Sensitive, kind, dog-whisperer, animal lover, generous
When asked about her son Ash’s unique attributes, Susan Leggett responded, “As his mother, I see every one of his features, every breath, every drawing, every interaction as unique. He was just so kind.”
His kindness extended not only to other people but to animals as well. Ash seemed to have a second sense about the animals he encountered, making easy friends with dogs that had been brought up to be aggressive and even standing near a disturbed bee’s nest and not getting stung while others around him did. It is not by accident that Ash’s mother described him as a “dog whisperer/animal lover.”
As a young boy, Ash was an avid reader – finishing The Lord of the Rings trilogy when just nine, as well as devouring all the Harry Potter books. His mother fondly remembers Ash’s stepfather telling her that Ash said, “A wizard is never late.”
Ash came from a large blended family – in addition to his parents, and step-parents, Ash was loved by his two sisters, 10 cousins, three aunts, an uncle and many others. The family enjoyed birthdays, family pancake breakfasts, summer trips to Maine, Christmas tree decorating, swimming, and hiking. One of his aunts even took him on a special trip to New York City.
Because he was so young, Ash did not have much work experience before he died, but he did have a passion for landscaping. His mother says “…landscaping was a space where he could manifest beauty in the world and where he encountered many living beings.”
Ash’s battle with substance use disorder (SUD) lasted five years. According to his mother, “SUD took away Ash’s ability to be himself and created so many regrets that fed what seemed like an inescapable circle of pain.” The family suffered from the fear of what would happen and felt helpless to stop it. His mother recalls that “Losing connection with the fullness of who Ash was and focusing on substance use – and trying to stop that – made me miss so much of who he was.”
Ash’s SUD made his family realize how vulnerable a life can be and how quickly it can be taken away. His mother now sees SUD as isolation and a search for belonging, and has made a decision to devote her energy “to create space for belonging and community in a world that can be so divisive and isolating.
What Ash’s mom, Susan, misses most about him is his “laugh, his curiosity, and his goodness as a being.”
Ash’s mother, Susan Leggett, provided the information for this narrative.
April 6, 1995-December 18, 2014-Age 19
Portrait Artist: Shawn Faust
Narrative Writer: Justin Robertson
