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Phyllis Pearsall Memorial Fund

A personal campaign sponsored by Patti Hamilton

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A message from Dan's Mother, Phyllis Pearsall, April 6, 1922 - April 13, 2017

The second a person successfully commits suicide; the next second is left for their friends and family to make sense of it.  My son Dan died by suicide on March 23rd, 2016 at age 57.   Instantly, our family, his daughters, and friends became suicide survivors. People who knew Dan knew him as a handsome, fun loving guy with a giant smile, never knowing that inside he was struggling with his own battle against depression. For our family, in that second, our entire lives changed right down to the very core.  We were missing a very important link. Following Dan's death we were met with a whirlwind of emotions, from sadness, to anger, to guilt. We were left with so many unanswered questions and so much uncertainty of what the future would hold for us. The only thing that was certain was that our hearts were broken.  Each day that passes we miss him more than the last but with time, each of those days are leaving a little room for our heartbreak to heal. Though it’s been a tough journey, we are all finding our way. We’ve found a way to remember, we’ve found a way to forgive, but most importantly we’ve found a way to give.  We truly believe that with research, education, and advocacy, we can make a difference. Most importantly so that the people struggling with depression or mental disorders can get the help they need and so that families don’t have to go through the heartache ours has. We love and miss Dan very much and hope that you will all show your support by making a donation in memory of him, no matter how big or small. Thank you all for your continued support.