Our grieving is just beginning for the loss of my sister, thank you for sharing your son's story and I am sorry for your loss, I know there are truly no words for something like this.
This is amazing and truly said from the heart of parents who did the very best they knew how to raise a child in a godly way. Thank you so much for sharing and may God bless your honesty and love for the many who asked the questions of what happened to a loving and fine young man. We all have struggles and sins that keep us seeking hard after God to change us, and Parker was no different and now he is present with the Lord and healed and set free. May God bless you with the opportunity to share your story with many others who struggle with this with their children. 🙏🏻
I lost my beloved son Michael 16 weeks ago. He was only 31. He had heart failure and had a heart pump implanted. (Lvad) The pump had a driveline out of his abdomen and attached to a controller. He had batteries that he carried in a special pack around his waist. Although it kept him alive he hated it. It was cumbersome and the activities he loved he could no longer do. Then he developed a staph infection and had to be on IV therapy. One evening he told me how much he loved me, we hugged and he said, "never feel guilty about anything". He went out with a friend and told he'd be home soon. It got late so I went to bed. At 8am the next morning I found him in his bed. He had turned the pump off. He was cold and I laid upon him trying to keep him warm. I thought I would lose my mind with grief. Michael was my world and my heart. He lived with me so I could care for him. I have known sadness but I never could have imagined the relentless agony that suffocated my entire being. I wanted to die. I'd scream and weep tears of despair. I have days now where I can breathe. I know my Michael would hate to see me in such pain. Days are a little bit easier now because of love. The love and support of friends and family. My 2 daughters have given me the strength to go on.
In the end it all comes down to love. I will love my Michael forever and he will live in my heart until the day I die. Grief is love with no where to go. Love is always the answer. I love you my beautiful son.
Thank you for your vulnerability, Bryan & Erica. I know your words are and will be a comfort to many who just need to feel understood in their own devastating losses. Your faith is beautiful. I'm so sorry. I know there's not a corner of your existence the loss of your precious son doesn't touch. Continuing to pray for you all. - April
Thanks for sharing, Bryan. I consider myself a fan of yours and a remote friend. This is so incredibly unfair yet you have handled it with grace and love. Wish you and Erica the best and look forward to having you back in my life through the HJ pod.
This leaves me speechless. What an incredible way to share Parkers story. You are all so inspirational. I suffered from addiction most of my life. I am 59 years old and only became substance free in 2011. I have been a born again Christian since childhood. Addiction does not discriminate. I am your Dads cousin. I will be praying for you all.
I only became friends with you through a fantasy football book I purchased. I never knew then how much your family would touch my heart. You are a model of how to be real and vulnerable in a world of fake news. We are all broken but the joy comes when we can show God's hand in all of that. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm praying for you all.
Bryan and Erica, I’m so thankful for your family’s faith and strength and that you would be willing to share your hearts like this.. keeping you all in my prayers.
When I heard the news I just couldn’t imagine. He was always a happy kid from what it seems.. but your son taught my brother a huge lesson and hopefully through this you can inspire others in Parker’s name about drug awareness and the serious affects it can cause 🖤 continuously praying for your family🖤
Thank you for your powerful words - you have a beautiful way of writing and I especially loved the last sentence, “And Jesus wiped away the tears, healed the pain and said, welcome home my son”. My beloved brother passed away at only 39 from alcoholism. My family and I spent many years doing everything we could to help him overcome his addiction. Your words help give me peace and hope knowing that he was received into the kingdom of heaven. Prayers and love to you and your family.
Our hearts were broken for your family when we heard the news of Parker's passing. We have been praying for each of you, trusting God to keep you close and to feel His presence. Through sharing Parker's story, we pray that others will reach out to children and help them through & resist these temptations. Your church family is praying for you all and love you deeply.
I have never met you, but I can’t stop thinking about you both and Parker. Selfishly and ignorantly, I liked to think that my children would never feel that pull towards addiction because of the way I parented. As my children age, I realize they are individuals, with their own thoughts and needs, that really have nothing to do with me. We guide, we counsel, but we are never fully in control. We all must learn to give it to God and trust in Him no matter the circumstances. Your story, your honesty, your heartbreaking realism has made a lasting impact. Thank you and God Bless.
I will continue to pray for your family. I am a nurse in a substance abuse facility and have suffered myself with Addiction. People don’t realize the hold that it can have on your life despite the effort you put in to release it’s hold. It is painful for those going through it and their loved ones. I am so sorry this happened to your family but thank you for sharing your testimony and the struggles you experienced. Hopefully this will touch hearts and help those struggling with addiction and/or the loss due to addiction.
Our grieving is just beginning for the loss of my sister, thank you for sharing your son's story and I am sorry for your loss, I know there are truly no words for something like this.
