Emily's Pledge

Alexander Neville’s family shares his story with Emily’s Hope through the podcast Grieving Out Loud. Alex was a caring brother and got into the wrong crowd around 6th/7th grade. Prior to 7th grade, he was rarely in trouble and loved by his teachers and peers. Unfortunately, Alexander did not know how dangerous it could be to purchase a pill. Alexander was 14 when he died of fentanyl poisoning from a pill he purchased online.

Coco’s mother, Juliana, described Coco as vivid, lively, curious, full of jokes, and always showed sensitivity to others. Her mother shared that once she had access to social media and a phone, things started to change. Slowly, Coco stopped doing the things she loved, like track, gymnastics, and music. Her creativity stuck, which she expressed through fashion. Coco would go thrifting for clothing and create something new out of it. Instead of going thrifting, like her mother thought, Coco was lured online and purchased a Percocet laced with fentanyl.

Devin’s family lives in Hastings, Minnesota, and during the time of his death, his mom describes that there was a ring of young adults in their community selling pills via Snapchat. Unfortunately, Devin thought he was purchasing a Percocet. In what was believed to be the safety of his own home, he passed away from fentanyl. Devin was an athlete, honors student, and musician who made a deadly mistake.

Fawn was born on September 18, 2003. She endured a very challenging childhood until she was moved into foster care and found her forever home at age five. Fawn was smart and creative, often tweaking existing recipes or inventing her own. Fawn had a soft spot for kids and animals. She dreamed of working with adopted children, like herself, after high school. Fawn struggled with substance use, but reached out for help and was proud to have earned her one-month sobriety chip. Two days after leaving rehab, she overdosed and died due to fentanyl.

Jakob passed away in the early hours of April 22, 2024, at just 18 years old, due to fentanyl. The night before, he had visited his friend’s home, where he purchased a pill he believed would help him through the overwhelming emotions he battled daily. Unbeknownst to him, that pill was laced with fentanyl. From a young age, Jakob struggled with self-esteem issues, depression, and anxiety. He carried himself with compassion and had a gentle spirit that touched many. His death was sudden, devastating, and entirely preventable.

Jose died April 15, 2021, from fentanyl poisoning. He was just 20 years old, a vibrant young man whose life was tragically cut short. Born in Minneapolis, MN, Jose enjoyed traveling, playing basketball, making music, and spending time with friends and family. His dreams of starting a new job and enrolling in school for Auto Body/Auto Mechanics were stolen in an instant. In the wake of this tragedy, his family is committed to being his voice, working tirelessly to prevent other families from experiencing such heartache and pain.

Born and raised in South Dakota with her two sisters, Kaylee spent her childhood at the lake with her family, traveling for soccer and basketball tournaments, and was constantly surrounded by friends and laughter. Growing up, she discovered a love for makeup and creativity. She adored her pets, being an aunt, and caring for the people around her. Unfortunately, Kaylee lost her life due to fentanyl poisoning at the age of 19.

After graduating from high school with a 3.5 GPA, Maya went on to explore a career in cosmetology. Growing up, she loved hair, makeup, exploring, creating, beach days, and shopping. She had a magnetic presence, and people were drawn to her warmth, humor, and vibrant personality. Behind her bright exterior, she struggled. From the young age of 14, Maya battled depression and sought support through therapy and medication. Through an accidental overdose, Maya’s life ended without warning because of fentanyl.

Sammy’s dad describes the days before his death by saying a drug dealer reached out to him via Snapchat with a “colorful menu of drug choices.” Later, quoting “the drugs our son ordered, and delivered to our home like a pizza, we’re not drugs at all. What he ordered was not there…” Instead, it was pure fentanyl. After ordering a pill via Snapchat, Sammy’s family grieves the loss of their son due to fentanyl poisoning. Now, his parents are doing all they can to warn parents and students about the dangers of social media.

Thomas stood out growing up. He stood apart from societal expectations and always tried to befriend others and make them feel accepted for who they were. His faith and family were important to him. After returning home from his shift at Kohl’s, Thomas spoke briefly with his parents before heading to his room to relax. Thomas took what he believed to be a prescription Xanax, purchased for fifteen dollars via Snapchat. Unfortunately, this was a counterfeit pill, laced with a lethal dose of fentanyl. He died about one hour after returning home.

Another family grieves the loss of a child due to the accessibility of purchasing pills via Snapchat. As a senior in high school, Zach loved participating in athletics and school and enjoyed playing the piano from a young age. He had hopes and dreams for his future. Three months after he died, his family received the acceptance letter from his top-choice school, UCLA. Unfortunately, Zach’s life ended too soon, and he was never able to walk the campus because of fentanyl.