I would like to dedicate the Summer Edition of American Outdoor News to my friend and member of the American Outdoor News family, Jeff Fuller. Jeff recently suffered the tragic loss of his beautiful son, Cole. Some of you might have watched Cole growing up on his Jeff’s TV Show “SportingDog Adventures” as they traveled throughout the U.S. hunting together.
To be honest, I did not personally know Cole. But I know his dad, Jeff Fuller. Jeff is a kind, caring man of character. From what I have learned of Cole, he was a normal, everyday teenager who loved to play baseball, football, and hunt. He was a competitor and always gave his all. It was through hunting that he shared a special bond with his dad. There is something about hunting camp that creates a bond like no other. There is a comaraderie that binds you.
Over the past few years however, Cole struggled with mental illness. When you suffer from mental illness, doing something you love may appear to bring joy and happiness, but deep down in a place that cannot be seen, that person is swimming in a sea of sadness. Other times the signs are clear as day: the outbursts, mood swings, declining grades, becoming isolated from friends and family. With Cole, the signs were not missed. His parents – and the entire community surrounding him - tried everything humanly possible to help: counseling, medications, praise, and punishments.
In the end, Cole could not overcome his struggle with depression and he took his own life. As a family, you blame yourself. You ask, what could I have done? Could I have done more? The truth is, no. There was nothing more you could have done or said. For depression there is no magic pill, no magic words.
Mental Illness is not an exact science. A medication that works for one, might not work for another. Mental illness affects how you feel, think and behave. No matter how much love, no matter how much joy you are surrounded by, there is a constant struggle within. But we can make a difference. We can help to prevent this tragedy from happening to someone else in the future. You can help by making a donation. Please click on the link below and make your donation “in Honor of Cole Fuller”. It’s very helpful to make this note as the organization is actually letting Jeff Fuller help decide directly where the funds will be used.
https://www.mhawisconsin.org/make-a-donation.aspx
Thank you again
Sincerely
Chris Avena
Editor