Individuals Paying It Forward

I wrote you a couple of days ago and told you I would tell you about my experience. Just to remind you, my name is Greg Yelland and you spoke with my mom in Grand Blanc, Michigan. This experience I encountered was something I will never forget. When I was a senior, there was a class in which I was the teacher assistant. The students in that class were about 2-3 years younger than I, and treated me with the respect of a classmate. One night I was talking with friends on the AOL instant messenger when a student from that class instant messaged me. Their exact words were, "I don't want to be here anymore." After a very brief conversation about them wanting to end their life, I was in a state of denial. I could either blow of the cries for help, or I could do something in order to maybe save this kids life. I immediately grabbed the phone and dialed 911. I did my best to explain to the operator what was going on, but because I did not have the students phone number or address, or even the correct spelling of the last name, the operator could not do anything. I did not want to give up because of the fact I had no idea what this students condition was. I decided I would call the teacher of the class in which I was an assistant in. We spoke briefly and came up with nothing, so he then called the principal of the school. Within 2 minutes I received a phone call from the principal who told me to meet him up at the high school to look through the students profile to come up with the information that the 911 operator needed. By this time it was 2:00 am. The principal arrived before I did because of a mix up of a meeting place at the high school and he called 911 and provided them with the information. When I arrived, we then called 911 again to see if they had any information that they could tell us. What I heard next is something I will never forget. The police broke into the students house and found that he had hung himself in his bedroom, but cut him down before he had passed away. The student was then rushed to the hospital where he was treated for mild suicide wounds. The operator told us what hospital, so at 2:30 in the morning I went to the hospital to find my friend laying on a hospital bed. My friend was doing well and we had a conversation which lasted about 45 minutes. It has been about a year now, and a kid who I never had a great friendship with, is now someone I care very much about. I am not sure if everyone is aware that suicide claims the life of over 84 young people EVERY DAY! This is a very important issue that should be discussed with our children and talked about frequently. This is my story about me being in that right place at the right time and being able to make a difference. I hope that you too, if given the chance, will rise up and do something that will have an impact.