BY Rayne Wilcox
LifeAtStart.com Reporter
On Monday, December 7th, 2009, I woke up for school like any other child, but this day was
different. Instead of waking up to my mom pulling the blankets off of me, I woke up to her screaming on the phone. I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what.
After my mom got off the phone, she asked my brother Dakota to stay home with me while her and my step dad went to Fostoria.
After my parents left the house, Dakota told me to go back to bed, and he’ll wake me up if he hears anything. I couldn’t sleep knowing something was wrong.
Around two in the afternoon, my aunt Lori picked us up to take us to my older brother Jordan’s house. I remember it being quiet on the way there. When we got there, we went into the house and I saw my aunt Angel and my grandparents. They looked distraught. Dakota and I went over and sat next to our mom on the couch.
All I remember from that moment, is my mom telling us that my brother, Jordan, was gone. I soon learned that he had committed suicide. I felt like my world came crumbling down. Jordan would never do something like this, it wasn’t in his nature.
The reason I am telling you this personal story of mine, is because recently we had one of our own take his life. A suicide doesn’t just affect the family and friends, it affects everyone around you, whether you knew the person or not.
I didn’t know Conner McCauley, but I was affected by it. I know what his friends and family are going through. I also know that the second year will be harder than the first year of him being gone,because the realization of him not coming back sets in. But if we join together to help spread awareness, maybe we can make a difference and help minimize the casualties of teenagers.
If you, or someone you know are in a crisis, I urge you to reach out for help.
Please call the lifeline, it is available 24 hours, seven days a week.
1-800-273-TALK (8255)