08/21/2026
Today is National Fentanyl Awareness & Prevention Day. 💜
Just three days ago, we gathered for our 3rd Annual Families Fighting Fentanyl Event—bringing our community together for awareness, education, prevention, resources, and hope.
And while I stand in front of people talking about fentanyl, teaching families what they need to know, handing out resources, and doing everything I can to prevent another loss…
I am still a mother who lost her daughter.
Every conversation about fentanyl carries a piece of my story.
Every event reminds me that I lost Brighton in a horrific way that no parent should ever have to experience.
I miss my daughter so much.
Some days, the grief is quiet.
Other days, it hits me so hard that it hurts my soul.
But I refuse to let her life—and her death—be without purpose.
So I will keep showing up.
I will keep telling her story.
I will keep educating children, parents, educators, and communities.
I will keep advocating for prevention.
I will keep putting resources into the hands of people who need them.
And I will keep fighting like one more life depends on it.
Because it does.
If sharing Brighton’s story can make one parent pause, one teenager think twice, one person recognize the danger, or one family learn how to save a life with Narcan…
then I will keep going.
My grief is the price I never wanted to pay.
But my purpose is what I choose to do with it.
For Brighton.
For the families who have lost someone.
For the families who are still fighting.
And for every child who deserves the chance to grow up.
Awareness saves lives. Education saves lives. Prevention saves lives.
Today, I remember my daughter.
Today, I honor her life.
And today, I recommit myself to saving as many lives as I possibly can.
💜 For Brighton. For the next family. For the ones we can still save.
*do not own rights to music*
