Banner Sponsors
For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Hi all,
I know I have not been on the computer much lately. I've been going crazy getting ready for my Open House show - and then also realized it might be nice if I had bears for my own show.
Anyways... I don't like bringing up sad subjects... but I felt it was important to pass on to educate people..
We just got another dreaded call last night... another family member died. This time is was a very close cousin - only 40 years old. He died after inhaling freon.
I know I live kinda a sheltered life... I AM aware of making drugs from Sudafed... how can you not be aware when you try to go and buy it. But I had no idea people still sniffed glue, spraycans, freon and the like to get high. I did a little research and found that the practice is very common with kids. Easy to come by and the substances are not illegal.
We thought we knew our cousin -- obviously we did not know everything. We don't know if this was his first time or if he had been doing it a while.
He was a teacher... he taught at a technical school. You would THINK he'd know better! My guess is he choose freon because it was easily available (he taught cars) and ... they do random drug testing at his work - but they don't test for inhalants becasue I don't think it is possible to test for those.
People who "huff" don't realize how deadly it can be. It is very difficult to "measure" how much substance you are taking... and so very easy to die.
I am so sad... and SO mad at him for doing such a stupid thing! My gosh, when we talked to his brother... a former sherrif... he said, yes, they had a high number of deaths caused by sniffing stuff. As I mentioned... I don't usually post these types of subjects... but I feel it IS important for people in general to be aware of how dangerous and deadly this can be.
Still won't be online much as I still have to get ready for the show.. and the funeral.... 
Pumpkin & Pickle BearsOh Laura Lynn, I'm so sorry to hear of you sad news. :hug:
I also thought sniffing glue and such was something of the past! 
Take care of yourself and good luck with the show - not that you'd need it as your bears are GORGEOUS!! 
Sunnie BearsLaura
I understand completely where you are coming from. My nephew died several years ago at the age of 17 of exactly the same thing. he was a straight A student ready to graduate high school. His younger brother apparently talked him into tryng it, then he left him in the room by himself. When he came back in a few minutes later, he was dead. The freon FROZE his lungs. He was at home with his parents at home also, but there was nothing they could do to save him. It is so sad when an extremely talented young person with a bright future does something so stupid and it costs them thier life. They think it will not happen to them. They might hear that it can kill them, but I don't think anyone ever mentions to them that it freezes thier lungs and there is no recovery. The public does need to be aware of this. There is no turning back once it starts freezing.
My heart goes out to you.
Hugs
Sonya
Canna Bear PaintLaura,
I'd been wondering how you were doing preparing for your big show! I'm so sorry to hear about your cousin's tragic death. Unfortunately yes, huffing is EXTREMELY common. My mother put up a fence around her property last year, as she lives partially on the edge of woods and the neighborhood kids were using the cover of the trees for, well, everything. When the contractor's crew came out to clear brush to make way for the fence, they also cleared out garbage out after garbage bag after garbage bag after garbage bag of the kids' trash. It was all alcohol and huffing stuff. Beer, cheap wine, hard liquor, and lots of aerosols. The contractor's crew, all big tough guys, were shell-shocked at the stuff that was back there. Incidentally, the kids in question are high school age down through pre-teen. Thank you for bringing up such an important subject.
Hugs,
Kelly
THank you all so much... I just came back to edit my post... to explain why freon was so incredibly accessible to him. He used to be a mechanic and now taught others at a tech school how to be one.
Oh my gosh Sonya... how terribly tragic! I am so saddened by my hubby's cousin's death. He still had 1/2 of his life in front of him... but at 17!!?? THat is even sadder.... and yes, most of the reports are that mostly young people abuse inhalants. Freezing the lungs?? How awful
Oh Kelly how terrible too! It is so frustrating to have it going on so close to you.. and not be able to do anything about it....
Love you all!
Claudia's KnuffelbaerenLaura Lynn, I'm so sorry to hear of your sad news. :hug: :hug: :hug:
Sophie Z'OursOh, Laura Lynn, how sad!
My condolences.
Good luck with your teddy bear show: it should bring back a smile ob your face.
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
My husband is a therapist for the county and deals with this kind of thing, albeit usually peripherally (he works with adults and not in the drug & alcohol programs), all the time. It's incredibly common and supremely dangerous and if you DO manage to live, you've just lost a heaping scoopful of brain cells to every huff.
I'm deeply sorry to hear that huffing has now affected the lives of people I know personally, and hold dear -- you, Laura and Sonya!
Laura, you've got my thoughts and prayers...
Past Time BearsI'm so very sorry, Laura . . . he had much to live for. 
THank you all so much :hug:
Posts: 2,203Laura, Hugs too you. How sad you must be. If you need to talk call me. :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
bears by beesley TMOh Laura! I am so sorry for your loss and thank you for posting this subject. It is much more common than one thinks. I feel so bad for you and your family. Gosh what a year you have had. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and please please take good care of yourself Hon!
hugs and Much Love Louise
Flying Fur StudiosOh man, that is HORRIBLE!
I know one of my brothers used to sniff pam, and I know kids sniff gas. But I didn't know it was such a problem. No idea kids were sniffing all kinds of things. Don't people tell them, like Shelli says, they are just scooping out brain cells.
So very scarey,but good to know if we're planning on havning kids.
I''m soo sorry Laura, :hug:
Dolls N DreamsSo sorry for your sad news.
Sending Prayers & hugs your way......... :hug:
Baird'sBears Laura Lynn and Sonja,
I'm so sorry--what tragic news. I had no idea anyone sniffed freon, or what it could do.
:hug: Hugs and prayers for all the families involved :hug:
Back Road BearsLaura ..... What a a lot mixed feeling you must have right now. But how awful! Of all the ways to die! Huge hugs to you all!
Heather.... PAM???? Good grief!! :doh:
Bear Paws by RoxanneLaura,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My thought are with you.
I just want to tell you that I too lost a very close cousin yesterday. She was only 52 years old. Her husband found her on the kitchen floor early Wednesday morning. I really was not going to mention it today, but I wanted to share something with you all. You know how you get those poems and what not forwards in your e-mails. Well, This is the last e-mail forward that we received from Gail the evening she passed away.....
I was thinking...
I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said. Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don't love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile can do.
And just in case GOD calls me home before I see you again.......
I LOVE YA!!!
Nova Scotia,Canada Deepest, heartfelt sympathies to all involved and affected . :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
Charlotte Des Roches DesignsSo Sorry about the sad news! Best of luck with your show LauraLynn:hug:
Hugs &
Chowlea BearsI am so sorry for everyone's loss - its so frustrating and difficult to get your head round what appears to be such a waste of valuable people. What have we lost by their passing, what dreams are unfulfilled?
Luxembears((((((((((((((((((((HUGS :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: )))))))) Laura.
Patsy Lake BearsLaura Lynn I am sorry for your loss.
Laura Lynn, that is such sad news for you and your family. Things like that just break your heart don't they.
My condolences. :hug: :hug:
God bless u Laura good luok with the show....
Posts: 8,574It is hard one someone your cousin's age does something like this. I appreciated that you stated that you were also angry with him, for being so dumb, because that is so healthy. I would be royally angry too. We don't realize how many lives would be affected if we did something stupid that caused our death or if we committed suicide. The poor families are always left wondering and trying to second guess if they could have somehow stopped the actions.
