The day of Debbie’s walk-a-thon was a beautiful sunny day. The walk-a-thon was in Debbie’s memory with the hope of creating awareness of the epidemic of prescription drug abuse.
Debbie had been cremated and I had a small urn with some of her ashes. I had a poster size portrait made of her and wanted to take her to her event. I felt taking an urn was rather cold, so went to a manufacturer of teddy bears and asked them if they could create a teddy bear where the urn could go in the back. They said “yes” and I placed Debbie in the back and we went to the walk.
I had set up a pretty table for her picture and Teddy bear. I walked to the microphone to talk to those who had come to the event to hear about prescription drug abuse and the devastation it had on my family.
I went to bring Debbie up front, just to find out that Debbie and her bear had been stolen. You can imagine how panicky I was. One of the police came up to the microphone and asked whoever took the teddy bear to please bring her back because Debbie was inside the bear.
Two little boys came up crying, apologized and returned Debbie to me. As I went to set her on the table, more than 150 people were lined up to hug Debbie and her bear. There were many tears during that moment, and I realized how Debbie was touching so many people with her teddy. That day, Teddy’s Sleeping Angel was born.
I have traveled the United States lecturing to groups, churches and organizations on the epidemic of prescription drug abuse.
Debbie and Teddy have been at everyone of these lectures. They continue touching people, many who are suffering as we all are who have lost a loved one to this awful epidemic.
May God be with us all.
Love,
Linda
