Hello everyone, as some many know, along with my sister (Brooke) and two nieces (McKenzie and Chesny), we are working to bring awareness to suicide and increase prevention through our page and fitness challenge in honor of Sgt. Tyler John Wood.
One thing I have learned over the years, is that so many can lose the same amazing person but we all have our own individual stories of loss. No event is the same nor does the experience affect everyone the same. The same is with our story. I am Jackie, Tyler’s aunt, my little man’s aunt. I don’t know where that nickname started but it is the one I called him shortly after he was born. I have memories of Tyler before he was born, with him kicking me in the head while I laid by my sister's belly. I officially met our redheaded ball of energy just before my 12th birthday when I was given one of my favorite names, Aunt Jackie. Tyler and I had many experiences together, we grew up together. I wanted to spend all the time I could with him and Brooke. Tyler and I often shared our most troubling news and our most important events. I am still trying to find my own ways to still share with him, that has been my way of dealing with some of the pain. I also deal by talking when others will listen. The day we got the call was a whirl win. This is a tragedy I never thought our family would experience (I’m sure that is the thought of many). “Tyler is gone”, are words that I will never forget. I stopped a basketball game that John was playing in with my screams and the Y staff came to check what was wrong (it had taken me a long time to go back). I didn’t feel I was that loud. I had John take the little two and I made it to the curb outside where I knew I needed to stay to regain my composure. I was devastated! All I knew was I needed to get Maekyla and get to the girls (McKenzie and Chesny) so we could get to Brooke. I knew I needed someone so I called my best friend Haley who had been through almost everything with me since joining the Army, a bond that I hoped Tyler would make while serving. She was the one person I knew that would calm me enough to do what I needed to. A lot of that day I remember in bits and pieces but I can truly say that I am so glad our family is so close! We all come together when we need to. This family isn’t just blood, it is those that love Tyler with all of our being! I truly hope he always knew how much he meant to all of us. I would have done anything for my little man! I always thought he would be by my side as we mourned the loss of those we love. I also thought my little boy, Johnavyn, would grow up watching Tyler as a role model, now I will just ensure to share the stories with him. Kinzley will share with Johnavyn the silly side of Tyler because her fondest memory was how he would tickle her. This is some of my story, I try to be the strong one but sharing is one of my ways of dealing. I hope anyone that has a loss is able to find their way. Please know that your loss and story is important. I can never know the loss anyone else has felt even with losing this same amazing person, just as others couldn’t know mine and that is okay! I can show empathy and listen, so please if you want to share a story I will listen. One of my wishes is that our page can be a safe place for others to share their stories of Tyler or their loved ones. A safe place. Memories and Wood’s Warriors SAP is how we will keep Tyler with us. I truly thank you all for joining us in our mission to raise awareness for suicide prevention and normalize the discussions of mental health!
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