SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In Vanessa and Gustavo Ayala's living room are memories of their son Noah. There are pictures of Noah throughout his childhood including photographs surrounded by his siblings and parents. His work uniform is folded nicely on a table next to some flowers and there are multiple cards from family, friends and those who knew Noah sharing words of kindness and love. For the Ayalas, the memorial is a reminder of their teenage son.
"He brought the laughter, the debates at the table, the arm-wrestling challenges," his mother Vanessa said.
His parents can't help but smile as they remember their teenage son, but still, the pain they feel today after losing their son eight months ago is just as strong today.
"We have the memories, but his presence is definitely missed," his father Gustavo said.
"It's quiet now," Vanessa said. "You can feel it. That's the hard part."
On March 17, 2024, their 17-year-old son, Noah, was found unresponsive in his room by his siblings. He took a pill believed to be laced with Fentanyl.
"It feels like it happened yesterday," Gustavo said.
"It feels like it's getting harder," his mother said. "You know, the initial shock and the numbness starts to wear of and reality starts to set in for everyone. It feels like a nightmare you want to wake up from that you can't."
His death was a shock to his family. His parents say Noah ran track, played football and was academically gifted. He took AP classes and participated in a biotech program because he wanted to grow up to be a scientist or professor. His parents said he had dreams he couldn't wait to pursue.
"I want to say it was a sense of curiosity and peer pressure," Vanessa said. "He was offered a pill by a friend, and he couldn't learn from his mistake. He tried it one time and that was it. We tried to set boundaries and rules with our kids, it's hard because they were aware of the dangers out there. A lot of kids think they're invisible at that age. His brothers found him and it's a trauma everyone lives with now."
The Ayalas are now part of a growing number of families who've lost a loved one to this dangerous and deadly drug. His parents say they think about Noah almost every second of every day. As their hearts ache over the loss of their son, they know they can't be silent.
"There's a lot more that needs to be done across the border," Gustavo said. "Along with continuing on educating our kids and setting up more preventative measures to also combat addiction."
"Seven in ten pills contain Fentanyl," Vanessa said. "So, you can roll the dice ten times and seven of those times it could kill someone. It's scary. It's a huge problem. Just hearing the statistics you know it exists, it's out there."
Since Noah's passing, his family has decided to share his story and talk about the dangers of Fentanyl with students and families across the Valley. They've spoken at more than half a dozen schools letting students know one pill can kill. Those kids, they say, listen.
"We're not going to solve anything by keeping quiet," Vanessa said. "A lot of people have the misconception they're out there looking for Fentanyl. They're not. They're looking for Percocet or Oxycodone and they're laced, and these students are not aware of that. So, if we can educate students, it might be able to save someone's life later."
Noah's parents also say having accessible Narcan in school campuses across the Valley is extremely beneficial because during a potential overdose every second counts.
"We can't be oblivious to the fact it's happening," Vanessa said.
"Distribution of Narcan I think is important for schools, not necessarily just to have it in the nurse's office. It should be an option in every classroom," Gustavo said.
Telling Noah's story hasn't gotten easier, but they say it's important for them to share. That way another family won't have to mourn another life lost.
"Every student, every child, should have an opportunity to experience life and not have it cut short," Gustavo said.
"We're out here speaking and raising awareness because he would be doing that if he lost a friend," his mom said. "That's the kind of kid he was. He gives us strength to do this. We speak through him."
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