Speak Up

This is what I know about Meth: It causes Cardiomegaly! Please feel free to add yourself to this group. >Alex' s Heart was founded in honor of Alexander Daniel Patterson who died on March 6'th, 2012 of an accidental overdose of MDMA, caused by an undiagnosed Heart Condition called, "Cardiomegaly" wherein the Heart grows too large for it's encasement. Alex had attended Public School and lived in Honolulu where he was raised by a single mother and was the youngest of four boys. His passions were Art, Music, Photography, PC Games and his many friends. Alex's father died when he was ten years old. Despite a family history, depression and anxiety; from a young age Alex often took on the role of class clown, peace keeper and the 'voice of reason.' From the age of 15 he fought a downhill battle to gain control over alcoholism and addiction including having spent over a year in a Rehabilitation Program in Utah at the age of 16, being Hospitalized in Honolulu, and attending various Treatment Centers and individual Therapy Sessions throughout the years. He was torn between bouts of being extremely positive and goal oriented such as enrolling in and attending a Community Based Program wherein he attained his High School Diploma on his own accord, at the same time working at a restaurant and helping to support his family; and bouts of extreme debilitating depression, drug and alcohol addiction. Alex was known as a generous, intelligent, incredibly compassionate person who would stop anything he was doing to help anyone in need at any time. He truly had a beautiful heart. In the last years of his life Alex attempted both Community and Business Colleges sporadically, due to his drug and alcohol problems, severe depression and a stomach condition which caused him chronic pain. His plight was a not uncommon cycle of substance and alcohol abuse followed by depression, guilt and shame. When he died he was working part time for a non profit Youth Organization for homeless and at risk youth, lived in Student Housing with his cat, "Lieutenant Hans Cornelius" and planned on attending classes at Leeward Community College in the upcoming semester. He was studying existentialism and said he wanted to take some philosophy classes like his Father had. We lost Alex when his Heart stopped after a night of Ecstasy use, and we like to lovingly say that he died because "his heart was too big." No one should have to experience the kind of agony which results from the loss of a beloved son, brother and friend like Alexander.