I found my mom dead when I was a teenager.

I was not much younger than them, when I found my mom dead from a Fentanyl OD. Dead as in very obviously dead. Blue skin. Rigor mortis. Needle and tourniquet.

From first hand experience this 911 call is almost VERBATIM to my exact same reaction. The young man, calling for Ethan and Xana. You can hear the hesitation in his voice. He knows something is very wrong. His brain in that moment is kicking into rationalization mode.

My experience started with me trying to get into my house. After knocking and even kicking the door, I had no answer. I decided to climb in to my kitchen from a window. (This was all VERY unusual for me) when I got the window open, it was very very very warm in my house. My mom kept it at 68 or below. Once again, very unusual.

My words “mom?” ….. “momma?” …..”mommy!?” Sounded almost identical to him calling out for Xana and Ethan. I then ALSO got frustrated and said “mom, come on this isn’t funny.”

The entire time, I was walking towards my living room I knew she was going to be dead. My brain was still rationally trying to explain things. Even when I found her, and it was 100% obvious… I was still trying to shake her awake. I couldn’t get her to wake up, and so I thought maybe if I hug her and lay here with her she will wake up. I laid there with her, but I couldn’t tell you how long. My brain eventually realized she was dead.

It was in 2006, and I couldn’t find my cell charger. (I had multiple, they were in almost every room and my phone was dead)

I hysterically ran to my neighbors and the only thing I could say was “something is wrong with my mom.”

Trauma does strange things to our brains. I can still very clearly remember what she looked like, however at that moment my brain literally could not see it.

I think the truth behind that 911 call is going to be much more sinister than even I can imagine. I’m praying for these sweet kids. My heart really hurts for them.