Assist the Phillips Family in Their Time of Loss

I wish to start off by saying thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of you that has helped our family in this time of need caring for our daughter Mariah Ann Phillips. We didn't reach our goal but to we all understand these days times are hard we all are struggling in some way or another. Mariah is missed more than words can say myself her mother and sister our life has forever been changed by this tragic event Mariah fought a long and hard battle for years with heroin addiction and had overdosed more times than we care to count before final days she had went and got treatment went to jail and had gone through all the treatments to beat this addiction and by God she did it. For almost five years she was clean and sober, and it was so nice to see our baby back to herself again. We were so proud of her she turned her life around went to church and got saved and even had a new daughter Everleigh. But her pain wasn't over the years of her drug use took its toll on her body her heart and she had become very sick only to find out her heart valves were shot she needed surgery. She came through that surgery with flying colors and was doing great. But when she became an expecting mother for Everliegh it took a toll on her body, she retained so much water her heart had to work so much harder than before that she had to have the surgery done all over, but she was hospitalized to be cared for to be sure the baby Everliegh would be born before she could have this surgery which all went really well and they put a pacemaker in at this time too. As she was trying to become well enough to get her other two daughter's back cause her mom was taking care of Lyla and Layla this whole time the struggle happened again, she had been complaining that it felt like she was being shocked by her pacemaker only to find out it had moved and wasn't working to its full like it was supposed to be and she was told she had to have another surgery to correct this problem Mariah was devastated and really scared she wouldn't make it through another surgery she was so upset cause she was planning to get the twins back soon got saved turned her life around and now this we never will really know or understand why she relapsed maybe because of the stress or the anger of having to deal with another surgery or what but whatever it was it was the end Mariah decided to shoot up again and this time it was not just heroin but also mixed with fentanyl and xylazine know as horse tranquilizer there wasn't anything they could do to save her so on that terrible day of 11/24/2024 at 6:16 p.m. our baby was gone. Not a day goes by I don't think of her and the kids her mom still has the twins, and Everliegh is with a loving family. But it's so hard to be happy and show people your fine and try to act as if nothing is wrong when on the inside we are screaming in pain and part of all of us has died. And I would like to say this I am 61 and I have lost all my grandparents, and my parents are gone too also two I have lost a brother and losing a child is a pain far worse than any of the other it's a struggle every day to try and be normal whatever normal is. I had a break down at work not long ago I was just working and thinking of Mar, and it overwhelmed me to the point I broke down thanks to the love and care from co-workers I got through the day. And that is just part of the pain to see my other daughter Melinda Mariah's sister in so much pain cause her, and Mariah was close. And her mom Bless her the most because she was the one that was always in the hospital with Mariah during all her overdose's all of her heart surgery's she was Mariah's rock and to have to keep it together for the girls while they really don't understand where mommy has gone is just heartbreaking. It has brought all of us closer together knowing we are there for each other, but it will never be the same again our lives have been forever changed. So, on this final note if you or someone you know has a loved one or even yourself is struggling from an addiction or mental issue don't turn your back on them as hard as it maybe we never ever turned our back on our Mariah don't yell at them or call them names love them and be there for them cause it's an addiction. when Mariah came and stayed with me right before she went to jail in her last attempt to beat this on her own there were many nights, I would come home from work to find her out with a needle hanging out of her arm or leg I would Narcan her get her awake and we would sit holding each other and she would shake and we would cry she would say daddy I am sorry I am trying and I would be like it's ok baby I am here and we would fall asleep holding each other and yes I am bawling my eyes out right now as I write this story cause it's part of the one thing I will never forget hearing my daughter say to me and it broke my heart she knew she needed help and she tried so hard to do it on her own but addiction is just to strong so as I was saying be there for whom ever it is you may know that needs help cause you never know you may be the reason they would live another day. So as from the beginning as I was saying Myself and the family thank each and every one of you for all the love support and help you have given us, we didn't quite reach our goal and that's ok anything was awesome to receive I will be closing this GoFundMe soon and releasing the funds we have raised so far to the Funeral Home and if you wish to donate at a later time or privately make your donation out to Owens Funeral Home Alexandria Indiana and again Thank you everyone friends family for all your support Love Jefferey Phillips