Help Valerie say goodbye.

Few people are comfortable asking for help, but there are times when a person faces something so unimaginable, so overwhelming, that they need a hand up. Someone I know is in this situation, and she needs help.

 

Valerie is the proud mother of two young men. She has walked alongside them over the years, sharing in the happiness, successes, beautiful memories, but also the weight of her son's struggle with alcoholism, depression and anxiety. Garrett fought the battle daily until he couldn't anymore, and on Tuesday, he made the devastating decision to end his life.

 

When Valerie reached out to share what had happened, she said something that I will never forget. "I don't have the money to bury my child."

 

I am asking for your help. Please consider helping in one, or both ways. First, consider sharing this link with everyone you know. Second, she needs the money to take care of her child. Any amount you can give will go a long way in helping, and I believe we can come together and support Valerie in this one last thing that she can do for her son.

 

Finally, as Valerie struggles to make sense of this horrible tragedy, she stressed emphatically that she wanted people to understand that depression is real. The ravishing effects of depression and alcoholism are real. It's overwhelming, and in this case, it won. Val asked that I encourage everyone who knows someone struggling with depression to reach out and get help. If you or someone you love is dealing with depression or thoughts of suicide, below is a link that you can follow to get the help needed.

 

I want to thank you for reading this and for considering my plea for help.

 

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

 

(Pictured: Garrett, Val and Shane)