2-14-68 -6-20-18. JRB So unreal. A sweet kind man stolen from his daughters, his family and friends. A terrible shame. We love you.

Posted 01/07/2018

We need to pay tribute to the number 41000 drug overdoses that occurred in 2015 Including national figures and very average People . We need to remember all those who lost their lives from OD May god Rest Their Souls in Peace Let's strive to eradicate this evil of drug Addiction once and for all .

To my incredibly courageous, loving, and wonderful nephew Greg Devon better known to me as Boo . . .without you, we are lost and without you life is incomplete. You will always be in my heart and I can’t wait for the day I see you again and you flash that beautiful smile at me and I see all the pain and suffering erased from your face. Knowing you are finally not struggling with the pain and torture of this devil drug helps and knowing you are in the most beautiful place helps and remembering that I will see you again gives me strength. You are and always will be my Boo! Love you so so much!

This is for my daughter Lindsay. Lost you Thanksgiving day this year. My heart is broken. I know you fought this battle for several years. My baby girl your battle is now over and I pray that there is no more unhappiness for you. Read one of the last msgs in your phone saying how you hated dope. Love you. I will see you on the other side my lil girl. Momma

Posted 31/12/2018

I lost my sweet Brandon on April 26, 2013 to a heroin overdose. The day he died, a part of me died with him! My life will NEVER be the same without him! Such a senseless waste of life! He was such a loving & caring person. He loved his family very much! Because he came from such a loving family, I would never have thought that he would turn to drugs. But it seems that heroin has no mercy, and it affects people from ALL walks of life! Rich, poor, young, old, etc...........Something needs to be done to put a stop to our losing our loved ones, to this horrible addiction! I can't think of ANYTHING worse than losing your child, and my heart goes out to all the parents who are "walking in the same shoes" as me. The guilt, why, and what-if's that consume our minds, is often unbearable! I try to find peace in knowing that my son is no longer suffering with the pain and anguish of his addiction. Instead, he is at peace with his Lord. Still-I miss him SO much! It has been 2 years since he passed away-yet I still think about him each and every day! NOBODY knows the pain, unless they've been there! He was 29 years old when he passed away-but he was still my baby! My thoughts and prayers go out to ALL those, who have lost a loved one to an overdose!

My 26-year-old son, Kyle Fisher-Hertz, died in September of 2016, leaving behind a 2-year-old daughter still crying for her dada, a bereft girlfriend, shattered sisters, parents and other relatives, as well as countless heartbroken friends  Kyle died alone in a hotel bathroom, where he was trying to get in one more shot before being asked to leave; the toxicology report did not show Fentanyl in his system -- heroin can be deadly all on its own.

Prior to becoming an addict, Kyle was a brilliant, popular student who had majored in creative writing and enrolled in a neurobiology program; he was a City Year teacher elected to give his class-graduation speech; he was a rock-climbing enthusiast who climbed Mt. Ranier; and most importantly, he was a kind, generous, compassionate young man who sought out volunteer opportunities, gave thoughtfully personalized gifts to family members, and devised delightfully inventive ways to express his tremendous romanticism and love of life.

From early childhood until he was 16 and started using drugs, Kyle performed stand-up comedy on several television shows and in multiple comedy clubs in New York City. Kyle was a gifted writer and a poet -- as well as a pizza-delivery guy, a coffee shop barrista, a waiter, a tutor, a non-profit researcher, and a rental-car agent with stellar sales skills; even after he became an addict, he won accolades as every company's best employee -- right up until the time he relapsed, betrayed his employers' and family's trust, and let everyone, most especially himself, down -- again.

Once he crossed the line and began using hard drugs (starting with crack when he was 21 and then moving on to heroin and meth after his new rehab friends gave him a taste), he was never able to find his way back to believing in his own future, despite repeatedly working a 12-step program and completing multiple inpatient and outpatient rehab programs. Kyle eventually recognized he had a brain disease and mental-health disorder but often failed to follow-through with the medical treatments that were helping him stay clean. He had been so smart, successful, and blessed throughout his life, that he believed he could outsmart hard drugs and then the recommended treatment protocols, but he couldn't.  He thought he could beat his medical issues without medicine, but he couldn't. He thought he could try addictive drugs that destroyed others' lives and not become addicted nor destroy his own life, but he couldn't. Once he was an addict, he tore pieces of his own flesh out of his once-beautiful face while on meth and betrayed all his own values, friends, and family members in order to get drugs.  Kyle thought one day he would get clean and write about his experiences, but instead he got high over and over until he wrote less and less often, and until drugs became his only subject. Even after many of his friends had died, Kyle thought he was smart enough that he could definitely avoid giving himself an accidentally lethal dose -- but he wasn't and he couldn't, and now he is dead.

