Austin's Fight for Freedom: Save Lives from Fentanyl!

Why We're Here

Help us help others in suffering.

No one is going to tell you that 90% of people whose addiction turns to Fentanyl won't make it. It's too brutal a figure for the public to handle. Addiction and Fentanyl took Austin's life, and we're determined to help others escape its grip. All it takes is 2 milligrams to kill a person--the size of a grain of sand, and it has recently been found combined in almost every illicit drug on the street. More than car accidents, heart disease, and gunshots combined, Fentanyl has become the leading cause of death for Americans between 18 and 45.

Fentanyl is so addictive that most addicts can't go even one day without it, but despite these odds, Austin fought. He was able to get 16 months of sobriety in the past 3.5 years. These weren't just numbers but hard-won victories in a battle so few win.

Austin found sobriety and a renewed sense of purpose thanks to the relentless help from Buckeye Recovery Center and his brotherhood in sober living at Ohio House. He reconnected his spiritual, mental, and physical self through movement—boxing, running, breathwork, and meditation. They became his refuge. The gym wasn't just a place to work out; it was where he could reclaim his life.

As Austin's family, we want to address the war we faced at home and share our experience to help other families facing similar struggles. It felt like oftentimes the impact of his disease hurt us more than him. Addiction crashed through our lives like a constant cycle of tidal waves, threatening to drown us all. Every wave brought worry, panic, lies, accidents, screaming matches, money hemorrhaging, and tears—endless warfare that tore us apart. After each storm came an uneasy calm, followed by growing suspicion, renewed worry, more lies, and more conflict. Year after year, the cycle intensified—until Austin found Fentanyl. The cycle immediately shattered into just a razor's edge between life and death with hope and despair in between. 

We stayed silent too long, fearing judgment—a mistake that nearly destroyed us. We threw every penny from our life savings, hundreds of thousands of dollars, in the last 5 years alone, desperately trying to save our son. We know we are not the only, nor the last, family that has done so for their loved ones who suffer from addiction.

We wasted precious time on deceptive facilities until finding Buckeye Recovery Center and Ohio House. 

These organizations bought us more time—quality time—with Austin. We witnessed a transformation and found invaluable places that deserve a spotlight and a place where funds do make a difference. Austin found genuine freedom for the first time since he was 16. He discovered what it meant to feel safe, to love himself, forge real friendships, and build a life worth living.

Though Austin's battle has ended, the war rages on. 

We know the true horror of this death sentence called "Fentanyl," and we're determined to help others escape its grip. Austin yearned to help others in life—and now, in death, he is our most influential teacher. His story shows us that continuous effort, community support, and the mind-body connection can be powerful weapons against addiction while reminding us how deadly this disease truly is.

With your support, we're committed to ending the stigma, educating families, and helping people with an addiction find recovery.

Our Goals Include:

✅ Launching an annual memorial run funding recovery stays at Ohio House.

✅ Creating a fitness/wellness-focused recovery space inspired by Austin's journey.

✅ Raising critical awareness about Fentanyl and the opioid crisis.

✅ Providing education and resources to those at risk

✅ Covering his end-of-life expenses.

To those suffering in silence: we hear you.

To those who've lost loved ones, we stand with you.

To those still fighting, there is hope.

Regardless of size, every donation helps build Austin's legacy of hope and healing. Together, we can prevent other families from facing this heartbreak alone.

Let's turn our grief into action. Please help us continue Austin's fight.