 
Let me tell you a little about my best friend.
She was born Tammy Michelle Goodwin, on May 7,1974
in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was a loving
daughter, sister, aunt, wife, and above all, a loving
mother. She also was an outstanding friend.
Her love wasn't just for people.
Tammy also had a great love for animals.
She was a volunteer for Yorkshire Terrier
Rescue
Network. In doing this she fostered sometimes old,
sometimes ill, yorkies until they could be adopted.
Her love for animals didn't end there. I became
sort of a "foster mom" for some kittens, one of
which had been dropped to the ground by a hawk.
This poor kitten struggled to survive, but to no
avail. One evening I called Tammy to tell her that
this one kitten was not going to make it. Within
minutes, Tammy was at my house, and the desicion
was made to put the kitten to sleep. Without
hesitation Tammy and my two oldest daughters took
the kitten to the vet, while I kept our eight year
old daughters with me. Tammy brought the kitten
home to be burried in her backyard. That is only
one of many stories about Tammy's love and
kindness. No matter what the situation, Tammy was
always willing to help a friend or animal for that
matter who was in need. Tammy was more like a
sister than a friend to me. Rarely do we meet
someone in our lives that instantly becomes our
friend and soon becomes a part of our family,
however, Tammy was just that kind of person.Her
daughter Taylor was a big part of our lives as
well. Tammy ended her life on May 16, 2002 just
hours before Taylor came home from school. When
Taylor arrived home that day, a fireman told her
to go to her friend Amanda's house. With us is
where Taylor stayed until Tammy's family arrived
from out of state. It was a very difficult time
for all of us, and though Taylor had many
questions, and cried lots of tears, she is the
reason that myself and my daughters got through
this terrible experience. Tammy loved and collected angels,
and now she is an angel herself. I know that she
is in heaven watching over us. We love and miss
you Tammy.
At sometime in our lives, we all have had to deal
with the loss of a loved one, be it a family
member or a friend. However loosing someone to
suicide is something which is so different from
the things in which we can't control. When someone
that you love makes the choice to end their life,
those left behind are left with many unanswered
questions. Then you have the people that say "oh,
suicide, that's the coward's way out." I say
they're WRONG! A person who chooses to take their
own life is feeling a pain deeper than anything
hopefully you and I will ever feel. What all of us
need to do is start listening and looking for
signs that someone you love may be thinking about
suicide. I know that for myself, I can think back
to the week or two before my best friend died and
see that the signs of suicide were clearly there.
We must open our ears, our eyes, and our hearts,
and put a stop to suicide!
*Warning Signs of Suicide*
Depression
Feeling hopeless or helpless
Anger or hostility
Inability to feel pleasure
Guilt
Isolation or withdrawal
Insomnia
Loss of appetite
Impulsive behavior
Thinking a lot about death
Thoughts, words, or actions that are "end centered"
Giving things away that are valued
Ending important relationships or commitments
Sudden uplift in mood after depression
Sudden change in behavior or disruptive behavior
Promiscuity
Severe outbursts of temper
Drug use
Not going to work or school
Unable to carry out normal daily tasks in life
If you or someone you know has one or more of
these warning signs, please talk to someone, if
you don't know who to turn to, and feel like all
your hope is gone, pick up the phone and call one
of these numbers. GET HELP BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!
1-800-SUICIDE
1-800-784-2433
Toll-Free in the U.S.
24 hours / 7 days
National Crisis Line
The Help Line USA
Toll-Free / 24 Hours
1-866-334-HELP
1-866-334-4357
TeenLine Hotline Help Center
4:00pm - 10:00pm
(714) NEW-TEEN
(714) 639-8336
.
1-888-747-TEEN
1-888-747-8336
 
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