Jared Daniel Szalay

The day Jared was born was the happiest day of my life. I wanted to be a mother more than anything. Soon after he was born, I was diagnosed with cancer and never able to have another child. Jared was my pride and joy, my heart, my everything. My world ended when I was informed he was found unconscious in an ER bathroom in Dallas, Texas. On January 31, 2011, I had to make the decision to take him off life support. I was told there was no chance of him coming back and forced to make a decision that no parent should ever have to make. We give our children life and never expect to have to aid in their death. His life ended because of a horrible, nasty, addictive, relentless, and inexpensive drug called heroin.

Jared had everthing going for him, a loving, supportive family who encouraged him to follow his dreams. He was witty, intelligent, charming, handsome, and very personable. He was a typical boy growing up who enjoyed fishing, hunting, friends, animals, and traveling the world. His favorite was coming into my Kindergarten classroom and working with the children. He had a beautiful girlfriend, was halfway through college, and had a brand new truck (graduation gift). He always had a mind of his own, was very headstrong and determined to live life his way.

When I discovered his addiction to heroin it was a total shock and surprise. I had no idea that drug dealers were targeting our youth. I did everthing possible to get him the help he so desperately needed. He was in and out of rehabs for a year and featured on the Dr. Oz show and I believed that this was Jared’s saving grace from God. He was sent to one of the best rehab facilities in the nation. After two weeks, he was kicked out. His roommate snuck in drugs and he took them. Two days later he was in Dallas, Texas with an old suitcase and a few items of clothing. The hospital called because of the ID tag on the suitcase, informing me that my son had been found. That call was absolutely a mother’s worst nightmare. I told myself it wasn’t true and that it couldn’t possibly be that bad as I drove the agonizing 14 hous to rescue my baby and hold him close in my arms. Upon arriving, there was an orange sign on his door saying “Immediate Family Only.” I fell to my knees in despair knowing his fate was sealed. I cried harder than I’ve ever cried, I prayed harder than I’ve ever prayed, and screamed louder than I’ve ever screamed. I sat at his bedside for two days begging him to open his beautiful hazel eyes and tell me that everything was going to be okay.

Jared lived 20 years, 6 months, and 28 days. Because of his gift of organ donation, three other people now live on. I don’t understand how or why this had to happend to my son, I pray ever day that God will use his story to bring awareness to others about this horrible drug and to help others understand that even using heroin once can be a death sentence.

– Lori Magee