Mary Cosby is no stranger to emotional moments on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, but her recent heart-wrenching revelation about her son Robert Jr.’s battle with substance abuse has left fans both shocked and sympathetic. In the show’s Dec. 11 episode, Mary, the 52-year-old pastor and reality TV star, opened up to her close friend and costar, Angie Katsanevas, about the devastating toll her son’s addiction has taken on their family.

The emotional journey began earlier in the season, during a heart-breaking conversation between Mary Cosby and Robert Jr., who is now 21. In a vulnerable sit-down during the Nov. 27 episode, Mary Cosby confronted her son about his drug use. It was a conversation that would change the course of their relationship and reveal the depths of Robert Jr.’s struggles.

“He just told me blank, ‘Mom, I did drugs,'” Mary recounted, visibly shaken. Her son admitted to experimenting with a variety of substances, including heroin, Xanax, and LSD. “He was like, ‘Yeah, I tried this, I tried that, I’ve tried that,'” Mary recalled, highlighting the troubling extent of Robert Jr.’s experimentation.

As the conversation progressed, Robert Jr. revealed the painful truth that his drug use had escalated over time, eventually leading to addiction. “And then I started trying other stuff,” he told his mother, “and then I tried other stuff. And then at some point, he said it almost became an addiction.”

The devastation in Mary’s voice was palpable as she processed her son’s words. In a confessional, she broke down, reflecting on what she perceived as her failure as a mother. “What did I miss?” she asked, clearly overwhelmed by feelings of guilt. “Was I not paying enough attention at some point that he went that far to the point where he didn’t want to live? And where did I not secure him so he knows his worth?”

The conversation turned even more emotional when Mary Cosby revealed a shocking statement that her son had made to her during a particularly dark time in his life. “At one point, I didn’t want to live,” Robert Jr. confessed, explaining that his mother was the only reason he chose to stay alive. “He was like, ‘Mom, I felt like a stain,'” Mary recalled, her voice quivering with pain.

The anguish Mary felt was heartbreaking. In an emotional confessional, she continued, “It’s hard, it’s really hard. To just, as a parent, you feel like you failed.” The weight of the situation clearly weighed on her, as she struggled to reconcile her own feelings of guilt with the reality of addiction. “But it’s my responsibility if he comes to me and he says he wants help,” Mary added, her determination to support her son evident. “It’s my responsibility to make sure he gets it. And whatever I have to do to do it, I’m gonna do it.”

Throughout the emotional conversation, Mary’s close friend, Angie, did her best to provide comfort and perspective. Angie, who has become a reliable source of support for Mary on the show, tried to reassure her that she was not to blame. “You did all the right things, Mary, but that could happen to anyone,” Angie told her friend, emphasizing that addiction is a disease, and no one could have predicted its destructive impact.

Despite Angie’s words of comfort, Mary remained inconsolable. She could not shake the feeling that, as a mother, she had somehow failed her only child. Her internal struggle reflects the complex nature of addiction, where even the most well-intentioned parents often feel helpless in the face of their children’s struggles.

Mary Cosby’s heartbreaking journey brings to light the reality of addiction, a topic that is often stigmatized but affects countless families. Angie’s words resonate deeply: “Addiction is real. It’s a disease.” While the road to recovery is never easy, Mary’s willingness to take responsibility for her son’s well-being is a testament to the strength of a mother’s love.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on Bravo.