My brother killed himself on December 12, 1992. All of those involved were hurt by what happened. If someone is thinking about killing themselves, this story might help them decide not to.
Some people may think that suicide is the answer, but it is not. Problems and unresolved issues will keep coming back to haunt family and friends for a long time.
When he was a baby, my nephew always asked me about his uncle. He finally figured out how to point to the sky and say, "Uncle Scott."
But the truth is that he didn't get to benefit from and be helped by his uncle as he grew up. And, of course, there will be a lot of family time that will be missed over the years.
Suicide is permanent. And the effects it has on people you care about also last a lifetime.
When he chose to kill himself, my brother was only 22 years old. Only 24 years old.
I remember that I went to the viewing and saw his dead body. They couldn't quite get rid of all the signs of how he had been killed. And that picture will stay in the minds of the living forever.
In the end, the temporary pain that a person might escape by killing themselves might be outweighed by the pain and sadness of their family and friends. When they think about it, they may feel pain for many years to come.
Everyone else's growth is also stunted by the missed chances to connect. Now, all of the many interactions that would have happened are gone.
Who knows how this could have changed the way things turned out? The family he might have had will no longer be there.
The good times and bad times of a life will never be known. A decision that may have been made quickly in a time of confusion or pain cut short the fulfilment of a lifetime.
We never know who we will meet and talk to over the course of our lives. All of those "plays" of life won't be able to happen because one of the actors won't be there to play his part.
So, the total cost of the tragedy is unknown, but it seems likely that it must have been quite high since it happened over a long period of time. I'm afraid we won't get to find out.
Even though I'm telling everyone about this family tragedy in this article, if it saves just one life, it will have been worth it. If you ever want to talk, send me a note. I'd love to hear from you.
