08/31/2026
She wanted so much more for her life. She had asked for help; she was getting treatment. It wasn’t supposed to be her time.
She had a bad night. She made a mistake. She was sold a lie. She didn’t know what she was taking. It was not supposed to be a death sentence.
Today is International Overdose Awareness Day. Today, we remember not just the names of those we lost, but the lives that were abruptly cut short.
After 12 years of avoiding the reality of Kristi’s death, I walked into The Phoenix in 2022 and truly started coming to terms with her passing. I am sober today because of Kristi, for Kristi.
When Kristi passed, the cops ruled her death a su***de and wrote it off as just another overdose. She wasn’t just another overdose. Her name was Kristi Ann Magnant, and she was so much more than the disease that plagued her.
Kristi was my best friend. She was the sister I never had (and I have three…). She was a daughter and the BEST new mom. She had an exceptional ear for music and she was a true talent. Kristi was fiercely loyal and protective. If you were one of her people, she would fight for you to the end. She had the biggest heart. She was the best person I’ve ever known.
Today, especially, we remember the people behind the epidemic. They are not just names on a poster board or statistics in a headline. They are our family, our friends, our colleagues, and our neighbors.
Their memories live on in us.
💜 Sisters Always, Friends Forever 💜🕯️🕊️
