I will never forget the first time I saw Kevin it was 3:26 am when he came into my life and stole my heart forever. He was my second son.
Kevin was a beautiful child with a mind of his own, difficult at times but his sweet smile made me forget that I was angry or upset with him. He grew into a loving young man. As Kevin grew up he was not only my son but also my best friend. We were joined at the hip as they say. We shared so many interests, collecting treasures at yard sales working together at the ice cream store that his father owned and then together again at 7-11 that was owned by his dad. We laughed so much during those times and had great fun. The thing that we shared the most was our love for all animals. All of his life he would bring any stray animal he found home. He had such a compassionate heart; he loved deeply the things that he was passionate about. He was generous to the homeless on the streets, and if someone could not pay their grocery bill at the store, he took care of it.
I not only loved him, I respected the man that he was.

I found out that Kevin was addicted to heroin December 7, 1999, five days before his 27th birthday. He told me himself and I went to my knees. I could not believe that I missed all the signs that he had a drug problem. After the initial shock, I took him to rehab. He stayed one night. Kevin and I fought this horrible disease for five years. I took him to many rehabs during that time and he could never complete the programs. I never stopped believing that he would recover. During this time that he was so sick he never stopped being the kindest person I knew. I never stopped loving him; I never gave up on him or the hope that one-day he would be free from the demons that haunted him.

In the early morning of November 14, 2004 Kevin was free.

My heart is broken in pieces that will never mend. I miss him every minute of every day. I am proud that I was chosen to be his mother for 31 years and I know that he is with me still and we will laugh and sing together again someday.

Pamela Wilson-Hall