Oregon Senator Gordon H. Smith's son Garrett battled learning disabilities and clinical depression for most of his life until, just before turning twenty-two, while attending Utah Valley State College, this popular and well-loved young man took his own life. As parents, Smith and his wife Sharon, who had adopted Garret as a newborn, were heartbroken. And as a United States senator, Smith was forced to question whether he had the strength or even the desire to carry on in politics.For the first time, Senator Smith candidly retraces his son's life leading up to his suicide, chronicling the crippling sadness he and his wife faced in the aftermath, and how, with the help of faith and those around him, he not only returned to politics, but became a fearless advocate of suicide prevention, regardless of the political fallout. His moving speech on the Senate floor upon the passage of his Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which increases federal funding to combat the ever-growing problem of youth suicide, brought a rare moment of bipartisan support on the Senate floor and helped open a long-overdue national discussion.Gordon H. Smith's memoir - also including a chapter by Garrett's mother, Sharon, and a resources section - speaks from the heart to parents who have experienced the same tragedy, and offers crucial help to those fighting for a child struggling with depression. Read Less