When my forever 19-year-old son, Johnny, was a young boy, he and I had a “secret” that we kept to ourselves. I told him God told me when he was born he was going to do something really important in this world.… Read the rest
How Do You Cope When Your Child Commits Suicide? Our Story.
It was the middle-of-the-night knock on the door that every parent with a teenager fears: the police. But the call wasn’t to bail out an adolescent who got in trouble. Instead, it was the grim news that Johnny Stack, age 19, was dead.… Read the rest
9News Segment on Teen Suicide
John and I were on the news last night sharing Johnny’s story! Reporter Jordan Chavez from 9News Denver came across my post from two weeks ago with 16,000+ shares about “what is dabbing?” So he came to our home yesterday and filmed a segment on teen suicide and high-THC marijuana use!… Read the rest
Johnny’s 3-Month Death Anniversary (this post received 20,000 shares)
Our forever 19-year-old son, Johnny, died by suicide three months ago today. He would have been 20 on Feb. 7. We still miss him terribly but are putting one foot in front of the other. Thank you to those who continue to check on us and offer support and comfort.… Read the rest
Top Ten Gifts I’ve Received from Johnny’s Death
On the two-month anniversary of Johnny’s death (two days ago), John and I attended a grief group for suicide survivors at our local hospital. The facilitator wanted to end “on a positive note” and asked us what gift we’ve received or good that has come from our loved one’s death.… Read the rest
Happy New Year?
Happy New Year dear friends. I love you. Truly. Your love and support are helping me heal from Johnny’s suicide. Thanks to you, along with my darling husband John and my children and family, there was no possible way I could be alone.… Read the rest
Johnny’s Five Values
Many of you have asked me to let you know if there’s anything you can do. I think there may be! I first want to thank Jane Jenkins Herlong for commissioning this beautiful artwork of Johnny’s “Values I Believe are the Most Important.”… Read the rest
Mary Lost Jesus
This Christmas, our 1st without Johnny, I’m thinking of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who brought Jesus into this world today. Oh, how she loved him, smiled at him, cared for him, and took pride in him. Then the day came for him to depart this world and join His Father in heaven, and he left her.… Read the rest
What to Do When You’re Grieving
Now that Johnny’s memorial service is over, and things have quieted down a bit, many of you have reached out to see how we’re doing. Almost everyone expresses they are worried about saying the wrong thing or don’t know what to say.… Read the rest
A Public Service Announcement About High-THC Pot
This is a public service announcement about the dangers of marijuana for young adults. Please share with any young adults you know.
Four weeks ago, our wonderful 19-year-old son Johnny died by suicide. Yesterday, the Coroner’s report and toxicology results were released.… Read the rest