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

Dear First Lady Sarah Stitt,
My name is Jessica Kerrigan. I lost my 22-year-old son, Dakota, to fentanyl poisoning on
August 13, 2022.
I was blessed with twin boys at a very young age, and Dakota was the oldest. You might
say, we were all growing up at the same time. As a young mother, life wasn’t easy, but we
all did the best we could.
When Dakota was 14, he was involved in a hit and run accident. They lost him three times
as they worked to stabilize him. He suffered extensive injuries, including brain trauma,
which resulted in PTSD, neurological issues, and age regression. It also meant no more
sports. That was a big blow. Dakota was an athlete, standing 6’ 3” and weighing 230
pounds. Adjustments in Dakota’s life had to be made. To his credit, he managed to
successfully carve out a new way of life for himself, despite his limitations. I was a very
proud mom, and he was a very happy boy.
Dakota was my extrovert who always kept us laughing and entertained. He was also my
biggest cheerleader and fan. He tried to protect me his entire life. Regrettably, I couldn’t
protect him.
The night Dakota died we had a serious and meaningful conversation about getting him
into treatment the next day. Tomorrow was going to be a big day and a new start. To my
everlasting horror, for Dakota, tomorrow never came. I found him the next morning
deceased in his bed; an image I will be haunted by for the rest of my life.
My house is so quiet now. I miss the chaos of my funny boy. Sometimes, the silence is
deafening.
Please consider memorializing Dakota, and all of those lost to fentanyl in Oklahoma, on a
Memorial Wall.
Thank you for your time,
Jessica Kerrigan – Dakota’s mom; forever 22
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
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