USA First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff

Dear Governor Sanders:
My name is Brandi Helton. I write to you today as my Governor and ask for your support, not
only as a champion for the people of Arkansas but also as a mother, in the fight to raise
awareness of drug addiction and the drug epidemic ravaging our state, taking so many lives. I
am the mother of a beautiful son that, like too many others in our state, lost his life to
fentanyl poisoning. My son, Tyler Helton, died on May 29,2020, in North Little Rock, at the
age of 26.
Tyler was my heart, and the momma-son bond we shared would rival the best of them. When
he was young, I often wondered if he would grow up to be in ministry, as he had such a kind,
pure heart. He was loving and compassionate; sweet with a little mischievous grin that could
charm anyone. He cared deeply about others and always took up the underdog. He was the
all-American little boy who grew into a respectful, kind, loving young man. He loved to ride
four-wheelers, fish and hunt. He loved animals and they loved him. He was incredibly
handsome, yet equally humble. He strived to be the best person he could be and never liked
to disappoint anyone. He was brought up in church and loved the Lord. He was witty and
funny and had the best belly laugh. He was not only naturally gifted athletically, regardless of
the sport, he was also intelligent. Just prior to graduating high school in 2011, Tyler took the
RSVP "just to see how he would do." He scored third highest in the nation at that time and
had his choice of military branches and jobs within. He chose the Air National Guard and was
in Security Forces at LRAFP. He had many friends, many hobbies, and a bright future ahead of
him.
Tyler's battle with addiction began in full force in 2013. Genetically, he was predisposed to
addiction, as my father and my father's father were both alcoholics. My father lost his life to
alcoholism when Tyler was 12 years old. I had always been very open with Tyler and his sister
regarding their grandfather's alcoholism and the genetics of addiction; hoping that the
openness and firsthand knowledge would somehow mitigate one or both of my children from
going down that path. The disease of addiction is insidious.
Tyler was discharged from the ANG for drug use; though they did discharge him "under
honorable conditions." He was ashamed and embarrassed. He was never really the same.
Tyler and I had many discussions about his addiction. It was often hard to understand how he
was two people living in one body.
When Tyler died, my world shattered. I could not understand how God could save others and
not save Tyler. While there is comfort in my belief that Tyler is free from addiction, whole and
living in Heaven, there will always be questions and sadness and pain that only a mother who
has lost a child can understand. One wrong decision on the evening of May 29, 2020, cost him
everything. He lost his life. His father and I lost our son. His sister lost her little brother. And
his son, not yet born, lost his daddy. You see, only a few weeks prior to that evening, Tyler
found
43