Today’s post is very personal. I usually don’t like to share this but I think its very important I share my story with all of you. Almost two years ago I lost one of my dearest cousins to suicide. This was devastating to my whole family because Santi was always full of sunshine. Before this happened I always thought suicide was the ultimate selfish act. But after this experience, I saw how wrong I was and how suicide is darkness. In 2013 (latest available data), there were 41,149 reported suicide deaths, making suicide the fourth leading cause of death for adults between the ages of 15 and 64 years in the United States. That is tragic. We HAVE to do something to help.
Santi’s sister, Mariana, is not only one of the brightest, most beautiful young women I know, but she’s also the strongest. I admire her strength through this all and her determination to spread suicide awareness. This Saturday she will be joining thousands of people nationwide to walk in The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Out of the Darkness Walk in Washington DC. This foundation is the leader in the fight against suicide. They fund research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss.
It may not seem like much, but every donation to AFSP gives others hope to come out of the darkness. If we can spare just one family from going through what we’ve been through, we’ve succeeded in our battle. Please donate whatever you can to my cousin Mariana’s walk {click HERE to donate}Even if you only have $5 to share, we all appreciate your effort to fight suicide. Losing Santi has been the hardest trial in my life. Words cannot describe how much I miss his radiant smile and goofy personality. He will never be forgotten.
And just remember to always be kind my friends. You never know what people are going through. Make it your goal in life to be kind to everyone you meet. Take time from your busy lives to check in on your loved ones, – you never know when they might not be here anymore.
Thank you for bringing such happiness to my life my friends. I hope I can do the same for you!
Xo,
You are so brave for sharing this with the world. It is SO important to be kind to everyone you meet. Being mean doesn’t do anything to better yourself or anyone around you.
Thank you for sharing this Luisa! I too lost someone very near and dear to my heart to Suicide, and also shared the very same opinions as you until it happened. I feel the AFSP is extremely important to our society and want to thank Mariana for her dedication. For others who are confused and want to get involved, I found a lot of solace in volunteering at a Child Bereavement Center. Not only did I learn about coping mechanisms, but I could also teach and be support for young children. It is so important to remember, suicide is a sickness and while AFSP is doing everything they can, it still happens, and survivors are not alone.
xo,
Monique
Luisa, thank you for opening up and being so honest and transparent. I am thankful for people like you and Mariana who bring awareness about this very important issue. It’s something we don’t talk about enough! Hugs.
Such a nice and important post, thanks for sharing! xoxo