Bit by bit, all of us who loved him were forced to watch him destroy his own golden, promising life until finally he took with him the hope and joy of all of us who are crushed by his awful and permanent absence. Despite years of arrests, accidents, injuries, and disappointments, we had never stopped hoping.  Kyle was still young, lucky and hard-working -- so when he died he was healthy and strong from six months of recovery; his facial scars had healed; he had once again become a caring son, attentive grandson, loving brother, sweet boyfriend, and, for the first time, a devoted and adored father; he had also mercifully retained his quick wit, razor-sharp sense of humor and keen intelligence; white privilege had kept him out of jail, and he still could have done anything -- absolutely anything -- with his life. He had many supportive friends; everyone in his family loved him desperately, forgave him everything, and prayed for him to stay well. Instead, he despaired of ever being able to succeed as a functioning adult free of the terrible cravings that consumed him -- even though anti-depressants and opioid-blocking medicine had helped free him of those cravings in the past. So when Medicaid wouldn't cover the medicine that had helped him stay clean and optimistic before (as Medicaid does not in 25 out of 50 states), Kyle relapsed, overdosed and died.

Despite the tragically commonplace way his life ended, Kyle was once truly special; he had a brilliance about him that everyone who knew him could see when he was a boy.  Through therapy, he’d realized that his own gifts made him feel pressured and afraid to be anything short of extraordinary -- which led him to doubt himself to such a degree that in the end he died the most pathetically ordinary way, like 20,000 other overdosed addicts will die this year. Before he died, Kyle hoped he would one day be well enough to help hundreds of other addicts find their way; he hoped to set a great example.  Instead, we can only hope now that his life may serve as a cautionary tale.

Please, if you are an addict reading this, do not give up; the help you need exists, even if you have tried many things and haven't found the thing that will work yet.  Do not believe that you have failed if any one thing -- meetings, medicine, therapy, prayer -- doesn't save you; if the one thing isn't working, keep adding things until you are living the full, rewarding life you and your loved ones deserve you to live.  I know Kyle would want that for as many addicts as possible, just as we wanted it for him.  Please, let me know someday that hearing this made a difference for you, helped you hang on another day, motivated you to move to a state that covered the medicine you needed to stay alive, kept you going until slowly you came to believe you could do it. I have to believe this can happen for some of you.  Please tell me if it can and has. More importantly, please tell another addict.  My world is so dark right now without Kyle’s bright light; I am counting on you to lead me back to hope.

Christopher, In 2013 I was posting on Facebook about how happy I was that I no longer had to worry about my best friend and how many emotions rush over you when your troubled friend is now able to give you a new, peaceful, positive perspective on life. Unfortunately, that was a time in history that did not have the strength to last through the storms. You are gone now, as of last week. 30 years old, two beautiful children, a family so sweet and so sincere and so loving to you. You were a sensitive man, always humble, always wishing the best for the people you loved. You never stopped trying, but you couldn't do it alone and some of us weren't strong enough to face the harsh reality which was our relationship with you. I know you always had the best intentions, and I know that you seeked forgiveness that you never thought would come. There's nothing quite as honorable yet gut wrenching and heart breaking as it was to deliver a eulogy at my best friends funeral. I heard so many beautiful things about you that I will cherish forever. This doesn't seem real still, but your final goal was to help people get clean and to teach people what a horrible drug heroin is. You lost your love, Elizabeth & you couldn't handle the deliberate attacks online. You relapsed a few days later and now you are gone. In your honor, I am going to work with the local prevention service centers, shelters, rehabs, churches etc to raise awareness & to remember all of the loved ones lost. I wish you could be here to help me prepare what I hope to be a beautiful, annual event in Canton, Ohio. You would have the best things to say. Please be with me. I love you, everyday.

