Mom's Portland fentanyl death spurs daughter to action
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- MJ Jackson lost her mother to an opioid overdose nearly two years ago while she was celebrating her son's 11th birthday.
"She was just fine earlier in the day," Jackson told KOIN 6 News. But Jackson got a call later that her mom, Sheres Isom, was having trouble breathing and was in the hospital.
"We got a tip that she might have ingested fentanyl," Jackson said, and asked the hospital to test for it. But the hospital said they didn't have the resources at that time to test her mother for fentanyl "or recognize that she was dying of an overdose."
That led her to discover the fentanyl crisis in the United States and spurred her to found the Royal Rose Foundation, "a family-led nonprofit …dedicated to raising awareness about illicit fentanyl and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl."
Jackson hosted a Narcan training session along with the Portland Police Bureau and the DEA at Portland Community College on the National Take Back Day.
Jackson, 24, the oldest of four, is trying to set an example for her younger siblings by honoring her mother and to save as many lives as possible.
"We may never know why she took the pill. I'm not sure. But if she knew the dangers of fentanyl she would be here today," she told KOIN 6 News. "One pill can kill. Two milligrams can kill you."
The monthly Narcan training sessions are necessary, she said. "Not everyone needs overdose prevention, but anyone can prevent an overdose."
Mikeyta Bates, community outreach director for the Royal Rose Foundation, said overdoses have been around for centuries. But the potency of fentanyl is why it's urgent to get the word out.
"We wouldn't be in this fentanyl epidemic if people were educated on how serious and how small the doses are that can kill you," Bates said.
Their next event is on May 11 and Bates said their goal is to get them to a walk-in basis as they grown. Her goal is to triple the size of the attendance at the trainings by summer.
Jackson's focus remains clear on what her mission is.
"My mom was a regular person who was not aware of fentanyl. That doesn't mean she deserved to die," she said. "I just don't want another family to have to go through what me and my siblings are going through. I don't want anyone to lose a loved one or lose a parent. And if I'm just saving one life -- one life -- that means the world to me."