Voices
To be truly loved is to live forever in someone’s heart.
Every day is concluded with a prayer.
Looking to the stars,
I thank the great Creator for providing me this life to live.
We are all blessed to get this chance to romance all the elements.
And, no matter how stressed I often get from life’s signature curve balls,
We are all playing the same game and,
Win or lose,
It is beautiful.
~ Josh H. (2007)
- These are the stories of talented women and men, as told by their loved ones.
- Each with a family who remain devastated by their tragic and preventable death, no matter how much time has passed. Even though they are no longer with us, we honor them because the lived.
- Their lives mattered.
- You can see the promise in their beautiful smiles and the spirit in their bright eyes. Each one had hopes and dreams that were never realized.
- Although they were all unique, their common characteristic is that each of them died from a substance related cause. None of them wanted to die. They were so much more than the addiction that took them from us too soon.
- Yet, in stark contrast to the kind of treatment others receive with life altering health disorders, few of those suffering with a substance use disorder receive the compassion, care or harm reduction resources their disease requires.
- We respect the gifts of our departed loved ones and we acknowledge the challenges and struggle they faced in their journey. These people would want you to know they were good people with a bad illness and that they truly gave their best.
- Here we give them a VOICE to show they were oh so much more than the condition that took their lives. Here we share their stories in an effort to end the shame, secrecy and stigma.
HEALING HEARTS ONE STORY AT A TIME