Makayla. Forever 23. Forever loved.

Tonight, I find myself struggling to find the words.

This week (August 15, 2026), my dear friend and STOPS partner, Layla Bluefort lost her beautiful 23-year-old daughter, Makayla, to suicide. My heart aches for Layla, Makayla’s sisters, and everyone who knew and loved this beautiful young woman.

For years, I have watched Layla pour herself into educating and equipping others through Mental Health First Aid—teaching people how to recognize when someone may be struggling, how to listen without judgment, how to have difficult conversations, and how to help connect someone to support.

And while doing this work for others, she was also loving, supporting, advocating for, and walking alongside her own daughter.

That has been sitting heavily on my heart.

Those of us who love someone struggling with their mental health can learn everything we can. We can listen. We can advocate. We can pray. We can show up again and again. We can fight alongside them with everything we have.

And still, there are things we cannot control.

That truth is painful. But please don’t let it convince you that your love, your presence, your prayers, or your efforts don’t matter.

They do.

So if someone you love is struggling, please keep loving them. Keep listening. Keep learning. Keep asking the difficult questions. Keep helping them reach professional support. Keep reminding them that they do not have to carry their pain alone.

And to the mothers, fathers, spouses, siblings, friends, caregivers, and advocates who are doing everything they know to do: I see you. Keep showing up in love, while remembering that you were never meant to carry the weight of another person’s life entirely on your shoulders.

Tonight, I am simply praying.

Praying for Layla.
Praying for Makayla’s sisters.
Praying for every family walking this difficult road.
And remembering a beautiful young woman whose 23 years were filled with people who loved her deeply.

Makayla.

Forever 23. Forever loved.

May God surround this family with a peace that surpasses all understanding and carry them through the days ahead.

And may we never stop loving, listening, learning, praying, and showing up for one another.