On March 1st 2018, I lost my oldest son SCOTT ALLEN CROSS TO A FENTANYL OVER DOSE. HE WILL FOREVER BE 27. SINCE YOU LEFT US SCOTT AND GAINED YOUR ANGEL WINGS YOU ARE MISSED AND THOUGHT OF EVERY DAY. YOUR KIDS SKYLER AND ALTHEA ARE GETTING VERY BIG. ALTHEA IS TALKING A BLUE STREAK SCOTT. SHE IS VERY SMART. SHE KNOWS HER ABC'S AND COUNTS TO 20. KNOWS HER COLORS AND CAN NAME VEHICLES BY LOOKING AT THEIR PICTURES. SKYLER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SMART KID. THEY BOTH MISS THEIR DADDY SO MUCH. EVERYONE WHO KNOWS YOU LOVES YOU AND MISSES YOU. YOUR PICTURE IS BEING ADDED TO THE OVERDOSE AWARENESS VAN IN MEMORY OF YOU. YOUR SISTER NICOLE MISSES YOU VERY MUCH AND IS CONTINUING TO STAY SOBER AFTER 7 MONTHS. CHUCK AND I KEEP OUR HEADS UP, BECAUSE OF ALTHEA. YOUR STRUGGLE IS OVER. WATCH OVER YOUR KIDS AND SEND US SIGNS SO WE KNOW YOUR AROUND. WE MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU SCOTT. LOVE ALWAYS MOM Posted 11/07/2019

This is for all my friends that are now gone. I miss you. While you just slipped away and went into eternal sleep you left all your loved ones behind to wonder what we could have done to change things. I now see the change was within you. I recently have been face to face with this HORRIBLE MONSTER, as my own daughter was using. I chose to fight this Devil and pull her back. But still every single day I'm scared to death for her. Alexis

To my Dad, the amazing man with the heroin addiction. 16 years gone and it still hurts. We miss you.

On August 7th 2009 I lost my sister to an accidental overdose. This year will mark ten years since she left us. It is still hard. And somehow it doesn’t end. She knew the dangers of course and sought in her life to be a light to those in the darkness of heroin addiction. They didn’t call it an opioid epidemic back then. But we had friends we were losing to heroin one in 2002 another in 2003. Kelly tried to give these people safe spaces Spaces without judgement she had been aware of the heroin issue. She had not I am afraid been aware of the prescription drug issue. Following a car accident in 2007 Kelly had reconstructive surgery on her leg and was given first Vicodin for pain management then perc 5 then Finally perc 10. Kelly would not take the entire prescription but sold some of it to make extra money on her birthday August 6th she refilled her prescription and a deadly combination of drinking and prescription drugs took her life in the early morning hours following her birthday. Kelly’s biological father died from a heroin overdose and again friends close to us died from heroin overdoses. We and she were well aware of the dangers of heroin. But not her prescription drugs. We did not understand the level she was at with taking them. We didn’t act fast enough. We had indications maybe a month or two before that there was an issue but it seemed like having seen her just before this happened that she had it under control and was sorting out the issues waiting for a prescription for a pain patch instead of relying on medication. This resource, the pain patch was approved the day Kelly died. Not much was spoken about the opioid epidemic as it is now called when Kelly died. I’m glad they speak about it now. Since Kelly I have lost a friend at work this year to what I believe may have been very similar circumstances though the family would not say. And a childhood friend had to bury her daughter this past weekend because of a heroin overdose. It all too much really. Too many taken from us for nothing at all. If we can stop one person from ingesting this poison that would be everything. Posted 02/07/2019

Calvin Cali Cal Kendricks Jr you are my life! I miss you every second of every of every second! I’m sorry someone decided to sell you Fentanyl, You didn’t even have a fighting chance, that is murder! 6/17/88-3/16/17. I miss love and miss you I can’t wait to see you again! Love Mom!💜💜 Posted 13/07/2019

My son past away April 22 2017. I would like to make a tribute in his name.

Coram

I Miss him so much. Why

I almost lost my first born to relapse overdose last week, and had the unbelievable privilege to see Narcan work  it's miracle.  I am so, forever and always, thankful to the new awareness to this disease, as pill form opiate addiction almost took me also. Let's just keep this new unjudgemental pace of awareness going, it's working miracles every moment.  And may all who have paid the ultimate price to the disease of addiction finally R.I.P.  If you need names this is dedicated to Cortney and Andrew.

