Messages By: pacatte

I have been sending e mail after e mail to many different people. In these I always ask 'can you please tell me how I go about getting educating and awareness of this game implemented into one of our public schools pre existing programs, such as Health, Sex ed. Or Drug Awareness?' I have yet to recieve that answer.
Playing this game is a thrill seeking behavior, much like illicit drug use and illicit sex; Those who play this 'game' are looking for a high.
If the schools can teach my child how to put on a condom, where they can go to  obtain birth control, not to share dirty needles, than by God, they can teach them not to hold their breath.
Until this is common knowledge, without the chance of being swept under the rug again, I will keep going; I feel as if I stop I would let my precious Gabriel down, and so many other precious children.
Humbly and still loving all four of my children,
Sarah A. Pacatte
http.//StillLovingMyGabriel.tripod.com
this is a website for my boy that has much information on it, as well as links to other articles on victims of this game.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-07-19-suffocation-games-on-rise_x.htm

Quote from the above article in USA today July 17, 2005

"Even parents who suspect problems can't always head them off.

Sarah Pacatte of Paradise, Calif., was in the kitchen when her son, Samuel, 13, found his twin brother in another room and began screaming "Gabriel!"

Gabriel was hanging from a rope. Samuel lifted his body while Pacatte grabbed the noose, which fell away.

Pacatte says both of her sons had repeatedly tried choking themselves. She told them to stop. But only Samuel did.

Pacatte says she wants other parents to understand the danger. She says Gabriel had three of the five warning signs: red eyes, severe headaches, marks on the neck. He didn't have the other two: pornographic materials or locked doors.

The day before he died, Pacatte says, she confronted Gabriel about marks on his neck. He responded, "Don't worry, mom. It's not a hickey."

   It is my hope that when this show airs, teachers, school administrators,doctors, medical examiners and coroners will start to take this seriously: I pray that teachers and school administrators especially, will start to warn and educate about this deadly game. It would be a small matter for them to include warning and educating about this thrill seeking 

(LtoR Samuel,Me,Elizabeth,Arthur and Gabriel...We miss him.) behavior into pre existing curriculam such as 'drug awareness' 'red ribbion week', etc.  I wish I had known this game killed and continues to kill children. There have been five other deaths from this game since Gabriel's in May of 2005. 

  Thank you Dr. Phil for seeing the urgency and importance of informing the public. Thank you so much Amy, Gaylin and Astra for sticking it out with us. Russell, oh you sweet man you! Thank you for being so kind to Samuel... I will always be grateful that it was this group of people who worked with us! 

   Much fondness and, 

   Still Loving All Four Of My Children, 

   Sarah 

http://StillLovingMyGabriel.com 

Kristin: 

You mentioned 4 years ago that your friends brother was found hanging in the garage. What does the family ~ offficials say happened? How old was he? Have you shared this 'game' info with that family? I encourage you to do so right away. This could bring them a bit of peace if this boys death was 100 percent suicide. (The majority of these deaths are classified that, suicide. It is a crime in itself!) 

Spread the word Krisitin... and save lives... 

Sarah Pacatte ... Gabe's Mom 

Kristin.. 

I meant to type "if this boys death isn't 100 percent certain that he commited suicide"... Sorry guys... 

Sarah 

     http:StillLovingMyGabriel.com
 

Samuel 13, Arthur 18,  Elizabeth 21, and Gabriel 13    Samuel,Arthur, Elizabeth and Gabriel under his Sissy's arm var onload_orig = window.onload; window.onload = function () { if( onload_orig != null ) onload_orig(); preload = new Image(); preload.src = 'http://stilllovingmygabriel.tripod.com/pictures_of_gabriel_and_us/thumbnails/400x300/gabe47.jpg'; }   http:StillLovingMyGabriel.com     Gabriel Harry Mordecai
                          July 31, 1991~May 6, 2005                    
We miss you Gabe; We will never stop and we will always know that you are one of us, every day of every year that we are alive. Gabriel Harry, you are my boy, my son, I still have the need and instinct to be your Mom, to take care of you. It will never go away, I will never stop being and needing to be your Mom ster. How special you always are. God bless you lil' man of mine..
                      Loving you, oh so much, Mom, Sissy Bear, Arthur and Samuel ....
   StillLovingMyGabriel.com
Oh, and if you happen to be a Coroner, ME, EMT or police officer who is reading this? I want to plant a seed.. try this: If a child playing this game,  falls or lands differently than they thought they would, and if they were SITTING on their BUNK BED, do you think it is POSSIBLE that they, at the time of unconsiousnes, FELL, ROLLED OR SLID OFF THE BED? NOT JUMPED?

Dear Maria: 

I am so sorry about Kyle. I recieved an e mail about him the day he died.  

I do not want to preach, but I am going to. 

Maria, you have the chance to influence those who's life you come into contact with, especially your peers. My son Gabriel had many friends. Some of these friends knew what Gabriel was doing. I wish that just one of them would have come to me.  

