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

Dear Governor Gretchen Whitmer,
I am writing to you as my child’s voice. Daniel James Bastien Jr (1999 -2017) a young Michigan
life, lost too soon. Only 17 yrs. old! I am a grieving mother and an Ambassador for Michigan
families – I am advocating for the Drug Memorial Wall.
Daniels’s story: On January 11, 2017, at 5:30 am his father went to wake him for work. His dad
made coffee, as sometimes, Daniel would be slow to wake. This morning Daniel did not stir, for
the second wake-up call. This was when my husband, his dad, came in and woke me to call
911. I jumped out of bed and ran to my cell phone; I could not focus. I ran down the hallway,
our child was still in his bed. My husband and I pulled him to the floor and started CPR. We are
both trained in CPR. We did CPR for almost 30 minutes till the first responders finally showed
up. His baby sister, only 10 years old, stood in the doorway of his bedroom, tears of fear rolling
down her face. His little brother, only 12 years old, watched as his tears fell from his eyes also.
Daniel’s older brother had just flown back from the Army. He and Daniel had made plans for
the weekend to hang out. Daniel was gone. No chance of saving him. My life, our lives forever
changed. A new existence for us all would start that day, of enteral pain and grief. Not a day
has gone by since January 11, 2017, at 5:30 am that we do not suffer and grieve his loss of life.
Our child loved life and nature. Daniel had the voice of an angel, a gift for music. There was not
one instrument he could not learn or play. Daniel was a talented musician. He wrote songs and
composed music. Daniel had almost finished his latest song on the piano. He never wrote
down his notes for the music, until it was complete; he would just sit down and play. He wrote
this last song for his best friend in the world. Daniel’s 81-year-old Grandma. Daniel would rather
spend a day with Grandma than hang out with his peers. Daniel had the kindest heart and old
soul. He could tame any wild animal. Animals trusted him.
Daniel at only 17 years old was the youngest member of a Michigan skills trade union. He held
his OSHA 10- and 30-hour safety certification. He had earned his GED certificate and could
not wait for it to arrive. He was so proud he had passed with an almost perfect score. Daniel
had a full-time job, he worked overtime often with his dad. With each paycheck, he would spoil
his baby sister and brother with gifts. He was saving up for a car and his own home. Daniel had
hopes and dreams for the future. He and his girlfriend planned on getting married and having a
family.
Not a day goes by that I do not think of him. Not a day goes by for any of us that our pain still is
not crippling. In 2018 a year after his death. My husband and I, and Daniel’s siblings turned
grief into something positive. We started a non-profit in Daniel’s name. To carry on his legacy,
be his voice, and finish his beautiful life song. Daniel had said to me a few days before he died,
“Mom I wish everyone my age had the opportunities I have because of my OSHA training” –
Now they do! We work with at-risk high school teens giving them the same opportunities that
Daniel treasured. (Daniels song.org)
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