Kind, helpful, honest, energetic, loving
From the very beginning, Chris had obstacles to overcome. He grew up in a low-income community with a single mother and a family history of substance use disorder (SUD.) Lack of consistent care made it difficult to manage his mental health as a child and Chris began misusing his ADHD medications as a preteen. He always took responsibility for his choices and never blamed his circumstances. Throughout his illness, Chris loved his family. He had an older sister Carly and a younger brother, Mark. His cousin Kristen was his best friend throughout his life. Their bond remains so strong that she named her son after him. His Nana Judy and Aunt Joan were like second parents to him and always loved him unconditionally.
Chris was a very active child. He tried every sport available, but he loved being in nature and loved animals arguably more than anything else. Throughout his life, he spent a lot of time hunting and catching critters of all kinds and had several unique pets-including snakes, rats, and a tarantula! One of the family’s happiest memories was a camping trip to Maine when Chris caught a giant snapping turtle and ran gleefully through the campground to show it to his family.
When his mother, Darlene, recalls Chris as a child, she laughs about him pulling the fire alarm three times at pre-school – once out of curiosity, the second time to see the fire trucks, and the third time to leave school early! Some of Darlene’s favorite memories of Chris as a child were the trips they took together. He adored taking the train to Pennsylvania to visit his uncle and go to Hershey Park when he was five.
As a teen, behavioral issues transformed into substance use disorder, which led to Chris never finishing high school. He spent over a year in incarceration when he was 19. Upon release, he continued to struggle until he began methadone treatment at 22. During his two-year period of sobriety, Chris could hold down a job and support himself. He got a motorcycle and went on long rides to New Hampshire with friends. To heal the damage caused by his SUD, he visited his family and worked hard to reconnect with his siblings, parents, and extended family. How his SUD affected the people he loved devastated him, and he prioritized that over how it affected himself.
Knowing how it felt to struggle with something bigger than himself, Chris always rooted for the underdog, and always helped people. He willingly lent a hand with projects, moving, yardwork, or any tasks that people usually shied away from. He loved making people smile when they were having a bad day. While he never found his passion, he talked about getting his GED so that he could do more meaningful work with animals one day.
Darlene said the hardest part of watching her son suffer from his addiction was not being able to help. It was an ongoing battle to get proper care for Chris, because of the lack of education for families and providers, and because of the stigma. Since losing her son, Darlene volunteers time as facilitator of a peer support group for people who have also lost someone to SUD. She has spoken at town meetings and to local politicians and healthcare providers to advocate for lower barriers for those seeking treatment for their addictions and education to help combat stigma and provide safe resources.
Chase’s mother, Darlene Mersereau, provided information for this narrative.
July 9, 1992-October 15, 2016-Age 24
Portrait Artist: Jeremy Hebbel
Narrative Writer: Victoria Estes
