BLADE BIRDSELL

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Submitted by: jennifer burch
Born: 1993
Died: 2015
My Tribute: The best thing I ever did was give birth to my sweet angel Blade. He had a heart of gold and he is truely and deeply missed by the world and me…..the truest purest love i have ever known…..God has him now so that he no longer suffers from the devil and this stupid drug that destroys familys….may you rest in peace my love…..one love baby

MCCAULEY BROTHERS

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Submitted by: JEANMARIE MCCAULEY
Born: 1989
Died: 2014
My Tribute: As a mother of 2 sons who lost their lives to disease of addiction within the past 2 years, Jordan was born November 8, 1992 and passed away on April 11, 2013 the smile and love this kid had lit up a room, and my oldest Corey born July 1, 1989 and passed away Oct 5, 2014, 18 months later from his brother Jordan, I felt the need to do something to help people who are going through the same. The pain for me could be crippling but I decided that instead of drowning in my pain that I would try to give back to those who feel they are alone in this battle. We are never alone when we connect to God and others.. So my journey begins with my two angels Corey & Jordan walking with me to find my purpose.

Zack Bundy

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Submitted by: Sam
Born: 1994
Died: 2015
My Tribute: Alright ZacH… lol inside joke ok so I mean Alright ZacK this is a post I never thought I would need to write but here I am today thinking about every great memory that I have with you. I have only known you for a few years but I’m going to tell you what; it feels like I have known you for my entire life. That’s what you do. You make people feel like they are your best friend. From the first time I met you to the last time you walked out our door you hugged liked you mean it, and made me feel like I was important to you. You always put others first. The very first picture I seen of Shannon was of her and you at a stupid Sharks game, but I could tell right then that you and your sister had a special bond. Something that can never be replaced but I know it is going to be cherished forever. Your whole family is a very close family and you accepted me into it immediately. I remember talking to your sister and her saying how happy she was that you and I got along so well. I also remember being so nervous to not only ask you about taking your sisters hand in marriage but also you being my groomsman. Of course you gave me a bunch of crap at first but then excitedly accepted. Then when I finally asked Shannon to marry me in the middle of a restaurant you yelled for everyone to hear “SHE SAID YES!” We joked you were more excited than she was! That’s who you are Zack, a man that loved so deeply. You and Chloe will always be soul mates and again your love for her and everyone else will get us all through this. Your parents are so proud of you with everything you did. From your hockey days as a kid, to you going through one of the most difficult business schools in the country. But that’s just a testament to once again you being great at everything! No matter what you did, or how many times you did it, you were great at it. From sports to card games you always were the best. I could go on and on here but I want to just leave a note highlighting a few things that pretty much everyone already knows about you. You are a great kid Zack, and you will be missed every single day here.

God needed some help on the blue line playing defense so he brought home an angel. We will see you again soon dude. We love you Zachary Bundy!

Robert Owen White

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Submitted by: Heather Gordon
Born: 1980
Died: 2015
My Tribute: My dearest boyfriend/spouse we were together for 10 tumultuous years -they were the best and worst years of my life but you were my soulmate and I love you with my whole heart and I will never be the same because of you-you were taken too soon and way before you reached your full potential and you have touched me more than you could ever know- I will always love you

Melissa Sally


Submitted by: Diane Brown
Born: 1984
Died: 2015
My Tribute: Melissa was a hard working mom she just had a hard time with her addiction. She went to rehab in July and was clean then on the early morning of Saturday December 19th she got home from work after working a very long shift the day before and very early that morning. She gave in to her desire to try her drug of choice just one more time, unfortunately that one more time what’s the time that killed her. She was taken to the hospital about 4 o’clock in the morning on the 19th the doctors did everything they could she was finally declared brain dead on December 20th 2015 at 3:39 p.m. after doctors had done extensive tests on her . She left behind her10 year old daughter and an extensive family who miss her and grieve her loss deeply. She was born March 7th 1984 and left this world on December 20th 2015 she lives just 31 short years she will be forever missed and forever loved.

Aaron C. Starrs

Submitted by: T. Martin
Born: 1994
Died: 2015
My Tribute: My beautiful son, I shall love you forever.

