Lilli's Light Story - Wendy & Ashley

At the beginning of 2024, a wonderful woman named Carol Egan made a simple social media post- inviting local communities to come together in unity and remembrance. It seemed small at the time. Just words on a screen. But that post became the spark that changed everything.

Carol has since recently passed away, and that loss sits heavy on our hearts. But we are eternally grateful for her courage to reach out, to gather us, and to help us begin healing through our grief. Without her, this circle would not have formed. Without her, many of us may have continued carrying our pain alone. She brought us together when we needed each other most- and that gift will live on through every life Lilli's Light touches.

Wendy stepped forward and agreed to serve as chairman for our local group. And on May 4, 2024, and handful of us gathered for the very first time.

We brought framed photos of our loved ones.

We shared stories no one should ever have to tell.

We cried.

We laughed through tears.

We ate an amazing lunch.

And somewhere between the introductions and the embraces, we stopped being strangers.

We became Family.

Wendy had already been doing presentations at Jacksonville University, where she works- bravely standing in front of students and sharing the painful truth about Fentanyl Poisoning and the lives it has stolen. She invited Ashley to join her for the next presentation.

That one invitation turned into another.

And another.

And then multiple joint presentations together- standing shoulder to shoulder, speaking names that deserves futures.

During one of the interviews, words were spoken that still echo in our hearts:

"If sharing our pain, saves even one life, then our loved ones' stories continue to matter. We didn't choose this fight, but we will choose to fight it every single day."

Then came a milestone none of us could have imagined.

Jacksonville University hosted the taping of the Texas Pictures Documentary, giving us a platform to share our loved ones' stories on a much larger stage. Sitting under those lights, microphones clipped on, hearts racing- it felt heavy and sacred all at once.

The trip was emotional in ways words barely captured.

There was pride.

There was grief that resurfaced like it was yesterday.

There was strength we didn't know we had.

There were quiet moments where the weight of it all pressed in.

And there were powerful moments of unity- knowing we were no longer fighting alone. That night after filming, Wendy made an announcement that marked a new chapter.

Ashley accepted the position of Vice President of Lilli's Light.

In that moment, this mission became more than something we were surviving- it became something we were building.

Now we fight this mission side by side.

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What this means for Lilli's Light?

Lilli's Light is no longer just a support circle.

It is education.

It is prevention.

It is awareness.

It is advocacy.

It is Action.

We are turning unimaginable loss into purpose. We are standing in schools and universities. We are sitting at tables with community leaders. We are pushing for awareness so no other family unknowingly joins this "club."

Our accomplishments are not measured in headlines. They are measured in conversations started. In students who come forward afterward to say, "I didn't know." In parents who hug their children a little tighter. In lives that may be saved because someone heard the truth in time.

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Carol lit the first match.

And we will continue to carry the flame.

Lilli's Light was born from heartbreak- but it shines because of Love.

We cannot bring our loved ones back.

But we can make sure their stories matter.

We can make sure their names are spoken.

We can fight so other families don't have to feel this pain.

If you believe in protecting out children, in educating our communities, and in turning grief into purpose- stand with us. Share the Message. Invite us to Speak. Support the Cause. Say their Names.

Together, we turn Loss into Light.