Brett was my middle of 3 sons. He was 18 years, 6 months, 19 days old when he passed away on July 9, 2015.  He had just graduated from NYS BOCES less then a month earlier with honors in carpentry. He also received a small scholarship from the NYS Superintendent of Grounds and Maintenance.

Brett had a smile and personality that was huge. He had a great presence in a crowd. He loved strong and hard. He was extremely protective of those he loved and even strangers if he felt they needed protecting. Brett always was the child that wanted to give a homeless person a couple of dollars to brighten their day.

Now to the night I lost one of my babies. He lost his life while spending the night at a friend’s house. He had been drinking heavily and taking Xanax. Apparently in a blackout stupor, he had taken a few more Xanax right before going to sleep for the night. In the morning his friend found him already blue and cold. They immediately called the police and called another of Brett’s friends to tell them what happened and to send them to my house to get us and take us to the friend’s home where Brett was. When his toxicology report was finally delivered, I learned that they found 3 things and ONLY 3 things in his system – marijuana, alcohol, and Xanax. So there was no question about it at all, Brett died from a lethal combination of alcohol and Xanax.

I miss his presence in my life so much. It is coming up on Brett’s 5-year angelversary. I would just like to add the devastation I dealt with on Brett’s second angelversary. On July 9, 2017, two years to the day when I lost Brett, I suddenly and very unexpectedly lost my mom at 72 years old. So grandmother and grandson share an angelversary just two years apart. The two people who are the most important and meaningful relationships in my lifetime –  my child and my mother!!

Submitted by Laura Becker, Mother