Browsing:

Category: Our Story

Never Hold Back in Love

Yesterday was our daughter Lauren’s 25th Birthday. This is the 3rd birthday we have celebrated with her in heaven. That last sentence is something that brings all of us: my wife, Evan and myself, lots of comfort and encouragement. I Read more…


From the Inside

The past week I have been thinking a lot about all the great times our family got to enjoy with Lauren. I was reminded that life is not a guarantee. Some of us get to enjoy loved ones in our Read more…


Grateful

A famous motivational speaker named Zig Ziglar once said this “Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.” Science Read more…


Our Journey From Chaos to Comfort – Part 2

Lauren attended a Narcotics Anonymous meeting the night we got home. Eventually I learned she bought heroin at that meeting. Lauren’s pained words still echo in my mind, “…repeating this cycle of saying, ‘I’m going to stop using’ and the very next day, or even hours later, doing that drug.”


Our Journey from Chaos to Comfort – Part 1

On July 6, 2017, as I walked beside my daughter for the final time, the strangest thought hit my mind. I stood with her as she entered the world, breach and in crisis. Her doctor had once said, “That’s my Read more…


Trust

One of the things I often wonder and struggle with is why I should say anything to anyone about addiction and trying to help your loved one. Sadly, my daughter died of a fentanyl and car-fentanyl laced heroin overdose. What Read more…


Daddy’s Little Girl

A father holds his little girl for the first time. Instantly his heart is owned by her. He wants to cherish her, protect her, and fill her life with only joy. Soon she grows, she courageously walked, then ran, then Read more…


Through My Fingers

Last week I posted about an opportunity that slipped through my fingers. Honestly, when you have lost someone deeply special who is a part of you, you think of that a lot. So many events, experiences, and moments have slipped Read more…


A Moment of Great Pride

Below is a letter that Lauren posted to her Facebook page 18 days before she passed away. I was very proud of her when she did this. I know it was a big step for Lauren, and it was evidence Read more…


A Moment I Missed

The other day I saw an interesting meme on Face Book. It said “We never understand the value of someone until that someone becomes a memory.”  WOW, that is profoundly true, and something we all should think about. It brought Read more…