ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Patti and Ellis Fitzwalter once held balloon releases to honor the memory of their son, Michael Fitzwalter, who died in 2014 from a heroin overdose.

“He’s the reason we do what we do,” Patti said.

The couple created H.E.A.L. STOP HEROIN to raise awareness about overdoses and to educate parents and children. 

With the school year just underway, the Fitzwalters encourage parents to talk to their kids about overdose awareness.

“We don’t want to see other people suffer the way we have,” Patti said.

Seven years ago, the couple decided to honor their son’s memory with an annual blood drive. They discovered balloon releases can cause problems.  

“We wanted to do something that was going to actually help the community,” Patti said.

Thursday’s blood drive at the Ferguson Community Center included a visit from a woman in recovery.

“She said it brought her to tears to know the impact that we’re having,” Patti said. 

Rochelle Wilson donates blood each year at the event.  Her son, Christopher Hegger, died from an overdose. Wilson appreciates the Fitzwalters’ commitment to educating others.

“I always say talk about it.  Don’t be embarrassed,” Wilson said. “Raise awareness because the drugs are still out there, and people unfortunately are still dying.”

The Fitzwalters partnered with Impact Life for their blood drive. Thursday’s event was a full-circle moment for Alex Fees, the agency’s community relations director.

“I’ve known the Fitzwalters for a long time,” Fees said.  

Fees reported on at one of their awareness events nearly 10 years ago as a reporter for FOX 2. He said blood drives, such as the annual one organized by the Fitzwalters, help ensure hospitals served by Impact Life have enough blood in the event of an emergency.

The Fitzwalters encourage parents to educate themselves about pills that look like something else but are laced with fentanyl. 

“Cartels are pressing them into looking like Adderall, Xanax, Percocet or whatever,” Ellis said. “Anytime there’s an opportunity for you to go to a town hall to learn about substance use, do yourself a favor. Learn about it.”