Zac's Story

On September 2, 2017, we received a phone call that forever changed our lives. It was a call that no parent ever wants to receive: telling us that our beautiful son Zac was gone. This moment is forever embedded in my memory. The only thought that kept playing over and over again in my mind was that there had to be some kind of mistake. This could not be real. I literally had just talked to Zac. He was in California, getting on an airplane. He was coming home. His last words to me were, "Mom, I just want to be home with my family. I can't wait to come home. I love you mom."

My husband Chris and I were blessed with 3 wonderful sons. Zac is our middle child, born between his older brother Nic and his younger brother Christopher. We are a very close family. Our house was always full of boys, loud voices and their laughter. Boys constantly wrestling around in any room they happened to be in. Sounds that we loved. Our driveway and yard served as a neighborhood arena for skateboarding, rollerblading, obstacle courses, games of capture the flag, or whatever football, baseball, basketball game was taking place that day. Our laundry hampers were filled daily with sweaty, muddy football, baseball and lacrosse uniforms. Above all, thanks to our boys and their friends, our house was full of love.

Our boys were what I consider to be normal boys. They played hard, worked hard and loved hard. They were raised with good morals and virtues, unconditional love and good manners were a must.

Zac was a kindhearted person from the time he was little. He was "all boy," very kind, funny, and always making light of any situation. He was a very determined person and very strong-willed. That's what made his (our) journey with drugs so hard to understand. People say, "just quit," and, because of the stigma and lack of education, people, (including ourselves in the beginning), do not understand the magnitude and the effects opioids have on the brain. Zac made one bad choice. A decision he deeply regretted. The choice he later told us about: a group of friends together, all good kids from good families, OxyContin from a dad's medicine cabinet, one pill, one bad choice initiated by curiosity, lives changed forever.

Zac was a fighter, and if anyone could fight this battle and win, it would be him.

That's how I wrap my head around the magnitude of this chronic brain disease and the control it takes of a person's brain. Because Zac was not a quitter, nor did he lack in character. Zac was a genuinely good person to his core. Ask anyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

During his 5 year battle, Zac had great times. Times when he was "in charge" of his life and thriving.

After graduating from college, Zac decided to pursue one of his dreams. Move to California, learn to surf, and work in a surf shop. Thanks to his Indy friend Ollie who was living in Santa Cruz and Pearson Arrow Surf Shop, Zac was able to live this dream. The ocean made Zac happy. Surfing and the ocean were healing for him.

Zac's last battle began after having a tonsillectomy on 6/19/17. Prior to this surgery, Zac was thriving. He had just signed up for classes to become an architect, another dream he had had since he was 5 years old. Enter surgery...Enter pain medicine...

Zac suffered immensely from the stigma that surrounds opioid addiction. He was so ashamed of himself, sad, and very depressed. Thinking back on our daily conversations and reading through his journals, I now understand even more profoundly the depth of his shame and sadness. It breaks my heart. He tried his best to hide his addiction from everyone. He had always been that person who everyone went to if they needed help. Zac was the person his friends and family could always count on.

Because of the stigma, when Zac needed his friends and family the most, a lot of people weren't there for him. Of course Zac noticed this and it crushed his heart, causing depression, anxiety and solitude. He was always good at putting on a happy face and making others feel better. Some days were especially difficult for him. I remember him saying to me many times, in tears, "Mom, I just want to be normal again."

Why Zac43?

Zac's Football #

As we forge forward, our family has chosen to help others in their fight against addiction. We know in our hearts, this is what Zac would want. Zac was genuine, generous and selfless. He was always there to give you a meaningful hug and didn't hold back his "I love you's". Zac was an amazing person and we are proud to honor Zac's true character, his morals, his life and his huge heart.

With the vision of Zac's bright smile, his beautiful blue eyes and his giving spirit leading the way, Zac43Foundation will make a difference. Our hope is to help heal those struggling, put a smile back on their faces, and help bring peace back to their hearts and the hearts of their families who struggle alongside of them.

Opioids took our son, shattered Zac's future, robbed Nic and Christopher of their brother, and ripped away our families joy as we knew it. Through Zac43Foundation, we will continue to fight this battle, for Zac, and every person who is suffering from this ugly disease. Please join us in this battle.

Jennifer Burton, Zac's mom