Mother Channels Grief Into Activism

Published on: Thu, 29 May 2008 15:43:21 -0700

PlusMother Channels Grief Into ActivismMother Channels Grief Into ActivismThe Associated PressThe mother of a 13-year-old Missouri girl who committed suicide after receiving cruel Internet messages is focusing on ways to protect other children from cyber-bullying. (May 29)Tina Meier says her life has "done a 360" since her 13-year-old daughter took her own life after being bullied online. 1:15SOT: NOTHING IS THE WAY IT USED TO BE. AFTER MEGAN PASSED, I WAS JUST IN A FOG.TINA MEIER/MOTHER Now she's working to turn the tragedy into something positive.13:13SOT: I KNEW I HAD TO TAKE ALL OF THE ANGER AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. IT NOT, IT WAS GOING TO EAT ME ALIVE. The Missouri mother has set up a foundation in her daughter's memory that focuses on bullying and cyber-bullying. 17:16SOT: I'M KEEPING HER MEMORY NOT B/C I CAN'T LET HER GO BUT IF TRYING TO SOMETHING WRONG HAS HAPPENED AND A RIGHT HAS TO BE MADE TO PROTECT OTHER CHILDREN THROUGH LEGISLATIVE OR TALKING TO OTHER KIDS, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. Megan Meier-- who had a history of attention deficit disorder and depression-- hanged herself on October 6th, 2006. She died the following day. The teen committed suicide shortly after receiving cruel messages on MySpace from a boy named Josh Evans. But weeks after Megan's death, her family found out Evan's online profile was allegedly made up by a neighbor. It's believed Lori Drew helped create the account to find out if Megan was talking about her own child. Drew's lawyer previously denied the claims, but his client has since been indicted.22;55SOT: SHE KNEW ABOUT THE ACCOUNT, SHE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON. AND IT WAS A JOKE, IT WAS FUNNY. AGAIN, I DON'T BELIEVE SHE KNEW MEGAN WOULD COMMIT SUICIDE BUT WHEN YOU DO THESE TYPES OF THINGS, THIS CAN HAPPEN. Tina Meier says her daughter was a real girl, with real dreams. And she hopes by sharing her story no other family will have to endure the pain that her family has. ___ ___, The Associated Press.

Author: AssociatedPress
Keywords: internet suicide mother channels grief activism
Added: May 29, 2008