Death is a natural part of life. It’s something we all have to either come to terms with or struggle. In my life I’ve known babies and children who died, and so my spiritual connection to the hereafter isn’t quite as disconnected from life as some. Even so, I find it expressly more difficult to cope with the loss of a younger person.
This too is only natural. The elderly have lived long full lives. Most have known love and offered some kind of wisdom. It is more expected and accepted when we lose an older loved one, but not so much when someone much younger is gone. This past Friday night, a long-time friend of my family died. She was just barely entering her 30s. I used to babysit her and give her piggy back rides when we were young.
She did not die unexpectedly, she unfortunately developed a liver problem connected to drinking alcohol. It is sadly the same fate her father was given up to in 2017. She is survived by her mother, Gwen, and her brother, Sean. And though she died in a frustrating way, I wanted to offer my own words to describe her life and how many of us will remember her.
Megan was a vibrant spirit. She had an infectious laugh and a sweet nature, with a bit of sass. She was very welcoming, and beautiful. Although we drifted apart as we aged, when we reunited it was as if no time had passed. She was family. She was just like one of my baby cousins, or a little sister. She was a good person who probably wouldn’t mind us toasting to her life over some root beers.
In light of what happened to her, I would like to believe that she would wish for us to help others avoid her fate. This country has an addiction epidemic. As lockdowns and mandates raged across our country, children were hidden from each other, and fear was spread quicker than truth or any virus… addiction problems increased at unprecedented rates.
Now, I’m not a preacher (no matter how much I may be trying to sound a little like one RN haha), and I don’t believe it’s my place to tell others what to do with themselves, I would like to ask that everyone still reading take a moment to examine yourself. Where are you at, emotionally, physically, spiritually? If you’re lonely or you wake up craving alcohol or some other substance, plenty of others are in the same boat. You are not alone.
Please, everyone reach out to each other. Maybe go to an AA meeting, or take a friend to one. I don’t want to get all PSA on everybody, but you know, death isn’t just a little side-effect, it’s the real deal.
Megan’s gone now, but her smile is solidified in my memory and the hearts of the people who loved her. Let’s all try to think of how we can offer some happy moments to each other from a sober perspective.
Jessica Marie Baumgartner 
So sad.
The last notification I just read was from my grandson who is struggling with the same addiction. I don’t believe his body is suffering ill effects yet, but his family, social, and spiritual life are. He is my first grandchild, about 40 years old. He is fairly open to me as far as he sees himself but he is in deep denial even though he will tell me he struggles every morning not to drink when he awakes. He tells me he is coming up to spend a day with me. I look forward to that.
I hope you can just give him all the love he needs to get some help. It’s really painful to know someone you care about passed due to addiction issues. It’s unbearable.
Yes, thank you.
Hi there. Thank you for sharing. Might I ask your relation to meg? My condolences.
My Aunt Sue Lawless was Gwen’s (Meg’s mom) best friend for years. We all used to hang out at her house. I used to baby sit Megan, and we partied at my cousin Billy’s wedding a couple of years ago and reconnected. It was a Star Wars themed reception and we all had such a great time. Maybe you didn’t read the part where I said that I used to baby sit her and give her piggy back rides, but yeah. She was like a cousin to me and knowing the details of her death is frustrating. She was too young for that and how the hospital did her when she was coding… not something I’d wish on my children.
I’m sorry but Meg was my best friend and I never once heard her talk about no Jessica. I am not sure who you are, but if you seriously don’t know Meg this is a little fucked up that you would pretend you knew her just to get likes or social media followers…
Honey, we grew up together. This isn’t about likes or followers. It’s about mourning the loss of someone I babysat and gave piggy back rides to when she was little. Maybe you didn’t read that part. Maybe you’re grieving so you’re angry, but I’m part of the Lawless family. My Aunt Sue was Gwen’s best friend for years and we all hung out at her place for years. You are her friend, so maybe that’s why you don’t know all of her extended family connections.
Meg (she did not go by Megan) made an impact an every single person that met her even if it was only once, so we all lost a beautiful soul. It’s just strange to me that you’d make this an article for strangers to find on Google rather than share directly with her immediate family or on Megs social media where everyone shared their stories. They were not aware that you wrote this.