“I can’t save my child, but I can save someone else’s,” one Highland mom, Rachel Carlisle said, after she shared her story to hundreds of people in Wicker Park on Saturday.
Patty Stovall, founder and executive director of Sounds of Sarah, and Carlisle, an advocate for Drug Induced Homicide Foundation, reminisced about their daughters who they each lost to fentanyl poisoning.
They spoke about their journeys through grief and their missions to spread awareness at the “We Fight Together” Overdose and Drug Poisoning Awareness Walk Run in Highland.
“For me, it’s only been two and a half years since I lost Sarah,” Stovall said. “The grief of losing a child is horrifying. The fact that we’re not alone doesn’t make it easier, but it makes it less lonely. And this helps show we are not alone.”
Stovall, of Griffith, said events like the walk also help break the stigma surrounding addiction, overdose and fentanyl poisoning.
“We want to be heard,” Stovall said. “It kills 22 teens ages 14 to 18 every week. It has killed the equivalent of 300 people every day, which is the equivalent of a plane crashing — every day.”
Overdose deaths tied to fentanyl increased by 279% nationwide from 2016 to 2021, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. In a 12-month period ending August 2022, 107,000 people died from fentanyl-related overdose deaths, data shows.
“My daughter was like any other of their children,” Carlisle said. “This epidemic doesn’t discriminate based on where you live, the color of your skin, or anything. They were being deceived, and people need to be held accountable.”
Carlisle’s daughter died from a Xanax pill that was secretly dosed with fentanyl in 2020, leaving behind three children. She said she struggled and fought for the case to be investigated.
“It’s amazing to see the amount of support and how much love and togetherness is here today,” Carlisle said. “To see how these families have support from their communities, and for people to talk about it. By looking at this turnout, it shows that people need to talk about it. The more we are joined together, the louder we are, and we will be heard. Things need to start changing, and that’s what this shows.”
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, attended and spoke about his own personal experiences.
“So, we stand at a critical juncture in the fight against the opioid epidemic,” Mrvan said. “And behind every statistic, lies a heartbreaking story of a life lost. What draws us towards, or motivates us sometimes in these cases, is being able to turn that loss into inspiration. And that inspiration into hope. You are your life experiences. I have been touched, my family has been touched, by loss with opiates and overdose. As a township trustee, my very last month on December of 2019, there were over 10 losses of life to fentanyl or an opiate, heroin, that had an elephant tranquilizer that we did the burials for the indigent. So I sat across (from) people who lost their son, their daughter, their brother. And when Patty talks about the importance of lifting the stigma of addiction — we are all touched by it, and it is in all walks of life.”
Local organizations like the Gatehouse Hammond had booths giving out information on local addiction resources and recovery programs. Denise Donahue, assistant director of Gatehouse Hammond, said the organization has worked with countless women struggling with addiction and mental health issues since it began 2 1/2 years ago.
“We’ve had women who have stayed with us and have gotten their children back, and we’ve also had some die,” Donahue said. “Sarah was in our house for a period of time. We ask that the girls stay six months, but most of them stay with us (for) a year. We get them a sponsor, into a 12-step program, a job and we provide transportation to court and probation meetings. Whatever it takes.”
Around 400 people attended the event at Wicker Park, some of whom had similar experiences of grief and struggle.
Nancy Rodgers, Sounds of Sarah board president, said her younger brother died from a heart attack brought on by illicit drugs.
“He was my baby brother, he was only 45 years old,” Rodgers said. “So, it hits home even more. I have family members battling with drug addiction right now. They are in rehab and going through a recovery program, and I try to be as supportive as possible. … Addiction is so hard to battle. As an organization, Sounds of Sarah is really trying to help people with addiction.”
Rodgers said one big accomplishment of the group is creating opioid rescue kits, and in the future, they hope to donate several more kits throughout the Region. The organization also plans to hold more community events for families.
On the same table with the kits were photo collages of those who died from fentanyl overdose and poisoning. One photo showed a baby girl who was around one year old.
“She is our youngest one,” Rodgers said. “She died after she got a hold of someone else’s drugs.”
Many other collages of young faces filled banners and posters around the park with the phrase, “Our lives matter.”
“Sarah was more than just a statistic. I know these kids, I know their stories,” Stovall said looking at one of the banners. “They all had their own stories.”
Individuals can learn more by visiting soundsofsarah.org. Those struggling with addiction can contact the 24/7 National Drug Helpline at 1-844-289-0879.
Anna Ortiz is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
