by Sasha Wilson
An East Texas family reached past their pain to help others just two days after 16-year-old Dylan Alvarado committed suicide due to bullying.
Alvarado was a student at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler. He died Monday, Sept. 18. and is the second teen in East Texas to commit suicide in less than two weeks.
Alvarado's mother, Kelly Ellis, is a nurse, a mother and the newest member of a growing group no one wants to be a part of.
Like so many nurses and mothers, she tried to be strong.
“I’m okay,” she said, as her eyes filled with tears. “Not really. To be honest, my heart’s in a million pieces. All the bullying at school has been affecting his emotional state.”
While he dealt with his own personal issues like depression and anxiety, she said the bullying became overwhelming.
“He never wanted me to report it because he felt like it would make it worse,” Ellis said.
Recently, Alvarado asked to be homeschooled.
“Then it just got to be too much,” Ellis said as her tears fell. “He decided to take his life away. We did everything we could for him.”
Ellis and her family have a message for others struggling like her son did.
“I want adolescents out there to know to know to reach out to their family and friends and church members and neighbors,” she said. “Don’t be scared to talk to somebody. Nothing in this world is worth taking your own life. If this will just help save one kid’s life, it would just melt my heart and help bring it back to become whole again."
Service will be held for Alvarado Saturday, Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. at Burks Walker and Tippit Funeral Home, located at 215 E Front St Tyler, TX 75702. There will be no viewing or visitation but a graveside service will follow.
The family asked that instead of flowers, donations be given to jasonfoundation.com in memory of Alvarado. The site is a resource for those experiencing a suicidal crisis or emotional distress. If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide, call the free, 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for the family to help with medical expenses and can be found by clicking here.