Jordan Michael Filler

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Submitted by: Julie Filler his Mom
Born: 1990
Died: 2014
My Tribute: Jordan our oldest and only son, big brother to 3 little sisters, best and loyal friend, amazing skier, basketball player, and Highschool baseball pitcher, beyond smart, started college at Univ of Illinois, beautiful writer, had a gorgeous voice belting out Disney songs in perfect pitch, hysterically funny, handsome, kind, worshipped the Bulls and Cubs, his favorite number was 23, tragically overdosed at the age of 23. Our family thought he was safe after talking with his rehab. Instead, being ignorant of the Hippa law, they chose not to tell us Jordan was in imminent danger overdosing and surviving, then a second time he was alone with no one to save him. In his honor and memory we started, The Jordan Michael Filler Foundation to prevent, educate, and save lives of kids like Jordan, a one in a million. Loosing our Jordan who’s magical personality was bigger than life has been an every minute struggle. I lost my beautiful boy and no, I will never recover. I want to tell him that I love him and how very sorry I am that it wasn’t his fault. I now know this is preventable, and treatable. The world lost a truly gifted young man and his family lost the love of their lives. Jordan. we promise to keep fighting to erase the stigma so that this never happens to another family as it has ours. If anyone is reading this and wants to hear about advancements, change and watch a video of our boy, go to JordanFiller.org

Patrick Joseph McGivern

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Submitted by: Mom
Born: 1986
Died: 2015
My Tribute: I miss my son continously, it is so unfair all the broken hearts he has left behind. Rest in peace my son, the pain of your death is unbearable, though I know you are not sick, hungry or cold and have a soft bed to sleep in. And a full belly! Love and miss you more than I can express. I LOVE and MISS YOU, Patrick!! Be happy!!

John Watson

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Submitted by: Donna Donovan
Born: 1986
Died: 2015
My Tribute: John Watson took the next step on this journey Nov. 24th, 2015. . John relapsed that afternoon and died instantly. From what I was told, and what I actually saw, he did not suffer. John had 9 months clean. He was the happiest and most fulfilled I had seen him in years. He shared a beautiful love with Katelyn and her daughter Kinley, he had the support of his recovery community with Broken Chains Recovery House, he had regained a relationship with his sister, Faith Marie, and was building a relationship with his older sister, Victoria Raline.

John battled his addictions for over 15 years. And as many times as I had played this scenario out in my head a thousand times over the years, nothing could have prepared me for the reality. I lost my only son and best friend that day. I understand the mind of an addict…I have one. I understand the depths of depression…I’ve swam in them all of my life. I now understand the weight of the demons my son struggled with, for although he left those when he left this world…I carry them now. It is a weight and pain unlike any other.

I have replayed in my head all the years and mistakes and what ifs. I have no words of advice for anyone. I don’t know what could or could not have been done differently. What I DO know is that I love my son and he knew that…that was all I could do.

Jay Latimer

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Submitted by: Marie Latimer
Born: 1991
Died: 2015
My Tribute: My beautiful son passed away on May 16, 2015 of a heroin overdose less than a month shy of his 24th Birthday. We are a typical middle income family from a Philadelphia Suburb who were blindsided by addiction when our son was 18 and had just graduated from high school. We have a very common story these days where our child self medicated his depression, anxiety and low self esteem with pain killers which eventually led to heroin. For almost six years we were on this horrible roller coaster ride of addiction with our son, in and out of rehab followed by sober living and relapses. The relapse periods became shorter and his periods of sobriety longer. Jay had been sober for nine and a half month’s, had a job, a new apartment with a sober roommate, working the 12 step program and hadn’t sounded happier or made such strides to be self supportive and he was finally maturing. Once again we were blindsided by the dreaded knock on the door by a local police officer late that night to inform us that our son was gone. That one more time he knew could end his life did.

Growing up Jay was a sweet, loving, off the charts smart, a teachers pet, charmed adults but socially could not relate to kids his age and had a very difficult time making friends. As a teen although a bit rebellious at home he was very outgoing found his way into different social circles his age and older. He picked up a guitar that was a gift to his dad one day and taught himself to play. Playing his guitar, later singing and writing were his passion and he became amazing at it.

Through music he helped many in rehab and recovery when addicts are at such a low place. He was funny, non-judgmental, would talk to anyone and lit up a room with his smile. He helped many to a path of recovery and even out of suicide attempts.

I am very proud of him for these acts and his courage to fight time after time but I miss him every second of everyday.