Obituary gets honest about drug addiction

MILAN — The family of 2015 Edison High School graduate Emily Cooley wanted her obituary to be honest about her addiction.Cooley, 20, died Thursday of a heroin overdose after a two-year battle."Her family wants to express to her friends that when you know something is wrong, even at the risk of losing a friendship, please reach out and speak out. Emily struggled with drug addiction, and even after a year in a Florida rehabilitation center she returned back to her hometown familiar friends, and overdosed," her obituary states.Her mother, Milan resident Kim Barman, didn't hesitate to include the strong message in her daughter's obituary."I've always been vocal about (addiction). I would love to have people start talking about it. Wouldn't you want to lose a friendship rather than a friend to an addiction?" Barman said.RELATED: Full Recovery Movement CoverageWarning signsThroughout high school, Emily was involved in drama club, majorettes, band and Chargerettes activities. Outside of school, she attended Baton Academy Twirlers of Norwalk and was involved in Caryl Crane Theatre at BGSU Firelands.Emily attended EHOVE Career Center and graduated from its exercise science program. She hoped to become a nurse one day, Barman said.But her warm and upbeat personality made her stand out."Everyone loved Emily. She made strangers feel like friends and friends feel like family," Barman said. "She was full of life."Toward the end of her senior year, Emily started to skip school and call off work."I knew something was wrong, but I didn't know what. I didn't know it was heroin," Barman said.A few months later in August, Barman discovered Emily's heroin addiction. By the end of the month, Emily was admitted to a Florida rehabilitation facility. She chose it because several other local people went there, Barman said.But soon after arriving, she relapsed and bounced around treatment facilities."She went from place to place because she learned how to work the system," Barman said.In February 2016, Emily overdosed for the first time. She was revived, but the overdose caused seizures."She was having 15 seizures a day in intensive care unit. She was in the hospital for a week and a half," Barman said.Afterward, Emily entered Comprehensive Wellness Center in West Palm Beach. Manny Mendez, the center's outreach coordinator, developed a connection with Emily."They understood each other and she wanted to give (the rehab program) a shot," Barman said.Emily stayed at CWC for 60 days before entering a sober living program where she could receive counseling and guidance to get job and back on her feet.Eventually, she relapsed again and wanted to come back to Ohio."I always felt in my heart that Milan wasn't a good place for her because she had friends doing drugs up here," Barman said.Returning homeBefore Emily could return home, Barman set a few conditions: she had to be clean for 30 days and willing to take Vivitrol to fight her addiction.Emily came home on Nov. 30 after a month without drug use. She was supposed to receive her first Vivitrol shot on Wednesday morning, but never did.Last week, Barman knew something was not right with Emily. After she kicked out one of Emily's friends from her home, Emily left and couldn't be found.Desperate, she posted onto Emily's Facebook page asking where she was and directly messaged multiple people Emily was associated with. One person gave an address to Barman, but it turned out to be fake."Nobody wanted to speak up and tell me anything. And now they lost a friend. If they spoke up about where she was, she might be alive now."That's what I want these kids to understand—when are they going to find it in themselves to speak up for someone who needs help? Don't be afraid of them. I guarantee they will save you down the road because you took the time to save them," Barman said.After visiting Emily in Florida in October, Barman shared Emily's story with health classes at Edison High School. She hopes to have more opportunities to share about her daughter's experiences soon."If this only helps one person, that's okay. I want to get her story out there and we need to quit being quiet about (overdoses). It keeps happening. It's time to talk."Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at Evans Funeral Home, 314 E. Main St., Norwalk, and from 10 a.m. Wednesday until the funeral service at 11 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial will follow at Olena Cemetery.A GoFundMe account was set up for Emily's funeral expenses. As of Tuesday evening, more than $2,600 was raised out of the campaign's $10,000 goal.Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood