River Phoenix's mom reflects on the pain of losing her son in heart-wrenching ... trends now
Arlyn 'Heart' Phoenix, the mother of the late actor River Phoenix, has paid tribute to him on what would have been his 53rd birthday.
Heart, 78, took to Instagram on Wednesday (August 23rd) to remember her son - who fatally overdosed on a combination of cocaine and heroin in 1993 at the age of 23 - and insisted that he is "very much alive in me.'
She wrote: 'August 23, 1970...one of the most amazing days of my life...bringing Earthbound a living being...truly a touch of the most sacred. Just as he tried to do with most people, River Jude embraced each of his siblings (who entered through the same portal after him) with his humor, wisdom, authenticity, talent, compassion, vulnerability and undying Love. I would say he was and still is our greatest teacher.
'The greatest pain I experienced in my life was the pain of natural childbirth and even tho quite different, the pain of my son's passing. But almost instantaneously on both occasions, the gifts that he brought were imbued in each of us and so we carry on celebrating his life for those 23 precious years.'
'There are no guarantees in life and I don't believe any of us were promised that we would not experience 'tragic moments'. I count it one of the greatest blessings by living in the moment and drawing upon inner knowing as a sacred pathway to navigate through life's many challenges. River's life and death taught me that, in no uncertain terms. I am in awe of the fact that he is very much alive in me. Thank you for all the precious messages that I have received through these past 30 years.'
Birthday Tribute: Arlyn 'Heart' Phoenix, the mother of the late actor River Phoenix, posted a heartwarming tribute to him on Instagram on what would have been his 53rd birthday on Wednesday
Tribute: The late River Phoenix passed away on Halloween 1993 outside of the Los Angeles venue The Viper Room after a fatal overdose on a combination of cocaine and heroin
The Phoenix Family: At the time of his death in 1993, River was survived by his mother Heart, his father John, and four younger siblings (listed from oldest to youngest): sister Rain, brother Joaquin, sister Liberty, and sister Summer
The photo that Heart shared on her Instagram account was a candid shot that showed a young River with a guitar hanging from his shoulder. The image appeared to be taken in 1988 based on the timestamp.
River died in the early morning of Halloween 1993 outside the Los Angeles venue The Viper Room, after he collapsed.
River's girlfriend, the actress Samantha Mathis, and his younger brother, actor Joaquin Phoenix, were among those present at
