Heather was a beautiful 26-year-old and was the mother of a wonderful little girl named Kayla.

On July 3, 2000, after living with her drug connection for 11 weeks, Heather collapsed in an empty apartment after using crack cocaine. She was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital (in Phoenix) at 1:30 p.m. and we were not notified until 8:30 p.m. that night. She was admitted as a Jane Doe and the man who gave her the drugs did not have the decency to call us and let us know she was dying in the hospital. The police finally found him and he gave them our name and telephone number.

Heather had been without oxygen for 45 minutes or more. She was removed from all life support on July 4, 2000. Her 10-year-old daughter, her dad, and sister flew in from Iowa and said their last good-byes.

I am Heather's Mom and she did not deserve to die this way.

We were desperately trying to help Heather and begged this man to leave Heather at my sister's. The police and a private investigator all visited her and said she seemed alright and she wanted to be there. Heather held the same job for 4½ years as an optician she was a wonderful mother who adored her daughter Kayla. I want others to know her story.

Please help me get Heather's story out there. It is a sad tragic story of depression and addiction and it cost Heather everything, including her life. I miss her everyday and if her story can help one teen not to use drugs, I will tell it over and over again.

Sincerely,
Heather's Mom