Thank you Chrystal

I remember when we spoke one day over 2 years ago maybe you don't remember me. That is okay! So many mother's with tears. I remember when my daughter attended your sons funeral and how sad she was, then just few month's later my daughter had to attend her brother's funeral.

I am sorry for your loss. I am grateful for all you have done to speak out about this horrific tragedy.

Gone to soon, they are all gone to soon!

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Visit Nick's website
Staring up at the new billboard she had installed on Milwaukee Avenue in Wheeling, Chrystal Beinlich starts to cry.

"If this doesn't get their attention, I don't know what will," the Lincolnshire mother says, as she wipes a tear off her cheek and a friend wraps an arm around her shoulder. "If we have to be in people's faces, we will."

The billboard, which went up Monday, urges parents to talk to their children about heroin and offers free drug-testing kits at nickbeinlich.com. It's Beinlich's latest effort to educate parents about heroin's growing presence in the suburbs, which has been her mission since her 18-year-old son, Nick, died of an overdose in 2007.

Getting parents' attention has been difficult and frustrating, she said, because of a prevalent not-my-kid mindset.

Parents took every precaution to protect their children from H1N1 swine flu, which killed 76 people statewide this year. Yet, heroin killed more than 100 people in the suburbs alone in 2009 and Beinlich said it seems as if hardly anyone blinked. Drug educational forums put on by several suburban high schools and police departments drew only a few dozen people each.

"There's blood running in the streets, but no one's paying attention. They just walk over it like it's a puddle," said Lea Minalga, a Geneva mom whose son is a recovering heroin addict. She now runs Hearts of Hope, a group that helps families deal with drug addiction. "I (tell parents), 'Do you understand that unless you're prepared, this could happen to you?' They think it can't happen to them, so they tune out."

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Dear Doc Keller,

Life just happens when you least expect it to. Death does too, but you know this all to well.
I can't imagine what your life is like. I honesty would not want to be in your position, as I am sure you would certainly not want to be in mine.

I was quite shocked today when I read the Daily Herald article. "Dr. Richard Keller won't seek re-election in 2012." Politics has been interfering with his responsibilities and outreach efforts......

I have to apologize as my daddy told me never to talk about politics!
So if the readers of my blog need to know more they can click here article -By Russell Lissau

I will tell you a little story though, my third week into my senior year in high school my chemistry teacher asked me if I had enough credits to graduation if I dropped his class. "Why do you ask?" I said. His response - "We alrighty then, do yourself a favor drop the class, when your grade report comes and you get an "F" it will affect your grade point average!"

So, I ran straight to the office and dropped the class. It was 10:30 AM; yes in the morning.
I went and got myself a job at 17 years old. Nope never went to college to become that Nurse I wanted to be, instead I worked full time everyday up until 2005.

Yes, life does just happen ~ for the good or the bad, for the right and for the wrong.

I am a survivor of my life.

You as well Doc Keller will survive this choice you have made. I respect your decision and thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping take care of my son. Yes, and all the the other boys too.

I will continue my journey helping the only way I know how, as I was taught.
Be good to others and they shall be good to you.

You are a wise and honest man, I respect your decision. Life is to short, do what you need to do.
It's so late and I am so tired - I think I'll finish this in the morning!