If I am killed in my sleep, know that I tried to keep people safe. Our son
He told law enforcement that he would get a knife from the kitchen and hurt us in our sleep.
If we are killed in our sleep, know that we only wanted the best for our kids. For all of our kids. If something happens to us, lay blame at the root of the problem. Sure our killer should be held accountable, but lay the blame on the broken system of mental health care that exists in the state of North Dakota.
Blame
If we are killed in our sleep, lay the blame on the lack of compassion in a system that is confused about its purpose. A system that is limited in its ability to help by the very rights that protect each of us. The rights of those who suffer from mental illness collide with the rights of those who don’t. We are not the only ones who suffer at the hands of a broken system.
For us, the fight will be over. We pass the gloves to others, that our struggle for support for David will not have been in vain.
In each of us is a demon that struggles to gain control. For most of us, we are able to keep that demon at bay, locked behind the solid oak doors of our psyche. David wasn’t able to do so.
Prayer or Postscript
It is my distinct prayer that this post will be just another post and not a postscript on a well-meaning life that was cut short because of mental illness.