Posted on 10/10/2017 1:22:17 PM PDT by iowamark
The velvety voice of Delilah Rene Luke is known far and wide for offering life-learned advice to her 8.3 million late-night listeners, but now the popular syndicated romance radio star is the one in need of support following the shattering death of her teenage son Zachariah to suicide on Oct. 3.
Speaking out for the first time since sharing the news on Facebook, the mom of 13 opens up to PEOPLE in this week’s issue, offering details of 18-year-old Zack’s life and recent struggle with depression in hopes of raising awareness for other family’s at risk.
“He was my wild child; 13 broken bones, umpteen trips to the hospital with appendicitis, tonsillitis, a fractured skull. He was wild but so so so sweet,” the Point Orchard, Washington-based star, 57, recalls of raising son Zack (one of her three biological children, the other 10 were welcomed through adoption).
His own struggle began recently, following a December 2016 car accident. “The event traumatized him,” she says. A painful breakup and an illness followed suit and soon Zack found himself behind in school.
“When he found out he wouldn’t graduate he spiraled into depression, and was honest about it,” says his mom, who quickly “found him doctors, a fabulous counselor and support group.”
Just before the end, “He was doing so well,” she says. “He was looking forward to making up his missed credits, graduating and starting film school...
While Delilah declines to share the manner of his death, she says Zack left behind a message. “His goodbye note did not mention sadness, anger, angst or depression, just a pressing madness about feeling like this world was not his home.”
Now, with Zack’s passing, she’s taking a leave of absence from her radio show to mourn...
(Excerpt) Read more at people.com ...
Why, why, why?
Ahem
sad. I can relate to some of his thinking.
i wish he had found it in himself to hang in longer or found people to help him understand why this world didn’t feel like home instead of just checking out.
God has plans if we hang in and trust Him instead of believing the replaying tapes in our own minds or wrong words from others.
“...God has plans if we hang in and trust Him instead of believing the replaying tapes in our own minds or wrong words from others.”
Unfortunately some people are so paralyzed by depression that they do not have the where with all to hang in there and trust God. My husband’s sister hung herself at the age of 28 and it still haunts us nearly 33 years later.
I know so many people who suffer from depression and a feeling they don’t belong. I wish there was a solution. I think a lot of it is living their lives isolated. People disappear into their phones or tablets, nobody is present anymore.
It is so important to just hang in there. Everything changes. Sadness and brokenness can become peace and love tomorrow. In time we will all die. No need to rush it. Wait and see what tomorrow will bring.
My brother killed himself at age 23. This was December 30th, 1989.
The “why?” still haunts. What drives one to put a 12 gauge shot gun in their mouth in the middle of the night?
Just found out an ex girlfriend did herself in early Sunday morning. Permanent solution for a temporary problem.
I must dwell beyond ‘far and wide’, never heard of her.
Delilah has a big radio audience, largely female. Her show is perhaps trivial, mostly love songs. I am sorry to hear of her loss.
Agree. I can’t imagine the pain that family must feel right now. How very, very sad...........;(
She’s this NPR-voiced woman who talks soothingly to (almost entirely) women who call into her syndicated commercial radio show with their emotional concerns and issues, and plays sappy music like Celine Dion and Air Supply by request to make them feel better.
That sounds awful and at times it is, but at times it can be oddly magnetic, too. Sort of like NPR itself is, I suppose. The horror is only evident once you break free and can see it in hindsight.
I’ve never heard of her but I sympathize. Our family lost a 20 yr old earlier this year to depression-related suicide. It’s a nightmare... A true lesson in “bad things don’t just happen in “bad” families.”
A person can have all the right drugs, all the right doctors, support groups and unfailing love and support ... and a deep unreachable pain. No one, no drugs can fix it. Please just pray for the person who completed and their family. Don’t judge.
“...That “haunting” never leaves....”
You keep wondering if there was anything you could have said or done that would have made them change their minds. I worked with a Social Worker whose 10 year old daughter killed herself. Her mom was busy trying to fix other broken children that she was left in the lurch. It was truly heart breaking.
bkmrk
“mom of 13” Wait, what??
“...(one of her three biological children, the other 10 were welcomed through adoption).”
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