Louis Theodore Miceli was born on January 5, 1988. Louie was such a beautiful baby. He always seemed beyond this years -- very curious, intuitive, and stubborn. My son was also family focused and truly valued those relationships as the most important in his life -- focusing most of his energy on enjoying life with us to the fullest.

Louie loved to laugh, eat and flirt but football was his passion. He started taking opioid prescription painkillers following a football injury in high school so he could stay in the game. But the pills created an addiction Louie could not shake. Eventually he switched to heroin, a cheaper, easy to get alternative that made my son unrecognizable.

Louie began stealing and missed family events. Twice he went to rehabilitation and twice he left committed to staying clean. But on August 7, 2012, Louie fatally overdosed on heroin. I am shocked, frustrated, angry and confused as to how this could have happened.

In Louie's name, my family created a non-profit organization, LTM Heroin Awareness and Support Foundation, and every day we share his story to help educate our community and impressionable students about the dangers of drugs and addiction. From the feedback that we have received, I know we are making a difference.

Nothing will bring back Louie, but he did not die in vain and he will never be forgotten.