There is something that often takes years to learn and that is the meaning of being a true, good friend. I know that when these friends of my son get into their adult years they will have wished they HAD come to me, gone to anyone and told them of what Gabriel was doing. Many young people are aware that this is indeed a 'stupid' game; Many are ignorant of how stupid and life threatening it is. This is my point; If you do care about someone and see that they are making a choice that is dumb, dangerous, something that you think that your friends parents or you parents would have a problem with, then you have a choice to make: (I say 'you' meaning 'anyone'..) You can either sit back and keep quiet because 'telling' would make you a nark, uncool, or tick your friend off possibly resulting in that 'friend' dropping you like a hot potato (in which case you are better off, as they probably weren't as commited to the friendship as you were) or, you can be an absolute 'true friend' and do the right thing...Tell someone, anyone who can intervene and get help for your friend. Maria, the age that you are now is a tough one; boys and girls at this age are changing in every way; even your brains are changing and maturity is on the way. Everyone wants to be accepted by their peers and some will go to great lengths to achieve this wanted acceptence. There is pressure to be 'cool'... and fitting in. My Gabriel was cool; an older peer taught him this 'game' and I think Gabriel tried it so that the kid wouldn't think he was 'un cool'... unfortunately again, some kids get addicted to this game, some don't. Gabriel did.   

Maria, you take very good care of yourself, stay 'smart' and avoid hanging out with kids who are doing things that you know aren't cool. Stick up for the underdogs who aren't accepted because of the way they look, or because they are a 'geek' or because there family isn't well thought of in the community; encourage those kids who you can see are having a tough time fitting in. It will make all the difference in someone's life.  

Again Maria, I am so sad about your loss and the loss of your friendship with Kyle. 

God Bless you Maria, God Bless all the children, 

Sarah  

Gabriel Mordecai's Mom 

I am so very sorry that you have lost your boy,  Erich. I replied to this message from you, sending it to your personal e mail. I hope that you got it, as it was some time ago.  

This is the hardest thing I've ever encountered. I can imagine nothing worse.  

  You ask how am I getting through this..? There is a support group online at yahoogroups.com: 

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/supportforthosethatlostachildtothechokinggame/ 

there are many parents that have joined who lost their children as we did. For me, I have three incredible children who love me so well; although I am a changed person, a changed woman and a changed Mom they continue to remind me of why I have to get through this. It is not easy.  Every day is a day without Gabriel and the void is unbearable at times. I've read this quote so often... "grief is not something you get over, it is something you go through". No one grieves the same and though there are different stages of grief, there is no order .. one tends to go through a 'stage' only to find themselves going through it again at some point.  

  I also believe the urgency and desperateness I feel to warn other parents about this deadly activity has kept me from going completely ....... insane. Insane with the grief, the saddness of it all. Their is no answer, save for one's faith. My faith teeters and I question so many things now. Without 'hope' though, I have nothing. I am, a Mom missing her child.. the pain.. only those who have endured can relate .. totally.  The sun rises and the sun sets. Each day is unpredictable yet I've had days now where I am not consumed. Thank God.  I hope this finds you well...... I think of you often.  

Love to you, 

Sarah 

Since losing Gabriel on May 6, 2005, over 135 children have since fallen victim to this wicked game. Educating and warnig children is crucial; talk to kids about this 'killer game' before one of their peers do: It is phrases such as " oh come on, it can't hurt you, it's not drugs or booze" that others use to recruit 'players' of this deadly 'game'. 

Ignorance is anything but bliss.

Sarah Pacatte, Gabriel Mordecai's Mom

StillLovingMyGabriel.com          DeadlyGamesChildrenPlay.com      NickSerna.com

Recently there have been more deaths from the ‘choking game’. I am hoping you will post this additional information for your readers. Thank you for helping to spread awareness on this killer of our children, thank you for recognizing the urgency.
Sarah Pacatte, Gabriel Mordecai’s mom

Educational and Informational resources are available online, most of them free of charge.

D.A.R.E. / Police officer Scott Metheny has developed a power point presentation which is downloadable online at:

WWW.http://DeadlyGamesChildrenPlay.com
aka
WWW.http://StopTheChokingGame.com

Officer Metheny, along with parent Carol Connelly who’s son Steven Connelly’s died as a result of another high risk, thrill seeking asphyxiation activity have given many school presentations in an effort to bring awareness to society of this deadly, wicked killer.

Human Relations Media Educational Publishers have also created a cd / video for distribution:

Product Awards
CINE Golden Eagle Award

This program exposes “the choking game”…a shockingly foolish and deadly activity among 9-14 year olds that has resulted in the tragic deaths of children across the country. Through interviews with children who have participated in the “game”, siblings and parents of children who have died, and experts and physicians, young viewers get the straight and alarming facts about just how dangerous this “game” is. One young teen describes his personal experiences with the “game” and how his twin brother Gabriel died from it in an attempt to get high without drugs. Dr. Thomas Andrew, a medical examiner, describes what actually happens to the brain when the blood flow gets cut off causing brain damage and possible death. A parent describes and details the tragic death of her son in an attempt to prevent others from the same fate. Gives young viewers information explaining the difference between healthy and dangerous risk taking.
Includes Pre- and Post-Tests Running Time: 19 minutes
Click here for online preview:

http://www.hrmvideo.com/items.cfm?action=view&item_id=2864&type=&search_keywords=

http://209.35.211.201/quicktime/thechokinggame_384k.wmv

Since losing my 13 year old son Gabriel to this ‘game’ on May 6, 2005, over 140 others have fallen victim to it. Education, warning and awareness can and has saved lives.

Ignorance is not bliss,
Sarah Pacatte, Gabriel Mordecai’s mom

http://StillLovingMyGabriel.com