This week on Spotlight On Maryland, Gina Crash was joined in studio by April Babcock, Founder/President, and Debbie Santini, Advocate, of Lost Voices of Fentanyl, (LVOF), a Dundalk-based nonprofit comprised of bereaved families devoted to public awareness, education and prevention of fentanyl poisonings. April and Debbie both lost a son to fentanyl poisonings and are sharing their stories to help others and to turn their pain into purpose! As they say at LVOF, "The Days of Crying Behind Closed Doors are Over!"
This show aired on Sunday, January 26, 2025, which was the 6th angelversary of April's son Austen's death on January 26, 2019. April shared her son's story with us and so did Debbie who lost her son Jesse Byrd on February 16, 2022. Jesse was less than a month from this 27th birthday.
April founded the organization after losing her son to fentanyl poisoning to help other families like Debbie's who are going through the same loss. Lost Voices of Fentanyl's 5th Annual Rally on Washington is coming up on October 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. To find out more about the rally and the organization, visit their website LVOF.org. You can also follow them on their Facebook group.
To listen to the interview and find out more, click on the media player below.
