National audiences were introduced to the personal side of New Hampshire’s opioid and heroin crisis at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night in Philadelphia.
In front of a packed convention hall, grandmother and Keene, N.H., resident Pam Livengood shared her family’s story about drug addiction.
Four years ago, Livengood started taking near full-time care of her then-2-year-old grandson Francis because her daughter — Francis’ mother — was battling an addiction to drugs.
Livengood’s story burst onto the national stage last year when Clinton made her first New Hampshire campaign stop in Keene at Whitney Brothers — Livengood’s employer.
She recalled how Clinton said she had been hearing a lot about the national problem with substance abuse and was wondering aloud whether anyone on her Keene roundtable had a family member struggling with addiction.
“I live it every day,” Livengood told the former secretary of state as she raised her hand.
Livengood first started taking care of her grandson after she started getting calls from the Division for Children, Youth and Families.
“They (said), ‘Look, we’re going to take Francis if someone else doesn’t step in,’ ” she said.
Francis is 6 now, getting ready to go to first grade in one of Keene’s elementary schools. His grandmother describes him as a smart, active kid who loves people and exploring the outdoors.
“He’s such an outgoing little boy, he just loves us,” she said. “He’s all excited he’s going to first grade. He’s a brain.”
Francis’ mother is also doing much better now. She is in recovery and has a job.
“She’s doing great,” Livengood said.
Livengood said she was shocked and flattered when she got a request from the Democratic National Committee to speak at the convention.
“It was a flurry,” she said. “I’m so excited.”
Livengood is an avid Clinton supporter. She describes the former secretary of state as an incredibly warm and attentive listener.
“She is not cold, she spoke to me and when I spoke to her, she looked in my eyes and she listened,” Livengood said. “It was so cool, I loved meeting her.”
She said she’s thrilled to be able to speak on the same stage as the first female nominee for president.