Hello Everyone,

My name is Sarah Lyon, I was engaged to be married to Adam Neal Craven and we were joyously awaiting the birth of our son, Brayden Ray Craven, this coming Thanksgiving, November 2021. I also have sole legal, sole physical custody of a son who is under the age of two, from a previous relationship. With Adam, I finally found true love and happiness and we were both looking toward spending the rest of our lives together.

Then, suddenly on June 24th, 2021, Adam took his life in the middle of the night, alone, and the wound he sustained, was un-survivable, I was the one who found him. That Adam would take his own life came as a complete and devastating shock to me, along with his friends, his family, coworkers, and previous employers that have known him intimately over the past 15 years. Adam was always known for being the strong one in his family, so this outcome was inconceivable. Adam was never suicidal, depressed or had any history of mental health related disorders.

I always verbalized to him how wonderful of a person he was, how thankful I was to have him in my life, and how much I appreciated what an amazing step father he was with my young son; he truly was 'my rock' and a blessing to my family.

Adam's death is so hard to accept because he was so excited about life, he was ecstatic about helping to raise his stepson in the future and watching him grow up. He was also enamored with the idea of our marriage in the spring of 2022 that he had already bought my wedding bands, and asked me to start wearing mine, which I have, since he purchased them, to present.

Adam was most excited about his unborn son, Brayden Ray, being born, and raising two boys in our traditional equestrian, ranch style way of living in Buellton, CA. Adam and I had big, but realistically attainable plans for the future, giving him every reason to live. There was never any sign of anything being wrong with Adam's life or his emotional well-being until he started taking a prescription medication to stop smoking shortly before his passing.

Earlier this year, on February 13, 2021, Adam had an MRI done on his back, learning that he needed back surgery, for an injury he sustained years earlier in his work as a horse trainer, farrier, and ranch manager that was compromising his abilities to continue his way of life. In order to have the surgery, he was advised that he needed to quit smoking so that his healing process would be as optimal as possible. Adam was prescribed a medication to help curb his nicotine addiction so that he could not only have his surgery, but could remain smoke-free while raising his family, all of which Adam verbalized to friends and loved ones that he was determined to do. Adam knew he needed the surgery to continue the physically demanding work as his lifestyle and skills of trade expected of him so he could help financially support his growing family in the way he was passionate about since he was eleven years old.

What Adam did not grasp was that the drug company that manufactures and sold this medication has known for years that the potential side effects of taking this medicine are suicidal thoughts and actual suicides. Testimonials I have read from patients who took this drug and survived their suicide attempts, reported that it altered their perceptions abruptly and caused them to try to harm themselves, something they had never considered doing before while having no history of depression or mental health concerns. This is what Adam's inner circle believes happened to him as well as it has been the only changing factor in his life in such a short period of time.

Today, this horrible tragedy is my new reality as my family and I pick up the pieces, and work towards a new routine. At five in a half months pregnant, I find myself suddenly the sole supporter of my toddler and my baby on the way. For those that know me, can attest that I am an extremely diligent, dedicated and determined person with immpecable work eithic. Now, I'm currently working seven days a week for the time being to make up Adam's loss in income, but realistically, I know that I need some additional financial help to carry on during this very difficult time as my third trimester draws closer, which is why I have created this fundraiser through GoFundMe.

Even as we prepare to lay Adam to rest, I have been advised that the first thing I need to do immediately is make sure that Brayden can obtain his father’s Social Security, Survivor benefits once he is born. Due to the fact that Adam and I were not married at the time of his death, to accomplish just this first, critical step for Brayden, I will need to retain a qualified attorney(s) and pay a minimum of $35,000 for attorney fees, $5,000 of which has to be paid immediately as a retainer, along with other legal matters that have to be resolved for our son’s future to be considered "next of kin". And, as I complete the second half of my pregnancy, there will also be medical costs I must cover along with maternity leave from my own professional business of being a self-employed, physically active, horse trainer.

Adam and I shared a love of horses and we saw our life ahead as joining our skills together and creating a strong family life for our two sons. Suddenly, that future might no longer be attainable without the help of this GoFundMe. Instead of two parents of two sons, I am now a single, self-employed mom with high over-head costs due to my line of work, who needs to support two young boys, afford child care while I work, save for their education and plan for any emergency that might occur in the future. Sadly, these are the transparent facts of life.

I hope to raise $80,000 in total with the $5,000, for a first retainer, which is the most critical and immediate need. Any funding over the above amount, I will dedicate to saving for our son's education, and a donation to a reputable, suicide prevention organization. My only wish is that it was not too late for Adam, I would do anything to have him back as I know he would do the same for me if he was put in my position.

Thank you very much for your consideration