Our Story

My name is Angela Traymon, and my life is a reflection of resilience, recovery, and purpose. I spent a period of my life in active addiction, but in 2006, I made the life-changing decision to get sober. Since then, I have lived a life of recovery, knowing that sobriety is maintained one day at a time.

While continuing my own recovery journey, I faced one of the most painful experiences a mother can endure. In 2000, I discovered that my son, Rysean, had begun using cocaine and was struggling with addiction. Over the years, he went through inpatient treatment programs, recovery court, and every intervention available to help him fight his addiction. In 2020, I learned that my son had begun using heroin. Later that same year, tragedy struck when Rysean passed away from a fentanyl overdose.

The loss of my son left me devastated and brokenhearted. Despite the overwhelming grief, and even after many years of sobriety, I did not return to the streets or substances that once controlled my life. Instead, I struggled daily to remain sober and to understand how to keep going after such a profound loss.

In 2021, I chose to turn my pain into purpose by founding a nonprofit organization called Rysean’s Awareness Day. The organization was created to provide resources, help individuals access and stay in treatment, support families affected by addiction and mental health challenges, and work to reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorders.

Today, more than 21 years later, I remain sober and committed to my recovery. I work in the mental health field and continue to dedicate my time and energy to Rysean’s Awareness Day. 

Through advocacy, education, and support, I strive to honor my son’s legacy while helping others find hope, healing, and compassion in the face of addiction.

We take a holistic approach to mental health, addressing not only the symptoms of mental illness and substance use disorder but also the underlying causes and contributing factors.