MENTOR, Ohio — A Mentor mother of two and nurse at the Cleveland Clinic is finding hope in the little things after losing her daughter to suicide last year.
Brittany Lawerence was working a typical day at the clinic and had been texting back and fourth with her daughter, Autumn Issa, earlier in the day before receiving a phone call that would changer her life forever.
The messages read:
Autumn: "I love you, I just want you to know I love you,"
Brittany: "of course I love you, what's wrong? "
Autumn: "nothing, I just want you to know that I love you."
Shortly after, the messages stopped and Lawerence received a call from police. Her daughter Autumn, a student at Shore Middle School, took her own life due to bullying.
Lawerence recalls running down the hallways of her job to her bosses office, trying to make sense of what was happening.
" I think my daughter is gone, I have to go," she recalls saying.
Now, a year later, she encouraging parents to be hyper involved in their children's lives and activities.
"I thought I was doing everything a parent should do," explains Lawerence.
She wants parents to pay attention to their kids social media, know who they're talking to and know what's being said to them. Even if you think you're involved, to be involved some more.
"I understand that you're scared and afraid to say something, it might make matters worse. But you are not alone, there are other people feeling how you feel, there's no stereotypical way of how someone looks or does or wears or doesn't wear or has or doesn't have that makes them any different than you. It's okay to not be ok."
Now serving as a voice for Autumn and others, Lawerence advocates for others to check on their friends and family, especially now. Mental health is a real thing.
A celebration of life if being held in memory of Autumn Saturday, October 3 at Stadium Bar and Grill in Mentor at 2 p.m.
All proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.