He was our storyteller, our advice giver, our protector, our shoulder to cry on, and our personal comedian. My brother’s innocence was pure and I admired the curiosity he had for the world. He had the best hugs and most wonderful smile. He always made me laugh. My god was he funny. He always tried to find the best in each situation he came across and he always tried to make others happy. I am so blessed to call him my brother.

Another role Manny played so well was uncle. Tio Manny loved his nephews and nieces so much. I remember when he walked into my hospital room the night my daughter Sofia was born. He hugged me and teared up telling me how special she was. He said, “Oh Cath! She is perfect! She is beautiful!" He kissed her forehead and said, "Sofia, I'm your tio Manny and I love you so much."

I'm giving you small glimpses into the wonderful heart that was very much alive in our Manny. There is nothing that will ever fill the void that his death has left. The hurt has overwhelmed my physical and emotional being. His heart was so big and he cared so deeply for those that mattered to him. I will miss him every single day for the rest of my life.

Death is a powerful, unfathomable thing. Manny’s physical body is no longer here, but his heart, thoughts and memories always will be. He was much more than this disease and I will continue to keep his memory alive.

In his honor, I will make it my life’s work to end the stigma of addiction and help those dealing with substance use disorder.

Originally published in 2017.