Finding Hope: Episode 1: Zac Crawford 

I just wanted to make something more clear. The point of these videos are not to be an entire biopic of a person. It just can’t be done. To create enough and talk enough and tell enough stories can never be done. Because a person isn’t gone after suicide. They live on in our memories of us. And it’s incredibly healthy to discuss with each other and remember the good times. But this video can’t do that for everyone. The point is to explain who a person is, explain what happened to them, and then explain that persons experience with the suicide. And then to explain how we can help prevent more suicide from those we love and don’t even know, in the future. I wish Zac was here so he could show you who he was. More than almost anything. But it’s up to me to limit the stories of those we lost to a format that more people can see. I hope you understand. And I’m sorry if my attempts to spread this message have upset you. It’s never been my intention. Telling their stories and preventing suicide. That’s my intention.

Zac was such a light. It sounds cliché, but he was one of those people that when he walked into a room, you were automatically intrigued by him and felt you had known him for a long time. Being friends with Zac, his family, and his girlfriend the year leading up to his passing was one of the times I am most thankful for in my life. Zac made you want to be a better person and friend. He always had a way to make you laugh and feel important. We didn't know as much about mental health in our younger years and never realized the full capacity of Zac's struggles. I like to think that despite his inner sadness, Zac knew how loved and appreciated he was.