Sweet Child of Mine, Miss and love you every minute of every day my beautiful, talented, sweet, smart, handsome forever 21 year old son, Zack (8/25/89-5/1/11)! There are no words to express the loss... I love you Z, Mom

Planted in loving memory Rachel O'Dette loved eternally by mother Myra Lazarowitz Odette
Kathy loves you always.

Worcester MA USA

My beautiful Samantha lost her battle with addiction on March 1, 2016. Her battle was quick and intense. My Sam was intelligent, quick witted and had a fantastic giggle. People loved her instantly. Although she lost her battle with the addiction she won this war because she is free of the addiction now. I have a beautiful guardian angel. My Sam you will always be young, you will always be beautiful! Samantha Lee 03/27/95-03/01/16

My loving husband Jason passed on Feb. 11, 2017 from an overdose. He had been battling an opioid addiction since he suffered a debilitating work injury. Jason was know as a gentle giant and loved life. He idolized his step children, our grandchildren, and god son. His favorite times were hanging out with friends and playing with the kids. Once he was injured, this all changed. We all tried to help him through this and at one point I thought he was getting better. My love, I will not let your death be in vain. If I can save one person, one family from having to go through this, then your death will have some purpose. I miss you and love you and would have done anything to help you get better. Watch over all of us my green lantern. You will always be my superhero. St. Louis Missouri USA

To my beautiful baby sister Haley. May you be free from life's struggles and dependency. It was devastating to see such an amazing young woman get caught up in such a cruel situation. She was strong, brave and honestly fighting for her life back. The chains of drug addiction can be unforgiving and she just couldn't set herself free. At the young age of just 21 she passed away and now lies in peace. I love you Haley and can now only dream of you sharing special moments with me. May your mind be still and your dependency be relieved. You have shown me the value of life and how to manifest its gifts daily. Thinking of you always.

I lost my 22 year old daughter  on Aug23 2014. I love you Ali Kat,  and miss you so much. We miss your funny and loving ways. You are our precious angel  in heaven and will be foever in our hearts. Please watch over those still fighting the battle,  that they may find the strength to beat this.  RIP, my angel,forever loved!

My daughter, Elizabeth, lost her battle when she was 23 years old in 2016, one day after leaving another 28 day rehab program. Rest with the angels my sweet girl. We will always miss your beautiful voice and your quirky sense of humor. Love you to the moon and back. Always, Mommy xoxo

Two days ago my 22 year old son, Geoff, found his lifelong best friend, Zakk, dead of a heroin overdose. He called 911 and tried CPR but it was too late. Now, Geoff is helping the family plan the funeral. As a mom, I feel profound sadness for my son; that he is having to go through this and will live the rest of his life with that memory. I also miss Zakk desperately -- he was like another son to me and went with us on vacations and day trips and when we ate out. His birthday would have been the 24th and my younger son's is the 25th and we always celebrated their birthdays together. This year's celebration won't feel like much of a celebration. No parent should have to bury their child 2 days before their 23rd birthday.   Zakk was a beautiful kid, patient and kind and showing so much love. He always kissed me on the cheek when he saw me and would say "Hello, Beautiful!". His internal struggles weren't always apparent on his smiling face. Heroin is an awful drug and so much more needs to be done about prevention and helping addicts escape it's grip. We are losing an entire generation of young people to something that consumes and destroys their lives.

May they all rest in peace in the arms of our Lord. God bless all of us here on earth.

To my sister and her 3 sons you all left me because of drugs. I was so made at God and you when you left, could not understand why he would take all of you.Josh my sisters youngest son was murdered because of drugs 12 years ago he was only 25 and my sister shortly after she couldn't fight her demons anymore.I almost gave up when you both left me still fighting the depression and health problems it caused then sept. 2014 drugs took your other 2 boys the holidays are coming i miss you all so much i will always love all of you more then you will every know.I still blame myself some how thinking i could save all of you if i had been a better sister,if i had been a better aunt if i would of spent more time with you.i think all of us feel that when you loose some one we love.I will smile and try to live me life happy for all of you because i know thats what you would want.Till we meet again remember how much i love all of you and miss you so much your sister and aunt Peggy Cincinnati Ohio

To Simone I will always remember your warmth, openness and your love for your brother, husband and dogs.

To my daughter Amber......you left us too soon. Armani, Brenda and I miss you so much and wish with all our hearts.....you were here. WE LOVE YOU HONEY.

