This is my Nick – Nick Fisher

I prayed constantly when I found out I was pregnant with Nick. I already had my sweet little girl, Dayna. I asked God to please give me a son. If he gave me a son, I would raise him to be a good person and have Him in his life. I was blessed with my son and I raised him with God in his life. I continue to praise God for my Nick.

Nick was kind, smart, caring, known as a powerful athlete, and all that made him perfect in my eyes. He was well known in the community and very popular among his peers. He was so happy and loving – very fun to be around. He was my “sunshine” and his sister’s best friend.

My Nick grew up in a dysfunctional home. My ex killed his father when he was in 7th grade. His father was physically and mentally abusive to his mother. He followed in his father’s footsteps. At times, Nick would step in front of me to protect me. I left my ex when Nick was a sophomore in college. Why did I stay? He told me if I told anyone, he would kill Dayna and Nick, me, and himself. I believed it then and I believe it now. I told no one.

Nick was very successful in his short life. At age 19, he was the youngest captain on the Great Lakes. His favorite job was working as captain at a tour boat business on Lake Superior.

In four years he earned his Criminal Justice Degree. While going to college he worked as an EMT where he witnessed death and experienced saving lives. He was on the Rescue Team in our county. He worked here in Georgia at Grady Hospital as an EMT, he was a Police Officer, and he served six years in the Army.

Two deployments to Iraq, as a Scout Sniper, changed Nick into a quiet shadow of a person. The PTSD sent him into a whirlwind of extreme drug abuse. I didn’t recognize this Nick…the lying, the stealing, the change was so unbelievable. I tried everything I could to get him help. I couldn’t save

my son’s life.

Nick’s freshman year of college, he got hurt playing football. He had surgery with a metal plate and screws placed in his knee to hold it together – a cast from his toes to his groin caused him to be immobilized. He was given Percocet for the pain. And this is how and when my Nick began the life of a substance use abuser.

When the rifles were shot at Nick’s military funeral, it felt like they were ripping through my heart. It still feels like that today. A part of me died that day!