Hello, my name is Sarah Jackson I am the Chief Executive Director of Unity Inspired and Co-Founder of a non-profit Thrive to Inspire. I entered the substance use field in 2004 working with males that were falling through the cracks of our criminal justice system due to addiction. My “Why” is my only sibling, and my younger brother Foster. He gets all the credit as to “Why” Unity Inspired focus is to advocate and support this population. The foundation of “Why” Unity Inspired adopted our Vision and Mission.
My brother Foster and I grew up in an environment where addiction was prevalent, and dysfunctional family dynamics were present and visible. Creating childhood trauma leaving us both to fight inner battles which looked different in both of us. It led us both down a path of anger, anxiety, self-hatred, struggling to form healthy relationships, feelings of rejection, never fitting in, dropping out of school, and ultimately down the road of substance use ourselves.
Foster ended up dropping out of high school, leaving home to hitchhike state to state. He struggled many years of resentments, feelings of abandonment, low self-esteem, homelessness, and addiction. Finding himself in a behavioral pattern that led to one legal charge after another, never getting the help he needed to heal.
Years later he found himself facing felony charges of manufacturing and distribution of a control substance in Texas. The Judge granted him pretrial release, and transferred his supervision to Lancaster County in Lincoln NE. While awaiting trial, he managed to maintain sobriety, attending NA groups, and became very involved in the recovery community. He, himself, becoming a sponsor to support others in recovery, eventually starting to work in a men’s sober transitional living house. His determination to change his life’s direction, showed the Judge he was actively moving toward change and gave him 10 years’ supervised release instead of federal incarnation. He gave my brother a chance to Heal, Rebuild, Empower, and Thive in his own life. He remained sober for many years. Traveling around the USA helping others find their path to healing, as was known in the Rainbow Family as Shepard. His way to remain healing was to help others, which he did up until he was taken from this earth too soon.
My brother passed away at the age of 46 years old on 4/10/2025 National Siblings Day, due to long term complication of Hepatitis B contracted from IV drug use, final stage of Liver failure due to liver cirrhosis from alcohol use, and a late diagnosis of Hemochromatosis. The damage it caused his liver, and the negligence of our Healthcare system that disregarded his symptoms and complaints for well over a year, that turned out to be liver cancer moving throughout his entire body finally into his bloodstream. He passed away less than 7 days after being delivered this heart shattering news. I will never forget his face nor the heartbreaking plea to not let him die in that hospital bed like an animal. He was able to pass away at home on his 5 acres of land he was so proud of, his dogs, and his family.
He has always been my “why” I dedicate myself to this cause and like so many other sister’s/brothers that are fighting so diligently to get our loved one’s help. We know bad choices do not equal a bad person. Untreated trauma lives in males too, and the prison system isn’t the way to treat mental health.
Working with individuals currently incarcerated facilitating clinical classes, I found myself unsure if I could continue. I had dedicated my life around him. I knew he’d want me to continue just like he would’ve continued his to keep my legacy alive. This is my way of always getting to share his story to others in hope of knowing recovery is not only possible its worth the journey.
Just as in Peter Pan I will always look for second star remembering him just as he wanted to, whimsical, and loved living a life that escaping the monotonous life. He most definitely had Peter Pan Syndrome and I struggling with Wendy Syndrome together we were quite a pair. He was never meant to conform to social norms. His traveling was exactly what he needed to help him heal, while touching so many others that come across his path.
RIP Foster Ross aka Shepard, I love you more than you could ever know. Until we meet again, I will continue to look for my second star in the sky.