Thank you. Love you.
This is amazing and truly said from the heart of parents who did the very best they knew how to raise a child in a godly way. Thank you so much for sharing and may God bless your honesty and love for the many who asked the questions of what happened to a loving and fine young man. We all have struggles and sins that keep us seeking hard after God to change us, and Parker was no different and now he is present with the Lord and healed and set free. May God bless you with the opportunity to share your story with many others who struggle with this with their children. 🙏🏻
I lost my beloved son Michael 16 weeks ago. He was only 31. He had heart failure and had a heart pump implanted. (Lvad) The pump had a driveline out of his abdomen and attached to a controller. He had batteries that he carried in a special pack around his waist. Although it kept him alive he hated it. It was cumbersome and the activities he loved he could no longer do. Then he developed a staph infection and had to be on IV therapy. One evening he told me how much he loved me, we hugged and he said, "never feel guilty about anything". He went out with a friend and told he'd be home soon. It got late so I went to bed. At 8am the next morning I found him in his bed. He had turned the pump off. He was cold and I laid upon him trying to keep him warm. I thought I would lose my mind with grief. Michael was my world and my heart. He lived with me so I could care for him. I have known sadness but I never could have imagined the relentless agony that suffocated my entire being. I wanted to die. I'd scream and weep tears of despair. I have days now where I can breathe. I know my Michael would hate to see me in such pain. Days are a little bit easier now because of love. The love and support of friends and family. My 2 daughters have given me the strength to go on.
In the end it all comes down to love. I will love my Michael forever and he will live in my heart until the day I die. Grief is love with no where to go. Love is always the answer. I love you my beautiful son.
Thank you for your vulnerability, Bryan & Erica. I know your words are and will be a comfort to many who just need to feel understood in their own devastating losses. Your faith is beautiful. I'm so sorry. I know there's not a corner of your existence the loss of your precious son doesn't touch. Continuing to pray for you all. - April
Thanks for sharing, Bryan. I consider myself a fan of yours and a remote friend. This is so incredibly unfair yet you have handled it with grace and love. Wish you and Erica the best and look forward to having you back in my life through the HJ pod.
This leaves me speechless. What an incredible way to share Parkers story. You are all so inspirational. I suffered from addiction most of my life. I am 59 years old and only became substance free in 2011. I have been a born again Christian since childhood. Addiction does not discriminate. I am your Dads cousin. I will be praying for you all.
I only became friends with you through a fantasy football book I purchased. I never knew then how much your family would touch my heart. You are a model of how to be real and vulnerable in a world of fake news. We are all broken but the joy comes when we can show God's hand in all of that. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm praying for you all.
Bryan and Erica, I’m so thankful for your family’s faith and strength and that you would be willing to share your hearts like this.. keeping you all in my prayers.
Thank you for sharing. This really touched my heart. I'm sharing.
When I heard the news I just couldn’t imagine. He was always a happy kid from what it seems.. but your son taught my brother a huge lesson and hopefully through this you can inspire others in Parker’s name about drug awareness and the serious affects it can cause 🖤 continuously praying for your family🖤
Thank you for your powerful words - you have a beautiful way of writing and I especially loved the last sentence, “And Jesus wiped away the tears, healed the pain and said, welcome home my son”. My beloved brother passed away at only 39 from alcoholism. My family and I spent many years doing everything we could to help him overcome his addiction. Your words help give me peace and hope knowing that he was received into the kingdom of heaven. Prayers and love to you and your family.
Our hearts were broken for your family when we heard the news of Parker's passing. We have been praying for each of you, trusting God to keep you close and to feel His presence. Through sharing Parker's story, we pray that others will reach out to children and help them through & resist these temptations. Your church family is praying for you all and love you deeply.
I have never met you, but I can’t stop thinking about you both and Parker. Selfishly and ignorantly, I liked to think that my children would never feel that pull towards addiction because of the way I parented. As my children age, I realize they are individuals, with their own thoughts and needs, that really have nothing to do with me. We guide, we counsel, but we are never fully in control. We all must learn to give it to God and trust in Him no matter the circumstances. Your story, your honesty, your heartbreaking realism has made a lasting impact. Thank you and God Bless.
I will continue to pray for your family. I am a nurse in a substance abuse facility and have suffered myself with Addiction. People don’t realize the hold that it can have on your life despite the effort you put in to release it’s hold. It is painful for those going through it and their loved ones. I am so sorry this happened to your family but thank you for sharing your testimony and the struggles you experienced. Hopefully this will touch hearts and help those struggling with addiction and/or the loss due to addiction.
So beautiful!!! I’ll be praying for all of your strength!! Thank u for sharing such beautiful words! ❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😇😇😇