: 'I lost everything'. Shame was a trigger. Libby tapped her hand against the steering wheel and stared out the window. Who knows? Libby said. Maybe this time it would last. You can reach out to me at Gokul@otakukart.com. Its just like night and day. She looked up at the clock. After growing up in the public eye and weathering a turbulent few years, Amanda Bynes is healthier than ever and ready to make her Hollywood comeback. Why was 15 pills each day still not enough? I have known altered states of consciousness since I was a child. Its not just a movie. Amanda's story began when she was involved in a snowmobile accident at the age of 16. Amanda Wendler (25C) was wearing her "beloved" green jeans the night she was sexually assaulted in her sleep. I really need this to happen tomorrow, Amanda was saying, and Libby balled her fists and knocked them against the kitchen counter. Give me something. She started to tremble and then convulse. Grady Rape Crisis Center resources can be found here. I cant believe youre even asking me to do this, Libby said, but she had already decided that she would help Amanda, even if it required going to extremes. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, "Doctors had told her that first she needed to pass a drug test, which required staying clean for at least two weeks, which meant her appointment for the shot was still four days away," reads the article that inspired the film. 1,831 followers. This was based on Amanda Wendlers life as a drug addict that was published as Hows Amanda? Its a movement," says Wendler. It freaked me out. I think shes the kindest,most courageous person Ive ever known.. The crux of the film explores the mother-daughter relationship dynamic against the backdrop of Americas opioid crisis. They were giving my son a narcotic at such a young age., After going through what she estimates were 15 rehabs, Wendler says if she can recover, anyone can. Amanda sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window as they came into Southwest Detroit, passing the overgrown lots and decaying houses where she had spent so much of her adult life. If this is all a big lie, just tell me now, Libby said. A Story of Truth, Lies and an American Addiction." The article told the real life story of a woman named Amanda Wendler and her experience with opiate addiction. When is Four Good Days Coming To Netflix? I felt good by doing it., Alexander echoes her daughter's opinion. Dane graduated from the Specs Howard School of Media Arts. Here is everything you need to know about the true story behind Four Good Days, the 2020 film that's taking off on Netflix. She had been warned by a doctor that it was normal in the first year of sobriety to feel bored, flat, depressed, blah, tired, anxious a change in brain chemistry that exacerbated so many of the longings that made heroin appealing in the first place. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Finally, it stuck.". She also has twin sons instead of a boy and a girl and the storyline about giving up a baby for adoption was not mentioned in the article - suggesting it was most likely an invented storyline from the movie producers. Molly, who had made her mind up to start her recovery, remains persistent as she decides to sleep outside her mothers home. My rule at this point is dont believe anything, Mary said. With the help of her mother Deb (Glenn Close), Molly struggles to survive four good days clean, and in turn shines a light on the complex relationships between an addict, and their support systems. Her story of recovery is now playing out on the big screen in Four Good Days, staring Mila Kunis as Amanda and Glenn Close as her mother, Libby. It reminded Amanda of a vacant house where shed squatted for a while with a dozen other users, a rat-infested place without heat or electricity. The nurse left and returned with a long needle. They drove out of the exurbs, through the suburbs and into the city. "We do recover I'm a living testament to that," Wendler explained. Amanda Wendler Obituary: In the loving memory of Amanda Wendler, we are saddened to inform you that Amanda Wendler, a beloved and loyal friend, has passed away. Cant you ever trust me? Amanda said. Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States worse than guns, car crashes or suicides. She could see a sleeping bag and a needle near the buildings entrance. ", Wendler's remarks come as the opioid crisis continues to devastate communities across the nation, with drug-overdose deaths hitting an all-time high within a 12-month period. Shell make it, the nurse said, looking down at Amanda. In Four Good Days, Mila Kunis and Glenn Close have the difficult job of turning a harrowing and intimate portrayal of drug abuse into a compelling story that neither vilifies nor advocates for those struggling with narcotic addiction. Also Read: When is Four Good Days Coming To Netflix? She had tried therapy and group counseling, inpatient and outpatient. And so, the conversation keeps evolving and that's how it should be. "My life is beautiful today," Wendler said, addressing the stigma of addicts and hoping to dispel any doubt that they can recover. Libby and Amanda look at urban sculpture in Detroit. A group of retired women walked by in visors and spandex, making their usual morning loop. She watched two kids throwing rocks. As the audience sees in both the article and the film, Amanda/Mollys lie is almost deadly as the shot sends her into withdrawl thanks to the presence of opioids in her system. The movie is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning story of Amanda in the Washington Post. The average active user dies of an overdose in about 10 years, and Amandas opiate addiction was going on year 11. I refused to let them fill it, so he just took Motrin and he was fine. 52 posts. Eventually, maternal love and enduringhope win out as sheagrees to help Molly through the four days she needs to stay off heroin before starting monthly injections that will block opiates from having an effect on her body. ", Wendler talks to her mother every day by phone and visits her in metro Detroit frequently. Amanda Wendler Death - Is Dead, Obituary, Funeral, Cause Of Death, Passed Away: On May 21, 2021, InsideEko Media learned about the death of Amanda Wendler through social media publications made on Twitter. Grant comes to Local 4 from Oklahoma City. A close look at one tragedy in rural Oklahoma, Why death rates for white women in rural America are spiking, In a town where pills are currency, opioid addicts have few options. In this series, The Washington Post is exploring this trend and the forces driving it.Read the entire series. She had come upstairs with darkened eyes, a runny nose and a confession. Legal Statement. Is The Movie Four Good Days Based On A True Story? This causes Deb to believe that her daughter will finally recover from her decade of addiction. Amanda Wendler, the inspiration behind the film 'Four Good Days,' joined 'America's Newsroom' to discuss her battle against opioid addiction and how she made recovery possible. No Suboxone or methadone?. Up there, Amanda said, pointing to a two-story building with no windows, no door and trash spilling out from the entryway. Posted by Amanda Wendler | Nov 13, 2022. If she sees Im doing good, maybe I can convince her to go into rehab.. The film is based on Eli Saslow's Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post article, "How's Amanda? It had now been 12 days since the last time Amanda Wendler used a drug of any kind, her longest stretch in years. Mila Kunis has undergone a total transformation for her latest movie.. Both women are acutely aware that addiction remains a hidden subject for too many people who fear being truthful will alienate others. With no job, no high school diploma and no car, she has no money beyond that. I dont know where to draw the line.. But the shot came with dangerous side effects if she still had opiates in her system. They sat in the waiting room for five minutes, then 10, then 30. I need medicine, Amanda began to moan. Youre doing everything you can, she said. Its a story of addiction and redemption. You can do it after the shot, the nurse said. isitajewishholidaytoday.com. Libby came back into the garage, setting off the burglar alarm she had installed a few years earlier, after Amanda had helped a boyfriend steal $5,000 worth of guitars from Libbys husband. The very evening of her third day sober, Molly receives a call from the detox center. Her eyes were clear. A close look at one tragedy in rural Oklahoma As a recovering addict of 36 years I have been through a lot, seen a lot and learned a lot. But she pleads: this time will be different. She had vomit caked in her hair and welts rising on her legs in the places where shed been hitting herself. Amanda Wendler Obituary - Death: Amanda Wendler Today | Amanda Wendler Cause Of Death Amanda Wendler Obituary: In the loving memory of Amanda Wendler, we are saddened to inform you that Amanda Wendler, a beloved and loyal friend, has passed away. A man wielding a rifle opened fire on another man Monday afternoon at an undisclosed location on Arlington Road, killing him, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. The film based on Wendler's journey features a mother (played by numerous awards-winning actress Glenn Close) who helps her daughter (Golden Globe-nominated Mila Kunis) along the road to recovery after she unsuccessfully underwent several rehabilitation stints and even stole from her family to fuel her addiction. "I can't survive this" - 3 women share their stories about the real side effects of Ozempic for weight loss, Helen Mirren channels inner spring goddess with floral rabbit dress and candy pink headband, Make a kitchen look expensive on a budget, Delve into real women's inspiring stories, Look great and feel fabulous with our expert advice, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Libby Alexander, left, gives daughter Amanda money for food, sodas and cigarettes. Emory's Title IX resources can be found here. We're just six days away! Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Speaking together this week on a joint phone call Wendlerrelocated a few years ago to North Carolinathe real-life mother and daughter admitit was difficult to see some of their worst, most challenging momentsbeing acted out for the world to see. But now she having completed it acts as symbolism to her changed life. This was so stupid. "Clear-eyed and sober," read a report from one drug counselor, and so Amanda,. A resident of Los Angeles' Skid Row, Amanda got into sex work to provide a means of surviving on the streets. Five years after thatinitial Washington Post story, life is betterthan good, according to Wendler. On file we have 17 email addresses and 8 phone numbers associated with Amanda in area codes such as 313, 614, 715, 563, 812, and 2 other area codes. Soon you can breathe. ""That went on until I couldn't find the pain pills anywhere I turned to heroin," Wendler recalled. She tugged down her sleeves and put away the mirror. Yes. A few days earlier, a dentist had pulled all 28 of her teeth, which had decayed from years of neglect. This would mean that Molly was to wait for an additional three days after the initial task of four days. She said the test was mostly for record keeping. When you see the mannerisms, everything, (I was) like, 'Oh my God, how did she do this?,"' says Alexander, 60, of Close's acting. THE LIFESAVING TREATMENT THAT CAN REVERSE OPIOID OVERDOSE SYMPTOMS, "I got into a snowmobile accident around 16, and the doctor gave me Vicodin for the pain, and it just took off from there," Wendler told co-host Dana Perino. Shes just fine, was what Libby had always said, until eventually people stopped asking, which felt even worse. I always think I can save her.. A unique soul with a great personality has an amazing sense of humour, diligent and caring. I decided to do it because I knew it would help other people and just spread the word that addiction is in a lot of homes," she says. Nothing left to hide, Molly confesses that it was true but she had given the baby for adoption. She believed her only chance to stay sober was to take away the possibility of feeling high, so she had decided to pursue one of the newest treatments for heroin. She explained that the shot was an opiate antagonist. While my hobbies include playing football & video games, I'm a man of culture as well. Just that right there makes all this worthwhile., Says Alexander of her daughter:"Im so proud of Amanda for the courage and the kindness she has. Do you even know how many pairs of shoes youve lost or sold?, UNNATURAL CAUSES: SICK AND DYING IN SMALL-TOWN AMERICA. She had even tried an earlier version of the naltrexone shot a few years back, and it had helped her stay clean for five months until she relapsed. Molly says that Corey has a cold but Chloe is fine and Sean is thinking about letting her see the kids more and starting to trust her again. Since the turn of this century, death rates have risen for whites in midlife, particularly women. It was a monthly shot of a drug called naltrexone, which blocks the effects of opiates on the brain and makes getting high impossible. Libby stood up and walked into the kitchen. White women are dying faster all over America -- but what about where you live. Right now? Amanda said. When does this nightmare end?, Dead in a walmart parking lot , On our way to view her remains , My daughter was last seen around midnight . She had forced Amanda to take monthly drug tests and locked her out of the house. A Story of Truth, Lies and an American Addiction," which explained the strained relationship between a woman named Amanda Wendler and her mother Libby Alexander. Not long, Amanda told her, and then disappeared into the building. "I went to more than like 20 different rehabs, but with therapy and meetings, recovery is possible.". Amanda Wendler (25C) is from Westfield, New Jersey. No heroin? an acclaimed 2016Washington Post article. Amandas stepfather was in the study, playing chess online. It will be available to stream on-demand May 21. Libby wears a bracelet she bought in a fundraiser by her Facebook group for mothers of addicts. He previously worked freelance video production and writing jobs in Michigan, Georgia and Massachusetts. Moreover, she has lost custody of her children while failing to go sober 14 times. Amanda and Libbys story takes place in their hometown on the outskirts of Detroit. Nobody would hear her. There was a problem. Kunis and Close are vulnerable and emotionally raw, yet respectful, in their portrayals of Deb and Molly, the characters inspired by the real-life figures. Last month it was announced that the actress is slated to star in Netflix's adaptation of Luckiest Girl Alive, which she is also set to produce. A movie from 2020 starring Mila Kunis and Glenn Close is currently taking off on Netflix, but what is the true story behind Four Good Days? She watched a family shove their canoe into the lake. Above: Amanda Wendler, 31, rests on the couch in Farmington Hills, Mich. She is a recovering addict who lives at home with her mother and stepfather. Amanda's opiate addiction is stretching into its 11th year, and she struggles to stay clean. When they were hard to find, she turned to heroin and eventually ended up homeless. Okay. She's interviewed everyone from Kendall Jenner to Stella McCartney and can be found slinging back martinis in between watching archival runway shows. For most of the last week, she had been requesting time off from her job as a beautician, afraid of what could happen if she left Amanda alone. See you next Tuesday, she said, and then she hung up. As you can tell I'm an avid fan of Anime & Manga. Libby went into the bathroom and came out carrying a small bottle, and they drove together to a clinic wedged between a liquor store and a pharmacy near the Detroit River. Southwest Detroit had been Amanda's go-to neighborhood for heroin. The film is based on an article by Eli Saslow titled, Hows Amanda?A story of truth, lies and an American addiction (opens in new tab), which documents and young woman's struggle with heroin addiction and how her mother helped her. On the first day, Deb reminds Molly of all the problems she had caused while being an addict. Cant you see that?, The nurse walked away and then a few minutes later a doctor came out into the waiting room. Youve got to keep at it. I cried when I lived it. He told Amanda the hospital would take good care of her. The film, available startingFriday via video on demand, is an unblinkingly honest journey through a daughter's quest to stop using heroin after multiple failed attempts at rehab and a mother's struggle to trust her daughter again. Finally Amanda had been diagnosed with a severe kind of asthma, treated and sent home, and for the next year Libby had stood over her crib for a little while each night watching her breathe. Fury Of The Gods, Helen Mirren sported the most amazing spring-appropriate outfit, By Madeline Merinuk The film is adapted from an article published in the Washington Post by Pultizer Prize winning journalist Eli Saslow. When she's not wining and dining, Laura can also be found travelling, baking, and hiking with her dog. This shows us the severity of Mollys addiction as she has been an addict for over 10 years. Starring Glenn Close, and Mila Kunis, the film first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 25th January 2020. This better not be some kind of scheme, Libby said, but she also remembered this side of her daughter from before the addiction selfless, determined, enterprising, sometimes sneaking extra cash into the loans she handed out to desperate customers at the pawnshop. I can deal with the sudden withdrawal.. Just three or four to get going with the twins in the morning, to feed them, to sing to them, to feed them again, to sit and play all day in a lonely trailer out in Macomb. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Im seriously worried Im going to relapse, she heard Amanda say. But it will be available on Netflix from February 1st 2023. Maybe they would stay for a while in Texas. She felt for her wallet. "I thought I was watching my mom onscreen, she says. They tell her how there was some issue relating to Mollys insurance because of which she cannot get the opioid antagonist shot until Monday. I still never gave up hope that that she would turn her life around, Libby said. Four Good Days is a drama film that is based on the true-life story of Amanda Wendler (Molly) and Libby Alexander (Deb). https://insideeko.com/amanda-wendler-obituary-has-died-ama/ insideeko.com The relapse rate for heroin has been reported in various studies to be as high as 97 percent. I couldn't put down this excruciating tale of Amanda Wendler's struggle to get . Her left leg jolted forward and she almost fell to the curb. Nineteen hours now until her appointment. She had been an admitted opiate addict for 11 years, five months and 14 days, and on almost every one of those days she had promised to quit. Like the movie, the article predominantly focuses on Libby and Amanda's relationship and how her mother was impacted by her daughter's addiction. There was a banged-up dresser she had put into storage before moving into her first abandoned house. Later, in March 2021, the distribution rights in the US were acquired by Vertical Entertainment. I want this shot way more than you., How are you going to make it five days? Libby said, her tone softening. "It was pretty exciting that he was actually going to get this story out there for us.. Between their conversation, he happens to reveal how Molly had been pregnant. Wheres Sammy?. Amanda added on a positive note, "The one thing is you cannot