Elora Laird: I am dedicating this page to this wonderful young artist who lost her battle with mental illness much too early.
Mental Illness is something we don’t talk about openly. I have thought a lot about writing this page for my blog but every time I start I stop because it makes me so sad. Mental Illness and Suicide is so SAD. I don’t want to think about what it has done to my family.
Why does a person take their own life? That is a question that I have asked myself so many times. What could I have done to prevent that from happening? Truth is NOTHING! Once a person makes a decision to end it all, if they really mean it, I don’t think anyone can do anything to change their mind.
Could It Have Been Mental Illness?
My first husband after seventeen years of marriage and two beautiful daughters decided that he would be happier if we were no longer together. He needed to be fulfilled and he was not getting that with me and the girls. So even though I was devastated, I let him go. He seemed to be okay after a while, he even seemed happy. But it wasn’t long after our divorce maybe a couple of years that he took his life. My girls were heartbroken and scared. They were afraid that they too might someday want to harm themselves that the demons their father had might be hereditary.
Fortunately, my daughters are two of the most positive happy women I know. Neither of them has inherited the monsters that plagued their father.
Why Now?
So you are probably wondering why now? What has given me the incentive to write about Mental Illness and Suicide now? I met a woman whose lovely daughter was a victim of this terrible disease and after hearing her story I thought that the time is right. So as I fight back the tears thinking about my first love and the demons he must have been fighting. Demons that I knew nothing of and can’t imagine what prompted him to do what he did. I want to tell you her story and show you her beautiful artwork and the unselfishness of her Mother Tammie.
Meet Elora Marie Laird
Elora Laird was an amazingly talented photographer and sketch artist. She loved nature, all things organic, her black cat, Pumpkin, traveling, and sitting on the roof and photographing the sky. Elora also suffered from mental illness and lost her battle with that foe on March 27, 2019, at the age of 24. Elora is finally at peace with herself, her surroundings, and can be with her Daddy, whom she loved and missed every day. It is our hope that Elora’s legacy will live on and bless all who purchase her art. Monies from Elora Laird Art will benefit the Elora Laird Memorial Art Scholarship in Manvel, TX. You are missed and loved every day, Elora Marie Laird.
All of the artwork is on canvas and can be ordered in many sizes.
It is easy to see where Elora gained her talent. Check out the beautiful nightlights made by Tammie on FaceBook at Nightlights by Tammie. All the proceeds from the sale of the nightlights go to the scholarship fund also.
Are you searching for cute and functional face masks? Check these out. Tammie has turned Elora’s artwork into beautiful and functional masks. Each face mask, is washable, reusable, with a metal nose piece. This face mask is custom made with a photograph taken by Elora Laird 1994-2019. The outer layer is 100% polyester, the inner layer is 100% cotton.
Not certified for any specific or medical use. Not considered personal protective equipment.
Why?
Again I ask what prompts a person to take their own life? Like me in the days after my husband’s actions. We were all left wondering. No one knows. All the questions and no answers. Experts never get to talk to the victims. But in my opinion, the victims are the ones left behind. The ones who are looking for answers. Why? What could I have done? Why didn’t he say something?
Every situation is different, every person is different. But the pain felt by the ones left behind is the same. Many suicides are sparked by sudden feelings of despair, hopelessness, panic. If they would only give it one more day.
Possible Reasons???
According to Harvard Medical School, some of the triggers for suicide could be
- an episode of depression, or anxiety
- a personal crisis such as a breakup or divorce
- a close friend relocates
- the death of a partner, relative or friend or loss of a job
- medication that triggers an episode
- exposure to suicidal acts of others
We all face difficulties in life. We all deal with these difficulties in different ways. That is t that most people can handle them. When a person might be on the edge to begin with then something comes along unexpectedly and pushes them over unfortunately, they see no other way out.
What Can We Do?
If you have any indication that a friend or family member might be in danger call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. They have Counselors available 24/7. This service is available to everyone and all calls are confidential.
If you would like to make a donation to the Elora Laird Memorial Art Scholarship you can do so by going Here!! Look for the Donate link. Be sure to add a note: Elora Laird Memorial Art Scholarship
