Our son Michael left us on Christmas 2005. He was a great son. Michael loved and always forgave everyone especially those who hurt him most. He seemed to have a childlike innocence, yet so mature. Things that matter to him most seemed to always be concerning someone else's feelings. Michael always wanted to see good in people. He could never understand why people wanted to hurt him, yet all the hurt never changed him. He was always the same loving guy It almost seemed as though he was to good for this world. He just didn't fit.

Michael had only a small trace of methadone in his system when he passed. His blood alcohol content was only 0.02. The coroner told us that he obviously had never taken methadone before and only had a couple of drinks. There is no way of knowing when he took the methadone, but it's possible he took it a few days before. Methadone can stay in your system for a few days depending on your metabolism. Michael was being treated for chronic pain so we are yet to find out if he got the methadone from a doctor or off the street. All we know is it's the first time he had it according to coroner and toxicology report.

It isn't fair for a drug that dangerous to be allowed to filter out on the streets. With other drugs if you make a mistake and try them you may get a second chance. With methadone there are no second chances. You make a mistake and your dead. Thousands have died from taking as prescribed. This is how unpredictable it is. We need to work together to educate people and to get this dangerous drug back into clinic's where it belongs.

Dave and Donna Freeman

To Michael,

God lent you to us for awhile,

To share your dreams, your love, your smile.

To teach you things along the way,

For you to pass along someday.

Important things like honesty,

To face life with integrity.

Forgivness, trust, all mean your strong,

Yet humble to know when your wrong.

These things in life you'll have to learn,

But it's ironic how God makes life turn.

For through hurts, through tears, through living hell,

Our beloved Michael, you've taught us well.

We wish we could be as strong as you are. We love and miss you son, always will.

We will never say goodbye because we know we will be seeing you again when the Lord

calls us home. What a reunion that will be....................

LOVE FOREVER,

MOM And DAD