They say that there is no experience in life
more painful than losing a child.

After losing my only child, Kye, in 2020, I can tell you without question that it’s true. There is no pain in the world like it. 

I want to share some of Kye’s story with you so that he might be remembered, and so that you might be inspired to consider leaving a gift in your will to Scott Mission like I have done. 

Kye was my world. As a child, he was smart, talented, precocious, incredibly sensitive, and wise way beyond his years. He was a positive ‘can-do’ boy with everyone who knew him – always there with support and encouragement to help others reach for their dreams 

After his university years, Kye got involved with a startup company and invested huge amounts of energy into it. But despite his new career and very active social life, Kye loved to volunteer regularly to help others who were less fortunate than himself.

We lived in the Annex and often walked along Bloor and Spadina when Kye was growing up – and we walked past Scott Mission all the time. While others would try not to look at poor people on the street, Kye was always quick with a smile and a positive comment. And, I marveled at the way Kye never looked down on any of these people on the street. He didn’t just treat them like equals, he respected them because he believed them to be equal. He got this quality from his dad, Chris. 

Everything in our lives was going well until Kye had a psychotic break in 2018, at the age of 26. He was diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder – and our journey in search of mental health treatment began. We tried doctors and psychiatrists – hospitals and clinics – not to mention different types of medications.

Over the next two years, Kye certainly had his ups and downs. He got married, quit his job and spiraled downhill. Not long after his marriage ended, Kye became a missing person and found himself in the Stratford hospital. I moved to Stratford to be with him and Kye finally started receiving the medical help he needed so badly. When the pandemic began, Kye was no longer able to see his psychiatrist or social worker. He returned to Toronto where he struggled for a couple of months going from one Airbnb to another. I finally convinced him to move in with me. This is when we started to try to get help in Toronto. We got into the habit of taking walks together on workday mid-afternoons. I loved those times and the talks we had about anything and everything. 

One day, Kye said he wanted to walk early and he wanted to take a long walk. So, that day he went for his walk alone. He never came home. He left a note saying that we tried. He didn’t feel anyone could help him. That was the afternoon that he took his life. I mourned his death like any mother would. His loss was beyond devastating for me. 

One way that helped me to start healing was to volunteer at Scott Mission the way he always had on Saturdays. After this volunteer experience, I realized that I wanted to leave a significant gift in my will to Scott Mission in Kye’s memory. 

Today, I know that my gift is paying tribute to my son’s life. To his love and energy. To his sensitivity and empathy. To his heart and his young soul. 

I know that Kye is smiling today because this gift, given to honour his life will be used to help so many of the people he always had a kind word for – people in great need who deserve our generosity and love. It is so wonderful to offer this tribute in memory of his life. After all, an act of generosity and love seems the perfect tribute to his life and his loss. 

Thank you for reading Kye’s story. If you would like more information on how to leave a legacy at Scott Mission,
please contact Kendra Hickton at khickton@scottmission.com.