Posted 07/08/2018

Missing my Tigger

Grants Pass Oregon USA

My beautiful darling man Edward Matthew West (Eddie), died aged 49 years in Hastings, East Sussex, United Kingdom following an 18 year battle with addiction.  You will always be in my heart and thoughts, I miss you every day baby, and whilst the pain of losing you is just unbearable at times, the memories of the wonderful times we spent together will give me the strength to carry on. Always and forever, your chubster xxxxx

Too many friends/family to name. :(  May they RIP.

In loving memory of my son, Marco John Grande. 5/23/89-8/29/16 We love you and miss you every day! Forever in our hearts! Chestertown, Md

RIP

In Memory of my beautiful sister SHELLEY MADDEN who passed away February 21, 2004 at the age of 22. You are loved and missed more than you could ever imagine. My condolences to all the other families and friends who have also lost loved ones. They live on forever in our hearts. Christine Posted 07/06/2019

I send this in memory of my beloved son David P Borandi. He died from Heroine/fetanyl/codeine mix. He was my only child. Parents who go through this die two deaths, one when their child begins to use, the battle of while they are using and then the ultimate death, when they die completely. It's a devastating reality, you are never the same again.

Pittsburgh, PA

Christine Allen I love you mom, more than you will ever know. Carrie Allen

Austin - it's still hard to believe you are gone, how did this happen? You were such a caring, inquisitive, funny, talented soul who affected so many lives in a positive way while dealing with your own struggles. I wish I could have done more to help you. You were so brave! I know your spirit is with us, but there will always be a hole in my heart for you. We all miss you and all that you were, so much, my son. Metal always.  

Justin Dean B. lost his battle on September 20, 2017. He was 25 years old. Walkertown, NC

I lost my beautiful first born Jamie on 20/01/2105 10 days before his birthday from drug toxicity....you fought the devil for the better half of 10 years and tried so hard to be relieved of the overwhelming sadness the hideous drug always left you with. I always had that fear of you being taken away from us/me but never wanted to face that possibility. I hate the nights full of dread and gut wrenching reality that plagues me no end. I love you with all my heart and miss you every day and just beg the Lord that we will see each other again. When you died I died too. The only reason I don't join you is your brothers need their mother too, especially now. We have all changed and will never be the same as we were before you left us. I pray you have found peace and are loved and cared for by God and family that has passed. Not a moment goes by I don't have you in my heart. We've loved you for a thousand years.......All my heart....all my love Always. Your mum Michelle.

I lost my brother John Yost to a heroin overdose, March 12, 2009. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him. "I do this work to end the common thinking that addiction and overdose won't happen in your family. If it happened to my brother, it can happen to yours." My quote on the Stop Overdose IL fliers for the upcoming event on August 30, 2014. John was a very loving person who cared so much about us and didn't want to be a slave to this drug. He struggled for almost half of his life with his addiction. Going in and out of rehabs, jail and on the streets. Then just like most people who die from this, he used one last time. He was clean as far as we knew and died at 30 years old. It saddens me that we'll never get to see him get married or have kids or we'll never grow old together, but I know that he's at peace now. I can't imagine how horrible it was for him day in and day out to try and conquer it. In the end heroin won! We need people to get educated! I've met so many people in other organizations that have been through this or are going through it now. We need to get the people who it's not affecting educated. These are the ones that think, "Nope, it'll never be my kid". Look around, the kids who are dying are your cheerleaders, football, baseball, basketball players! It's no longer the face of the dirty junkie in the alley in downtown Chicago. It's our children who need the education but you the parent need to know about it first.

On August 28th, 2016 I lost my closest family member to heroin.  He was a father, an uncle, a brother, a son, and a loyal friend.  In February 2016, I found him overdosed and we were able to get help and save his life.  He refused rehab.  I held him that night after he was released from the hospital.  He was afraid to close his eyes because he feared death would come in his sleep.  I stayed with him for 2 days listening to his heart beat while he slept because I feared for his life myself.  I finally had to work so he was left alone for a couple hours, he called an addict friend and they got high off of pcp.  That night he was asked to leave his family's home and moved in with that same addict friend.  I made sure to tell him how much I love him and I'd help him when he was ready to accept it, then I stepped out of his life for the health of my own.  Still talked but at an arms length, still loved each other, still would do anything for him, and still had hope.  Now we are just still, frozen in time and broken.  So today someone will read this, someone will tear up, someone will understand this torturous pain that has overtaken our family.  Someone will also deny the power of these words and the truth within them.  And they will use again.

