‘Strange, isn’t it? Each Man’s Life Touches so Many Other Lives.’ – Title is a line by Clarence the Angel from “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Many people know, I started my “Justice Journey for Jill” shortly after her death as a result of prescribed OxyContin. I set out to learn everything I could about the drug and the company that markets it and mass manufactures it – Purdue Pharma.

Within a short period of time, I realized there was criminal activity on the part of Purdue Pharma in their promotion of OxyContin and I connected with government agencies throughout the country to be heard. I soon discovered my “Justice Journey” was not only for Jill — but for all victims (and their families) of a very greedy and evil pharmaceutical company — and they needed to have a voice.

I wanted in some small way to become their voice.

In the past nine years, I have been fortunate to talk and meet with parents who will always have unimaginable pain because of their loss — it has not always been easy to see the hurt these families are experiencing.

Do I feel these families should not be dreading the anniversary deaths of their children as I did yesterday?

You bet I do because all these deaths were at the hands of a pharmaceutical company that lied about the addictive and abusive qualities of OxyContin and still managed to bring in revenue of approximately $10 billion — with the FDA still refusing to reclassify the drug for “severe” pain only.

Those close to me know that I always say that God guides me and never leaves my side. Having a very strong faith and belief in God, I am convinced He sends me people to lift me and to keep me on the journey for justice.
Last summer, God sent me “Lou” who has been at my side since to encourage me, to love me, to keep my faith strong, to hear my thoughts before I even speak them, and to make me laugh again — I thank God every day for him.

Yesterday, I was restless and, of course, thought of Jill and the nine years since losing her. I decided to take a ride to the beach — my quiet place to pray and talk to God as I stand in the sand facing the peace of the ocean.

I brought some purple flowers — Jill’s favorite color was purple — and walked onto the beach — past the people sitting in their chairs and over toward the pier where it was quiet. I threw the flowers into the surf and twice they came back to me. As I was talking to God and watching the flowers get washed back up toward me again, I heard a man’s voice say, “Is that your flower?”

I looked over and three men in golf shirts and shorts were walking toward me. I replied that it was, and he asked if I had lost someone. I answered — “Yes, my daughter, and today is the 9th anniversary of her death.”

One man then asked, “How are you dealing with the loss of your daughter?” I told him that I turned her death into a cause to help others. They asked Jill’s name and how she died and they asked my name.

Now, here’s the part that if you don’t have a strong faith as I do, this may not impact you as it did me. One man said he was a pastor — the other man was a retired pastor — I don’t know what the third man’s profession was — he never said.

They asked if they could pray with me — I replied, “I would love that.”  They didn’t just pray with me — they encircled me and put their arms around me and the retired pastor delivered the most beautiful prayer asking God to continue to guide me.

I said to the retired pastor, “I don’t know what people do after a loss who don’t have a strong faith.” He replied, “They live their lives in turmoil with no answers — you have all your answers because of your faith.”

I was so touched by these three strangers — I don’t think I will ever forget them. They each hugged me goodbye and I realized it was definitely a “God moment.”

Oh, and the flowers never washed back up to shore — why?

Because one man waded way out into the surf and tossed them. I had tears in my eyes as I returned home — thanking God for these three wonderful strangers who reinforced the strong faith I have — and it was then that I realized I never asked their names.

A bell never rang, but I am convinced these three wonderful strangers who briefly came into my life yesterday and lifted me up were sent to me by God.

I only wish Jill had Lou in her life as her stepdad. They would have loved each other and she so deserved him.