The Team
Tonya Aber
My Daughter
The day that Jessie died, I knew nothing about fentanyl, but I learned that she had enough in her to kill at least 5 people. My family and I first thought that Jessie killed herself, but then that didn’t make sense because she was doing well in drug court, and we were making plans for Emma’s birthday party. I began to educate myself and realized that Jessie got something she didn’t buy; she was murdered.
I began to wonder why the guy that she was with in the hotel where they found her was alive, and she was dead. I began to dislike this guy and think that he did this to her, and why? Why did he want my daughter dead? Well, the truth is, he didn’t. He was an addict just like my daughter, and I heard his sickness on the recording that the police gave me. I could hear the fear and the panic of finding my daughter in a state that no one wanted to find her in, in his voice.
I felt sadness for him and relief for me. As crazy as that sounds, that recording brought me healing. I didn’t feel all this anger and hate towards this person that I wouldn’t even know if he stood beside me. I felt like I wanted to hug him and ask him to please seek recovery. I did reach out to his dad after doing some research, but it went nowhere, so to this day I don’t know what happened to him, but I know that I prayed that he found Jesus and recovery, and I know that is what Jessie would have wanted me to do.
My Parents
My story has a lot of things that I want to work on. See, when Jessie died, I didn’t just lose her that day; I lost my mom. My best friend, the person that I would run to when things got ugly, would give me advice. Nope, not that day and not ever again. My mom was fighting her own issues, and I just didn’t see them. I knew things were going on with her, but I honestly thought it was my father. I thought she was worried, and it was controlling her mental state. My dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer after he was in remission for 12 years, and he had Parkinson's. My mom was struggling with dementia. Something I knew nothing about.
So in my grief, I was watching both my parents dying, and I didn’t know it. I know that my dad was also my sidekick. We did a lot of stuff together, and then all of a sudden, life just stopped. I thought it was Jessie, and a lot of it, I am sure, was, but why my parents? Before I knew it, both my parents had slipped away, into dementia, and I was left to pick up the pieces.
My dad was a sailor; he served in the Navy for 26 years and then spent another 16 years working for the Department of Defense, surrounded by chemicals his whole life. My mother was born to a father who served in the United States Air Force for 26 years and then spent 56 years with my dad. Is this where the dementia came from? No one else in my family has had it. Why my mom? The VA failed my dad, and I feel like they failed my mom, too.
My Uncle
The military has always been my life. I am a sailor’s daughter, and my dad loved the Navy. He was a patriot through and through. As a kid, I hated moving all the time, and I wanted to be like everyone else: go to the same school year after year and have memories with friends. But as an adult, I had heroes in my family! My grandfathers, my uncles, and my DAD! But sadly, I watched my uncle and father die of Agent Orange, and they were both horrible deaths. It is my responsibility to make sure that the people around me know the sacrifices that men and women like my heroes made, so that we have the freedoms we have today. I plan to make sure that stories like those about the men in my family are told because they aren’t here to tell them, and they are so important to future generations.
Showneen Hall
Our Story
My name is Showneen Hall, founder of the Florida Chapter of 4 Them We Fight. I am the mother of Walter Shumaker, who became an angel on October 22, 2023m at the age of 27.
After losing my son to fentanyl addiction. My family and I were met with judgment and stigma by the very community that should have embraced us. The stress and harm caused by that treatment deeply affected my health and contributed to my suffering a heart attack. That experience is why this chapter exists
We are here to remind parents, especially mothers of addicted angels, that it is okay to not be okay. There is no shame in loving a child who battled addiction, regardless of their past or their record. We see you, we love you. We are here for you.
Our children and family members are dying the same way, and we must begin asking the hard questions, why substances that were never prescribed to them are taking their live. There is no room for judgment in the fight. Only truth, accountability, compassion, and action.
The Florida Chapter of 4 Them We Fight is committed to breaking stigma, educating our communities, supporting families in grief, and advocating for meaningful change.
4 Them we fight. In memory of Walter Shumaker forever, 27.
Candice Muller
My Story
Walking the path of recovery, shaped by God's mercy and grace, I have experienced restoration firsthand. Through this journey, I have developed a deep compassion for serving others with humility, love, and understanding.
Where I am now
I am committed to meeting people where they are and extending the same grace that was freelygiven to me, honoring and supporting all, including the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country..
My Victory!
Samantha Adams
My Story
I was in an abusive relationship in my first marriage. Learning how to recover and set new boundaries allowed me to set an example and teach other women how to get out of abusive relationships. While recovering from that relationship, I was part of a ministry where I got to know recovering addicts, and I became an advocate for them, too.
My experience has helped me to have compassion for those who abuse, and the abused, and teach them both the tools that they need to overcome their own mental anguish, as well as, learn how to avoid the situations in the future.
Always putting God first and foremost!
Racheal Knisley
I am a mother and wife, and I work full-time at our Christian School, which both my children attend. I enjoy working with kids and watching them grow. My oldest son graduates from school this coming April, which will spark a new journey in our lives. I am so proud of him and the fact that he has put Jesus at the forefront of his life. My youngest son plays baseball, so he keeps me on my toes with practice and games.
Our family isn’t just about our two sons; we also share it with our nephew and niece. We always have a full house, and it is always full of laughter. We live on a small farm and a pay lake that brings a lot more fun into our lives when fishing season starts.