Rugh Pugh, Mother
Being a mother of the three most incredible children has been, without question, the best years of my life. From soccer to dance recitals, motorcycles, history fairs, broken arms, ski vacations. Raising them in Jamul was the icing on the cake. My life changed forever on May 20, 1995 when my son Dallas made the decision to take his life. This was something I thought happened to dysfunctional families in the barrio not by any stretch of the word OUR FAMILY. I was the team mom, on the PTA, always volunteering in the schools. We were so involved in every activity we could be in. Why would God ever let something like this happen to us? Why did I not see any signs. I was the Mom & and Moms see everything? I lovelife, always seeing the glass totally full. I never realized that everyone did not share the same mind-set as I, until this happened. I thought that you could shake off anything if it was bothering you. I should have known my son was hurting in his heart. Where was my head? I live with this guilt everyday. Dallas had a smile that would light anyone’s heart when he walked into a room. He loved puppies, babies, country music and his MOM. His heart was hurting and he hid it well.I have learned so much over the past eleven years about our minds and how powerful they are. Sometimes we have no control over our thoughts. Suicide is something that is never talked about though. People don’t share when their hearts are hurting, or if they, too, have had thoughts of suicide. We talk in our schools about safe sex, but suicide is something that is not ever discussed. I have asked hundreds of people if they ever had those thoughts when they were a teenager, and 98% of them all said yes. I made the decision not to go to bed and not ever get out after this happened. Isaid to my family, “We have to prevent this from happening to anyone. We have to share our story. We have to let children know that it is okay to ask for help.” You may be having these thoughts, and that’s okay, but it is not okay to act on them. We are here to help, share with you the journey we have been through over the past eleven years. My daughter Leann and Son Jarrett have without question helped over hundreds of children. We have raised over $500,000.00 in the prevention of teen suicide, we can do more. Just to share with you my vision: I can see a wing at the YMCA named after my son Dallas, hundreds of phones ringing, everyone answering the calls the Dallas Pugh Foundation. People ask, who is Dallas Pugh? The story is told, he was the most incredible young man with goals, personality, ambition and good looks. One day he was hurting very bad in his heart and made the decision to take his life. So we are here right now to let you know we are here to help in building self-confidence, communication skills, athletic ability.How can we help you? We will be able to help children in the most positive way & letting them know it’s okay to feel bad today, because there will be a rainbow tomorrow. I miss my Dallas so much, I will never see his children, his wife he would of chose. There is so much we all will miss. I promise you I will make a difference with every child I come in contact with.