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

Dear First Lady Sarah Stitt,
I am writing to you today as a proud member of the Oklahoma Drug Epidemic Memorial
Wall campaign, and as a grieving mother who lost her son, Rahman Jalil Fenner, “RJ”, to
fentanyl poisoning. He was 24 years old.
Rahman was a Godly man. He served the Lord. He was a member of Spread the
Ministries Worship Center in Lawton, Oklahoma, and was also a part of Mime Ministry,
Drama Ministry, and Y-ME Ministry. Three words to sum up his life are Faith, Family, and
Love.
RJ graduated from Cache High School in 2016. After graduation he got a job at Ellis
Construction Company. He attended Oklahoma Community College and was due to
graduate in December of 2022 with an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies.
He loved basketball, football, wrestling, and being with his family. He also loved the
movies and going to the lake and relaxing. He was a comedian who loved to make
everyone laugh. He had a strong passion for his family. RJ was a motivator to everyone
around him. He was optimistic, a great debater, and was always full of encouragement for
whoever needed it. He was also the best uncle.
On October 19, 2022, I was giving my grandchild a bath as I had done so many times
before. It was a normal evening. As I was focused on my task at hand, I heard a very loud
thud from upstairs. I was unsure of what it was, and then I heard my 17-year-old daughter
scream in a way that sounded unhuman. I knew immediately that something was terribly
wrong. I rushed upstairs to find RJ on the floor unresponsive. I am military and certified in
CPR, but at that moment, I forgot everything I knew. The 911 operator had to remind me
of what to do. What I know now is that he was already gone. No amount of CPR by me or
the emergency personnel was going to bring him back.
Our lives were forever changed that day. We will learn to cope and continue living but will
also carry the burden of a shattered heart that cannot be mended because a big piece is
now missing. I am a faithful person whose life is to serve the Lord. I am still in disbelief
that something like this could happen. Sadly, I am not alone in asking, “Why my child”?
This country is losing so many precious babies every day. They each had lives to live,
plans to follow through on, and memories just waiting to be made. Please help us honor
our loved ones with a Memorial Wall.
Thank you for your time.
Chanel Fenner – Rahman’s mom; forever 24
Edmond, Oklahoma
751