Tragic Loss in Johnson City: A Family’s Fight Against Fentanyl
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The shadows cast by fentanyl are long and heartbreaking, as the tale of a vibrant 17-year-old named Lucas Kazmier shows us. This powerful opioid, which is around 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin, has claimed countless lives, and Lucas was one of its most recent victims.
Lucas, a fun-loving and charismatic teenager, had a bright future ahead of him. Well-known for being smart and popular, Lucas was truly loved by everyone who crossed his path. His mother, Terry Kazmier, paints a vivid picture of her son: “He was a great, beautiful soul.” With dreams of becoming a chef, Lucas spent countless hours bonding with his mother in the kitchen, cooking and creating culinary masterpieces. It was their special time together, filled with laughter and love.
A Sudden Turn of Events
As 2022 approached, the Kazmier family looked forward to the graduation of their son from high school. However, everything took a devastating turn one fateful Mother’s Day weekend. Terry’s heart-wrenching account details the last moments spent with Lucas. She recalls sharing a sweet goodnight kiss, little did they know it would be the last.
“I gave him a big kiss goodnight and went to bed, and Jan stayed up and watched TV with him for another couple of hours,” Terry said. “We had no idea that time would be the last time we would see Lucas alive.”
Lucas’s father, Jan, remembers that night too. “I became somewhat sleepy and said, ‘Hey, Lucas, I love you. I think I’m going to go to bed.’ And he said, ‘Dad, yeah, that’s okay. I’ll stay here for a while and then go to bed.’”
The Unthinkable Happens
In a tragic twist, the family woke to discover that Lucas would not make it to graduation. Jan found Lucas unresponsive, lifeless in his room. Despite his medical training and the frantic attempts to revive his son, there was no miracle that day.
The numbness filled the room as Terry and Jan absorbed the heartbreaking news that their son had passed away. They believe Lucas had taken a pill that was unknowingly laced with fentanyl. “He was not an addict,” Terry explained. “It was just one wrong pill.” The couple’s harrowing experience shines a light on the silent epidemic that is debilitating communities across the nation.
Grief and Awareness
In the wake of their unimaginable loss, the Kazmier family has found it essential to reflect on their son’s memory while raising awareness about fentanyl. “I don’t like the word overdose because it’s not correct,” Terry firmly asserts. “It was a fentanyl poisoning. It’s an epidemic that is happening across our country, and I had no idea.”
Grief has changed the landscape of their lives. Lucas’s bedroom remains untouched, filled with memories of a bright young man lost too soon. The kitchen, once a hub for family activity and laughter, now feels quiet and empty. “We miss him so much,” Terry shares, her voice heavy with grief. “I only had Lucas. He was my only child.”
The Other Side of Loss
This past Mother’s Day was a stark reminder for Terry, representing both the joy of motherhood and the pain of loss. Friends of Lucas reached out, ensuring that their love for him was still alive. “They sent me all of these things on Mother’s Day to me, saying, ‘We know Lucas would have done this for our mother,’” said Terry. “It was really special that people didn’t forget him because he was a great person.”
As the Kazmiers navigate their new normal, they strive to spread a vital message. One wrong pill can change everything. Their hope is that by sharing Lucas’s story, they can prevent another tragedy from occurring.
“You have to keep moving forward,” Terry asserts. “As uncomfortable as it is, I want to honor Lucas by making others aware of the dangers.” The heartache of losing a child is unimaginable, and the Kazmiers continue their fight—not only to keep Lucas’s memory alive but to prevent the same heartbreak from touching other families.
