Terri Dudar of Carpentersville knows the pain of losing a child.
In 2008, her son, Jason Bochette, died at age 29 from a heroin overdose.
His death has since spurred Dudar on a mission to help others.
In honor of International Overdose Awareness Day, held annually on Aug. 31 to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death, she organizes events on the local level.
On Monday, those driving past the village hall and police station in Carpentersville likely saw the display of 120 silver balloons representing the lives lost daily to overdose, along with purple balloons to represent those still struggling. Dudar also had resources available to pass out to those in need.
She calls International Overdose Awareness Day a time “to publicly mourn.”
“When you lose a loved one this way it’s not an easy thing to talk about. We’re hoping people feel comfortable enough to stop by and not feel alone,” she said.
Elgin resident Tanya Childs, who was also at Monday’s event, credits Dudar for helping her through the death of her daughter, Liana, who died two years ago at age 23 from an overdose.
“Terry’s a lifesaver,” Childs said. “For many people she’s our angel on earth. I don’t know what I would have done without her.”
Dudar runs a support group made up of mothers who have been affected by a child’s addiction, and is trained to teach people how to use Naloxone, the drug that can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. She is also the one who for the past five years has gotten the governor to declare Aug. 31 as Overdose Awareness Day in Illinois.
On Monday, she wasn’t worried about how many people might stop by the display of balloons.
“Even if it’s one person and we can help, that’s all that matters,” she said. “We’re out here to let people know they’re not alone.”
Erin Sauder is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
