Jake Langille died on an air mattress at the age of 27 in his mother香蕉视频直播檚 Kelowna apartment on Jan. 22, 2017.
Groggy and lethargic from a night香蕉视频直播檚 rest of sleeping pills, Jake香蕉视频直播檚 mother ambled to her computer chair香蕉视频直播攁s she always does香蕉视频直播攏ot wanting to wake her son. After a few years of precarious living, the mother wanted Jake to feel rested and at home in her apartment.
It took much longer than anybody would want to willingly sit in a room, scanning Facebook, waiting for their dead son to awaken.
香蕉视频直播淚 couldn香蕉视频直播檛 hear breathing, no snoring; he couldn香蕉视频直播檛 move,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭hen I looked and he was blue. And that was that. That was the last time I ever saw him.香蕉视频直播�
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Jake moved to Kelowna after struggling to find his way in northern Ontario, where the mother and son are native to. His mother moved to Kelowna in 2014 and he visited for four months in 2015 to see if the area could help him move past his struggles.
His mom sent him back to Ontario for rehab and counselling. He wanted to get his life back on track. When he was ready, he came back to Kelowna to get a job, find stable housing and move forward. His mother even made him turn himself into police for a prior drug offence.
香蕉视频直播淗e was doing all the right things,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淗e was really a nice kid, he just had his struggles.香蕉视频直播�
She doesn香蕉视频直播檛 know how he got the money to buy drugs nor does she know where he consumed them and she doesn香蕉视频直播檛 know where he got them from, but Jake香蕉视频直播檚 blood stream was ridden with various types of drugs that caused an overdose, according to what officials told her.
Jake, according to his mother, was an amazing kid. He was a musician, smart, funny, caring and gentle. She emphasized that the only downfall was that he had his struggles, as many do.
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Gretchen Delguidice was a supporter in Wawa, Ont., and helped guide Jake in the months before he moved to Kelowna to rejoin his mother. She was so inspired by his commitment to healing and helping his friends, that when he passed, she wanted to honour him.
香蕉视频直播淛ake was just the most lovable person,香蕉视频直播� said Delguidice. 香蕉视频直播淚 lost that kid and it was a tough one for me.香蕉视频直播�
In 2019, presented by Jacquie Langille (Jake香蕉视频直播檚 grandmother) and Delguidice, the Make a Difference Award was priviledged to two Grade 8 students香蕉视频直播攐ne boy and one girl香蕉视频直播攚ho exemplify kindness and empathy to their peers and their community.
香蕉视频直播淭hey make a difference by being just a little different (in a good way),香蕉视频直播� the document reads.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 pretty cool, I香蕉视频直播檓 honoured and he would香蕉视频直播檝e loved it, too,香蕉视频直播� the mother said. 香蕉视频直播淓specially because it香蕉视频直播檚 for the underdogs.香蕉视频直播�
The award will be made annual and Delguidice is attempting to create two more awards for Grade 12 graduating students.
The Facebook post by Jake香蕉视频直播檚 mother garnered replies that read, 香蕉视频直播淲ow香蕉视频直播� I love this award!香蕉视频直播�, 香蕉视频直播淏eautiful香蕉视频直播攂rings tears to my eyes香蕉视频直播�, 香蕉视频直播淚 so love this香蕉视频直播� what an amazing legacy香蕉视频直播� and so needed. Beautiful香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 at a loss for words, but this truly touched my spirit.香蕉视频直播�
READ MORE:
Through Jake香蕉视频直播檚 story, his mother wishes for people to understand the opioid crisis, drug addiction and homelessness, although they often correlate, they don香蕉视频直播檛 always bind a person to one stereotype. Jake did not die on the streets. He died on his mother香蕉视频直播檚 air mattress one dreary, often re-lived morning.
香蕉视频直播淭hey are trying to do the best they can,香蕉视频直播� his mother empathized with others who struggle in secret.
香蕉视频直播淭hey are empaths, the free spirits, the grey in a world of black and white,香蕉视频直播� the document concluded. 香蕉视频直播淭hese students challenge us to look at life and people differently.香蕉视频直播�
David.venn@kelownacapnews.com
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