quit quitting. Her daughter, Amanda Wendler, 35, agrees. The context of the story explores the very real victims of Americas opioid epidemic. She sat for hours until the sun descended over the water and then she got back in her car and drove home, resolved to seek help. This leads to a willingness to abandon the ones around us. She's now a freelance writer living in L.A. and writing a book of nonfiction essays. She saw something moving on the second floor. How many times had she filed a missing persons request? Each of these experiences is different for every person facing that struggle. I cant let go. This Account is Private. Molly and Deb having some Mother-Daughter time. Amanda Wendler right, speaks with Jay at a bridge where she once spent a couple fearful nights in Detroit, MI, on June 22, 2016. She sorted her nail polish and lit another cigarette. Libby heads for home after running errands with Amanda. I dont know where to draw the line, Libby said. Amanda Wendler, the inspiration behind the film 'Four Good Days,' joined 'America's Newsroom' to discuss her battle against opioid addiction and how she made recovery possible. Do you know how many times hes done that? Mary said. Four good months later. fine. The ending of Four Good Days reveals that the film is based on an article by The Washington Post (opens in new tab), about a real mother and daughter named Libby Alexander and Amanda Wendler. Libby had only been a mother for three months the first time Amanda got sick. Twelve minutes Amanda had been gone now. Deb takes Molly to the dentist to get false teeth to hide her rotting gums. All rights reserved. The film ends with them both sitting in the garage, sharing a poignant look and ripping up the puzzle to start again. The baby was turning blue. Hows Amanda ends with Libby and Amanda in the emergency room of a hospital seeking help for Amandas withdrawal. She lit a cigarette and sat down in the garage. When they get back home, Deb reveals how she was unhappy with Mollys dad, Dale. Published 3 March 23, While doing press for Shazam! Amanda Wendler and Libby Alexander, the real life daughter/mother that Mila Kunis and Glenn Close portray in the film FOUR GOOD DAYS, discuss addiction, the. Menu. I reside in Navi Mumbai. Just one or two to make it through another shift at work, a pawnshop where she stood behind the counter and gave addicts their $25 loans. (Photo By MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images) (Getty Images). The turbulent relationship between a Farmington Hills mother and daughter is being featured on the big screen. Theyre going fast.. Libby started to shake her head and bite her nails, cursing under her breath. Regret was a trigger. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Heroin abuse has quadrupled in the past decade. Were not bad people, were just sick people, she says. "He was always receptive to what we had to say," she . Amanda watches television as Libby brings in some cold drinks. A Story About The Last Hope, The Last Attempt, Nysa Devgan Before And After: Everything About Her Transformation, Who Is Joyce DeWitts Partner? Four Good Days tells the story of drug addict Molly and her attempts to get clean with the help of her mother. Shed searched for God at 12-step meetings and instead found new dealers. She's been addicted for 10 years, using heroin, oxycontin, methadone, crack, and vicodin, which has effectively dismissed and tarnished every relationship in her life. For the first time ever, I actually blocked him on my phone., See, thats the part Im no good at, Libby said. NARCAN is used to help revive opioid overdose victims. Amanda visits a dentist in Detroit while Libby watches nearby. Boredom, loneliness, anxiety, regret, shame, seeing how I havent gone up at all in my life when the drugs arent there, she had written. Throughout this emotional movie, Molly is faced with various obstacles that make her journey towards . Lately, Libby had been spending a few hours each day in a conversation group for addicts mothers. Pretty damn brave, Libby said, but now as she looked at her daughter she saw that her face was turning pale and there was sweat on her forehead. Much like in the film, the article sees Amanda move back in with her mother, tryand ultimately failto stay clean in the prospect of receiving a shot of an opioid antagonist. That night earlier in the week when she said she was going to sleep over with her twins? Amanda, a recovering drug addict featured in Mark Laita's YouTube series Soft White Underbelly, passed away on 9th May 2021. She wondered if she could find a ride into Southwest Detroit for one last $10 bag: the euphoria when the drug entered her bloodstream, the full-body tingling that moved in from her hands to her chest, erasing pain, erasing fear, erasing sadness, erasing anxiety and feelings of failure until finally the tingling stopped and the only thing left to feel was blissful numbness, just hours of nothing.