Save a Life: Join the Stop the Pain Movement Today

Save a life! Join the Stop the Pain Movement at Crazy8freedom.org today! by Christopher Mahan 

On the morning of Monday December 10, 2012 Pasco County heard that a local girl took her own life. Fueled by the local and social media the speculation was that Jessica Laney (16) had been relentlessly bullied and cyber-bullied. The internet was abuzz with the story.  This story is nothing new to Pasco County and the Tampa Bay area, Jessica was the sixth teen in 2012 die this way. The facts in Jessica’s case may not be clear. The Pasco Sherriff Chris Nocco and Pasco School Superintendent Kurt Browning stated that either office could not find sufficient evidence to declare the mental cause of Jessica’s decision to take her own life. I believe we can all agree that the loss is senseless and tragic. Crazy8freedom.org and the Stop the Pain movement are now working with the Pasco Schools to work with the county to find real solutions.

Until then what is clear, is that Pasco County and the Bay area have a real problem. The problem is children and teens are taking their lives at an epidemic rate. In 2011 five teens took their lives and the sixth attempted suicide was then 17 year-old Zachery Gray. Zachery was found hanging in his family shed and for all accounts he was gone. As his mother arrived on the scene as medical personal had been trying for some time to revive him. He was dark and lifeless with only faint pulse. Zachery was rushed to All Children’s Hospital, where he spent 71 days in ICU.

After this long and emotional time of hope and prayer the decision came down. Sadly, the doctors instructed the family to prepare to let him go. After coming to grips with the fact that their once happy and energetic son would soon be gone, with trepidations the family agreed to end Zachery’s suffering.  This is a decision that no parent would ever want to make. Do you turn off the machine and let them go peacefully or selfishly keep trying? In Zachery’s case he was showing no signs of recovery little to no brain activity. Turning off the life support machine and waiting to ease their young sons passing seemed like the kindest and most loving thing to do.

After saying “we love you” and “goodbye”, the machine went silent. To everyone’s shock and only by the Grace of God, young Zachery began breathing on his own. His parents, family and doctors were all amazed. How could this be? The medical staff and family could not believe this. Now the real tragedy begins for the family. Where will he go, how will we care for him? Today, Zachery is unable to move, speak, has limited response his only connection is through his eye movement and an occasional involuntary body stretch. Zachery’s father Tony told me “he sees us come into his room and he smiles, when we have to go he cries that is my only connection to my son”. Zachery lives in a 24 hour care facility in a bed and chair.

How did this happen to a young, happy teen that had full support and love from his parents and older brother? The answer goes back to his experience at Zephyrhills High School. The bullying was reported to administrators at the school, Zachery was continually mentally and psychically bullied, although he had girlfriend he was called “fag, queer, and gay.” He wanted it to stop. On a spring day in May, 2011 Zachery placed a chain around his neck and hanged himself.

This scene is one that is happening to teens and families throughout the Bay area. On January 19, crazy8freedom.org had our first Stop the Pain public forum to address cyber-bullying and teen suicide. We thought we were doing a good thing by getting the awareness out to the public, then on January 23, 2013 a young boy Miguel (12) was found hanged in his home. He lived in Hernando County Florida. All of us here at STP were sick. The emotional pain that our young people face and live with is driving them to believe that death is a solution to the evils in this world. We must help stop this belief and soon. You can help right now. Please log on to www.crazy8freddom.org to learn more and to donate to the Stop the Pain movement. The donation link will take you to Redeemer community Church and there you can donate to Stop the Pain (STP). All donations are tax deductible.

Our next community event is April 20 from 12 to 4 pm at Redeemer Community Church located at 9320 Ridge road New Port Richey Florida 34654.

Spring Fling “Express yourself through art and Christ” www.rccspringfling.com

Call 727-842-5278 or Contact Chris Mahan at Publicrelations@Redeemerlife.org

Photos from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2151482/Teen-suffers-brain-damag...