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

Dear Mrs. McMaster,
I am Cindy Simmons of Easley, SC, and I am writing you in regard to Fentanyl poisoning of our
children. I have worked as an EMT for Pickens County EMS for 20 years. I have seen and have
had to tell mothers and fathers their child was dead, and that there was nothing we could do.
Watching parents’ hearts break right before my eyes was devastating. This poison has taken so
many loved ones away from families over just the past few years. The fact that our government
up on the hill in DC is doing nothing and is continuing to let this happen is sickening. We all know
the ingredients for these pressed pills and already-made pills that are killing our kids and family
members are coming from across our borders, and it is continuing to happen daily.
I am writing you is because on May 8th, 2021, one of the pressed pills – just one – crossed my
doorway just before I was leaving for my 24-hour shift. I saw my son’s light on in his room and I
went in to tell him, “I’ll see you in the morning and I love you, son.” My son Jonathan was lying
face down on his bedroom floor, DEAD. I didn’t think it was true until he didn’t move when I talked
to him. When I touched him, as with many deaths I have worked over the last 20 years with EMS,
I knew my son - MY BABY BOY - my best friend, was gone. We didn’t know why God had taken
him so soon. I started screaming his name, then screaming for his Dad. I called 911. I don’t
know and can’t remember what I said. The dispatcher helped me slow down so she could
understand what I was saying.
That morning my EMS and Rescue family was at my home comforting me, like I had done for so
many other families over the years, from drug deaths. Now it was my family being comforted and
being told MY child was dead. My daughter also works in EMS. She was on call that morning
when our call went out. She was about to get off her 24-hour shift. She could have heard that
call go out that her brother was dead, but thank my Lord and Savior, she didn’t. Our EMS family
went and got her so she wouldn’t find out by the call. We thought my handsome son, Jonathan
Simmons, died from a heart attack. We had no idea it was a pressed pill he had gotten from a
friend. That ONE pill took his life, and the coroner told us after a test that morning that it was
Fentanyl.
I pray that you can help all grieving mothers with the memorial that is being asked for, for our
children, to honor our loved ones that didn’t have a clue what was about to happen to them. I
love my children with all my heart and May 8th, 2021, changed my life forever...my entire family’s
lives forever.
I would love to see a Memorial Wall where I could come visit and lay my hands on a plaque or
photo of my handsome son. It’s been two years but feels like yesterday morning that I found him.
Thank you for reading this. I am very thankful for what our Governor has done for our state. I’m
proud to have lived my whole life in South Carolina.
Thank You,
Cindy Simmons – Easley, SC
Mother of Jonathan, forever 29
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