As I was researching to understand why we failed to prevent my son's suicide, I grew angrier and angrier.

My apathy as a member of Generation X runs deep. I am not a joiner, and I am happy staying uninvolved.

My son's death changed all of that as I developed an anger-fueled obsession with the research that became impossible for me to let go. 

My experience as a survivor of my own attempts provided insights into the research that others seemed to miss.

I recognized the difference between actions that support someone with suicidal ideation and the actions that prevent suicide.

I also know the importance of preventing the contemplation of suicide, not just the act.

This led to the creation of the Plan to Live.

I was a college student at the time with a developed three-point program and had no idea of how to get it to the masses.

I took a class called "How to Change the World," and through that course, my program became Dream to Live and KYVO became the platform to promote it.

My anger-filled obsession with the research transformed into a burning passion to prevent suicide.

I have always hated business and the business world. I avoid having anything to do with either of them as much as possible.

Passion is a wondrous thing.

My dream for KYVO and my passion for suicide prevention led me down the path I had always avoided—the business world.

And somehow, I grew to love this new world.

The true blessing of KYVO is that it transformed my worst tragedy into my greatest blessing.

It is through death that I work with my son in life to help others, giving me an inner peace and happiness that I had never before known.

The above was written before the COVID lockdown of 2020.

So what happened, and why has it taken so long to get here?

The answer to these questions starts in the spring of 2020.

It was the last semester of my senior year. I had great momentum going for KYVO, Coping on Campus, and Dream to Live.

Everything came to an abrupt stop with the lockdown, which took a huge mental toll on me as I went into a depression.

Then I got COVID. I developed serious complications and long COVID, and I continue to battle health issues.

So, what changed?

My son Josh, who is also a co-founder of Team KYvO, was struggling to find his place in the world as someone with developmental disabilities.

Watching him struggle broke my heart  as a mother.

And I was just sitting on KYVO when it could be used to help him.

I had met Autumn in a psychology 

course while attending university, 

and we first started talking about KYVO.

She was crucial in implementing the student organization Coping on Campus at the university.

I met Morgen through Autumn, as they were already friends.

Morgen was immediately on board with Coping on Campus. Her contributions proved she was a vital asset to the organization.

Once I was ready to make KYVO a reality, I reached out to Autumn to see if she was still interested.

Her excitement said it all.

Again, she reached out to Morgen, who was also immediately on board.

Something within me changed.

KYVO Became Team KYvO

Then my team changed, but with Lisa and Jordan, Team KYvO became even stronger.

KYVO was my dream, but this is much better.

I have a team that is willing to sacrifice their time and energy to make my dream a reality.

Additionally, they helped me to see that KYVO is not a new approach to suicide prevention, but another approach.

Both approaches are crucial in

preventing suicide, and all suicide prevention organizations should be working together as a team because we share a common goal.

KYVO no longer represented the organization. Team KYvO was born.

(The “v” is lowercased because that is the way the last name is spelled.)

It takes a team for one mother to provide one son with a legacy, to give another son a place in the world, and for all of us to work together to make life better for ourselves and each other.

Giving Hope a Voice so Everyone Has the Ability to Dream to Live.