Evan Schwantner in October 2006, during his senior year of high school. "This is the Evan I choose to remember ... the happy Evan, the Evan before mental illness took over his beautiful mind and carefree spirit," author Erin Schwantner says of her brother.
'We inherited his suffering' —
Evan Schwantner in October 2006, during his senior year of high school. "This is the Evan I choose to remember ... the happy Evan, the Evan before mental illness took over his beautiful mind and carefree spirit," author Erin Schwantner says of her brother.
Courtesy Erin Schwantner
A cherished memory: Schwantner and her brother on a helicopter ride over Maui on a 2005 family vacation.
'We inherited his suffering' —
A cherished memory: Schwantner and her brother on a helicopter ride over Maui on a 2005 family vacation.
Courtesy Erin Schwantner
Evan was the anchor leg on the mile relay team at his high school. This photo was taken in 2006.
'We inherited his suffering' —
Evan was the anchor leg on the mile relay team at his high school. This photo was taken in 2006.
Courtesy Erin Schwantner
Evan and his sister at his high school graduation, 2007.
'We inherited his suffering' —
Evan and his sister at his high school graduation, 2007.
Courtesy Erin Schwantner
Evan uploaded this image to his Facebook account late one night in December 2008.
'We inherited his suffering' —
Evan uploaded this image to his Facebook account late one night in December 2008.
Courtesy Erin Schwantner
Evan with his dog Koby in 2009, when Evan moved back home from college so the family could better take care of him. After Evan's death, Koby got very sick and died less than a year later. "It was a helpless feeling to watch the dog suffer and was somewhat of a reminder of Evan's suffering and our inability to help him," Schwantner said.
'We inherited his suffering' —
Evan with his dog Koby in 2009, when Evan moved back home from college so the family could better take care of him. After Evan's death, Koby got very sick and died less than a year later. "It was a helpless feeling to watch the dog suffer and was somewhat of a reminder of Evan's suffering and our inability to help him," Schwantner said.
Courtesy Erin Schwantner
In June 2012, Schwantner and her parents traveled to San Francisco to participate in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's annual <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheovernight.donordrive.com%2Findex.cfm%3Ffuseaction%3Ddonordrive.home" target="_blank" target="_blank">Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk</a>, an 18-mile walk through the city.
'We inherited his suffering' —
In June 2012, Schwantner and her parents traveled to San Francisco to participate in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's annual Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk, an 18-mile walk through the city.
Courtesy Danna McGill
Erin Schwantner keeps the photo of her and her brother after his high school graduation on her desk at work.
'We inherited his suffering' —
Erin Schwantner keeps the photo of her and her brother after his high school graduation on her desk at work.
Courtesy Joan Silling