On July 10th, 2024, my world changed forever. My daughter Emily Dawn Barnett 32, died from fentanyl overdose poisoning. She had been fighting her addiction for 3 years. 
Any addiction starts out innocent enough, “I'm just going to try it, once”, we say to ourselves. The days, weeks, and years fly by and the next thing you know you become the thing you never imagined you would be. And the person you could be is so far away. 
Emily was on her way to becoming a very talented and compassionate Home Health Care Nurse. Our community has lost a much-needed caregiver. Everyone she worked with said she was a natural, her patients asked for her by name. 
In the past, I would suggest to her that she go for a career in the medical field, but she didn't think it would be a good fit for her. Then my mother (her grandma) had a heart attack and was suffering from throat cancer. So, grandma was put on hospice, in her home. Emily was with her everyday caring for her in every way. That's when her journey began as a home health professional. The hospice people were very impressed with her and told us that people like Emily were very much needed. So, she went back to school and started her education as a CNA with plans to go on to higher Certificates. Her addiction took over, and she was unable to attend and complete the course. She was working as a Nurses Aid until her death, but she was having attendance problems because of the effects of this powerful drug. 80 times stronger than heroin, in effect and addictive power.
She was living with me the last 6 months of her life. We had tried rehab twice. She tried to come off it here at home and let me tell you, the withdrawal symptoms are nightmarish. This drug makes your body and bones hurt, making you think the only fix is more of the drug. Terrifying hallucinations and insomnia on steroids. It's the nature of the beast; it won't let you stop. Please support and understand anyone who has overcome this or is struggling to overcome this. The odds are not good, I'm sorry to say.

Before she passed, she was reaching out to the sponsors of these billboards, Leona's Legacy of Love, Christy Maliszewski and Kelly Marie asking how she could help in the fight against fentanyl addiction. She had been reaching out to many family members of people whose loved ones were victims of this drug and were on these billboards asking for help and how she could help. And now she is one of the faces up there. It tears my heart out. I can only hope that it helps someone out of addiction, that's what she wanted to do, help others, any way that she could. Emily is 3rd from the left on the lower billboard. Please click on the photo below and support the effort in any way you can. Thank you