December 14, 1997 my youngest son completed his suicide, December 16, 1997 his father lost his battle to cancer. During that time, there was no one who wanted to say the word "suicide." It has been a long and difficult journey but I am glad I was one of the judges and was at the Alaska Association for Student Government's program to talk about suicide prevention. We are not just talking about the suicides but we are having positive media as in your wonderful on-line newspaper to share what is being done about the suicides. Alaska has the #1 position in suicides across the Nation. This kind of media has been an answer to a 14-year old prayer. As you can tell, I pray those lives we lost to suicide does not go unnoticed. I used to say "he was only 23 years old," but in order to sleep, I say, "I was blessed with 23 years of his life." Rest in peace my baby. Love mommy / Barb Franks (Anchorage, Alaska).