Generous, kind, loving, beautiful, troubled
CT was a gentle soul with deep emotions. Despite his struggles, he was always quick to laugh and flash a heart-melting smile. His empathy and friendliness gained him many friends throughout his life. He also had an uncanny knack for connecting with animals, especially cats, and seemed able to tame any stray within a matter of days.
“When Christian was very young, a man approached us while we were out getting pizza and asked us for gas money. I told him we would have to get change at the register. When we got inside, Christian insisted we not only give the man money, but his own pizza. While we waited for our order, he kept looking outside to ensure the man was still there. When we went outside, Christian rushed over to the man, grinning, and handed him the money and pizza. When we got back in the car, he asked me why it felt so good to give,” his mother, Veronica, recalled.
CT’s father, Paul, passed when he was 11 years old. The two of them loved the outdoors and went on many camping trips together, a tradition he and his brother David carried on after Paul’s death. He also enjoyed fishing, making music, drawing, and spending time with his nieces and nephews, and his son, Gabriel. Christian was a gifted musician. He had a passion for singing and could learn to play any instrument he could get his hands on. Prior to his passing, he wrote a few songs he never got the chance to record. Also demonstrating his skill as an artist, CT possessed a vivid imagination. He was capable of drawing anything he envisioned.
Finishing high school was never an option for Christian, as he was already battling addiction and began his first time in treatment at 17. While that made it incredibly hard for him to keep steady employment, it never stopped him from trying to get back on the right path. CT worked in construction for most of his young life, but he had dreams of being a firefighter one day, or perhaps building homes like his father did. He also hoped to record his music and tour with a band.
CT remained kind and caring throughout his struggle with addiction. He did his best to remain a good husband to his wife, Kymberly, and a good brother to his older sibling, David. As Christian’s disease progressed, he lost his passion for most of the things in his life, but he never lost the desire to be with his Gabriel, who was two years old when he passed. His daughter Beatrice is now 17 years old. Two of Christian’s best friends, Sarah, and Daven, have been sober since the death of their best friend.
Veronica says what she misses most are his smiles, hugs, laughter, and the way he called her, “moms.” It breaks her heart that he has missed watching his daughter grow into an amazing young woman. She is proud to say that in life and in death, she has never been ashamed of her son’s addiction, and that she will never pass up the chance to use his story to bring awareness to the disease.
Christian’s mother, Veronica, provided information for this narrative.
May 15, 1986 – August 27, 2010-Age 24
Portrait Artist: Clayton Conner
Narrative Writer: Victoria Estes
