“The gentleman said to me, ‘What has Kelsey been doing for the past seven years?
What were her interests?
What were her hobbies?'”
Courtesy of Kathleen Errico
She died at the hands of the drug at her family home in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
She had been sober for almost 10 months.
Her struggle left Errico with little to tell the funeral home about her daughter’s life recently.
Truly, it had been a fight.
And it was just like a blank slate.
TheCDCconsiders heroin a growing epidemic.
More than 8,200 people died from heroin-related overdoses in 2013 alone.
Kelsey is and was not alone, and Errico wanted to reach others going through a similar fight.
Kelsey’s obituary, published on theBoston Globe’s website on April 6, is heartbreaking.
Errico shares how her daughterwho radiated kindness and compassionpassed away not “unexpectedly” but from an accidental overdose.
She shares how she struggled with addiction.
Then, she offers an amazing call to action, in Kelsey’s name.
She writes:
“The disease of addiction is merciless.
It is up to us to open our minds and hearts to those who are still sick and suffering.
Kelsey does not want us to cry for her.
She wants us to fight for her.
She wants us to fight for her memory and all she believed.
She wants us to use our voices to speak up about what is happening to her generation.
The honest obituary struck a chord, and it amassed more than 75,000 shares.
The eulogy now has more than 20,000 shares, too.
Kelsey’s story has crossed the globe.
“Her obituary and her eulogy have made it to Ireland, Italy, Alaska, Canada.
Its made it across countries, and its incredible,” Errico says.
“It’s not just us here who are suffering from thisits everywhere.”
This content can also be viewed on the site itoriginatesfrom.
Errico says she’s heard from many people, thanking her for her honesty.
They often share their own story of losing a family membera child, grandsonto the heroin epidemic.
For Errico, hearing from these people gives her strength in such a difficult time.
Im very grateful.”
If you’re struggling with a substance abuse problem, reach out for help at 1-800-662-HELP.
Or, find more information on theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA) website.
