Daniel Vincent Staib May 15, 1983 to June 20, 2006
Joppatowne, Maryland
forever 23
official web site www.DanielStaib.com

Dan was loved and loving, strong and physical, smart and intuitive, artistic and creative, kind and loyal, proud and giving,thoughful and understanding, fun and funny. He said so many times when we discussed his future , "Mom,l I have my whole life ahead of me!" He believed that and we all believed that. After all, he was healthy, bright, young, strong and alive!! Dan had said that he could never let anything happen to himself, becuase he knew that it would break my heart.... and it has!!! My heart is broken as within my being there is that place that only Dan could fill. Without my "sun", my world is forever dimmed.
A mother's bond to her son is special and everlasting. My world can never be the same without Dan in it. He blessed my life with his life. My love for him is eternal and I will miss him forever.

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Some info about the nite Dan died....

Dan had a new girlfriend that introduced him to pills. That nite, he was with a group. Around midnite, they dropped him off at our house. He came in and made a dinner and went to his room to eat. Before he ate anything, he went to sleep and died. His 16 yrs. old brother and I found him dead in his bed the next morning. The untouched tray of food was still in his lap.

All through my kids' lives, I always told them how I felt so much better when they were here safe in the house. I always rather have their friends here than for my kids to be away.

It just overwhelmed me to realize that Dan was safe at home in his own bed in his room with his mother and father and brother in the house.... but he died..... from the killer Methadone.

First, the shock, the grief, the despair, the heartbreak. But then the anger. At Dan's viewing, I was told by those who dropped him off that nite, that earlier in the evening he had been unconscious and foaming at the mouth. They "thought" they should call 911, but did not want to get in trouble. So instead they got him up and dropped him off reminding him to eat something. ... which of course he died before he could. No one told us anything about what was going on with Dan that nite before they chose to just drop him off. His brother had just returned from work and was outside when they arrived. They could have said something to him!!! .... anything to have saved Dan's life.!

The coroner said that Dan had no alcohol in his system. He had a muscle relaxer and just a minimum amount of methadone. But the combination made it a lethal dose! Even one pill can kill!

More unbelievable news came to us from the police who said that Dan's death was the 3rd death!!!! (in 18 months)associated with the particular house Dan was that evening. They know about that house but nothing can be done??? That is so maddening. If something had been done after the first death maybe there would not have been #2 and #3 and Dan and the other boy would still be here.

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Since Dan' death, I have been very active in a parent support group for those who have drug issues with kids in their family. I now know so much about methadone that I had never known before.... how it is so easy around because of the way it is being carelessly put out their by these doctors.

I wear a picture of Dan and when people ask about him, I tell everyone what happened. Like you I want everyone to know how dangerous a drug like methadone can be.... even for those given it by doctors.