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

Dear First Lady of Oregon, Aimee Wilson,
I am Diana Benson, mother of Connor Perkins, forever 24. I lost my beautiful boy on
April 14, 2022, one week after his 24th birthday. The night of his death started at
approximately 9:00 pm. He and a friend of his purchased the fentanyl from a Motel 8.
According to his friend that survived the incident, they were both out within 10 minutes.
One thing I’d like to mention is that Connor saved this boy’s life about a month earlier.
His landlord told me that Connor gave him CPR for 45 minutes until the paramedics
arrived. I’m forever distraught by the fact that Connor didn’t learn his lesson by that
incident. Another thing that just absolutely breaks my heart is that another tenant
heard moaning coming from Connors unit But didn’t act on it until approximately 2:00
pm the next day. Connor was pronounced dead later that evening. Tears flow rapidly
as I think about my beautiful boy lying on the floor for nearly 20 hours before help
arrived, but it was too late for Connor. Connor died of fentanyl poisoning. This is the
worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life. This pain never goes away. I can’t believe he is
gone every single moment of every single day. 2 years before Connors death his dad
died as well. My heart is broken as it can never be fixed when a mother loses a child.
Connor has an older brother. Telling him that he had now lost his brother just a short
time after losing his father was the most difficult thing for me to have to do.
Connor was a late talker and a slow learner. He struggled in school through 12th
grade. Luckily, he had some great teachers and graduated with his class in 2017. I
graduated from college the same year. We were both graduates in 2017 and we
enjoyed sharing that together. When he went to SE Tech to study autobody, he found
his calling. He was so proud that he was doing work that he enjoyed. At the time of his
death, he had finally found a job he liked in Oregon. He was working for Les Schwab
working in an auto shop. He was so happy working there he sent me silly videos he
took of himself working on cars and driving them around at the shop. He was also a
wildfire fire fighter. He worked for a group called Dust Busters. He was happy to help
people and animals during fire season. He liked it so much that he was OK losing his
job every year to work with so many wonderful men and women. The kind of people
that are willing to lay down their lives to help fight fires. Connor is buried in his uniform.
It was quite an ordeal for me living in Minnesota going to Oregon to take care of his
belongings and then to California for his funeral. I so miss his silliness, his caring
nature, his smile, and the sound of his voice. I’d give anything to just hear his voice
again or feel his hug. He is my son, my child, my heart, and my life. He is loved and
missed by my huge family and was just reconnecting with his dad’s side of the family.
He is the sweetest boy and always showed respect. There are no words to describe
this loss to his family, friends, and others who have been touched by my amazing son.
The grief at times is unspeakable, unbearable, and unstoppable. 571