In loving memory of my beautiful daughter Amanda Angelucci  who lost her battle with addiction on October 1, 2015. I miss you every second of every day. I miss your larger-than-life personality your smile your laughter your presence. You are now forever at peace in the arms of The Lord. Sleep with angels baby girl until we meet again. Love You. Forever Amanda's mom?

My Oldest sister passed on May 28th 2016, she was going to be 50 in just a few short months, she lost her battle of addiction, and her and her boyfriend both overdosed and died together. It breaks my heart knowing what a beautiful person she was, loving and kind just a lost soul who never found her way back to us after many years of addiction. I will always love you for the person I knew you to be, not the person the drug made you into , my love will always remain the same. I will never forget you or your struggle and I will always try to help others in your memory. I love and miss you with each passing day, and hope you are free from pain and heartache. Love Always your little sister Tia

To my child's father, who passed away due to a heroin overdose,
I wish you would have asked for help. Instead of denying this pain. I wish you could have came to me, without fear. I wish you could take it back, because I know that wherever you are, your heart is breaking watching the pain your son is enduring. Please know that while I am angry, and devastated, my heart breaks for you, especially you in your final moments, over and over and over. I hope you find peace along your way, as I will try to provide that for the boy that has been left behind.

Pa

I wish you were still here Taryn. The world is darker without you.

My Son  Kevin, We think of you every single day!! There are no words to express the love we all shared with you . Love was not enough to keep you on this earth with your family. Daily I think maybe just maybe there was one more thing we all could of done. We all tried to save you.. If only so called friends came forth, maybe that would of made a difference.. We miss you so much Kevin. I truly wish this could be seen by you in heaven..  Tears flow every day & those tears spell your name... We have so many if only!!! My wish would be that no other parent or brother, sister, son, or daughter gets a knock on their door with the news we received on 8/6/14.. Some days it just doesn't seem possible.. You had so much to live for. I truly wish you had found the strength to follow the path of sobriety..We will never have the answers. Kevin you are lovingly remembered daily!!! We love you forever & ever!!! Love Mom

I lost my father Jeff Fowler to a heroin overdose on Jan.20th 2015 he is very sadly missed

circleville

On September 7 2015 Our beautiful daughter,mommy,sissy, granddaughter auntie, Felisha "LaRae" Jackson-Hatch Our beautiful angel was injected w Fentanyl n Heroin by 2 evil people who she thought was her friends..Her oldest daughter ran inside to find her mommy face down in an ashtray w a cigarette still burning then called her grandpa who stayed on the phone w her till he drove to our first born baby girl ..it took him less than 2 minutes to get to her then her dad worked on her for 25 minutes and has nightmares of this whole overdose of our daughter LaRae forever 28 yrs old left behind 3 beautiful girls ages 9,6 & 2 ,2 brothers 25,12 & 1 sister 23.. LaRae was a great mommy n was so proud she had a new niece and loved her very much..We are still waiting to hear from the FBI on her murder.. RIP OUR SWEET ANGEL F.L.J.H forever 28

To my cuz I’m so sorry you’ve been taken so young and so unfairly my heart is shattered you’ll always be remembered Untell we meet again 😔❤

To Mike Rodrigo, (Oakdale) my husband. I wish your tortured soul has finally found peace! Unfortunately, your drug addiction caused so much grief and pain to so many people. I hope you are finally at peace!

Today I watched my mother and grandparents cry out in pain as my brother lay in a casket at his viewing. Michael was only 23 years old when heroin capsules with fentanyl ended his life. All it took was one time to end all his potential; his hopes and dreams. My mother, an RN for almost 30 years, was at home when she heard him fall in the family room. 911 was called and during this time she did CPR while spitting out her own sons vomit, fighting desperately for his life. Narcan was administered 12 times but it could not save his life. His 4 year old nephew adored him. When I would drop my son off for babysitting, on the way home he would tell me about how he and "uncle bike" played baseball out in the yard, went sword fighting or pretended to be pirates hunting for buried treasure. All I ever wanted for you was to find happiness. To find your place in the world and put your habits behind you in the past. But I have lost you to addiction and now I am left behind to pick up the pieces. You were so loved and I wish we could have saved you.