Maryland Letters First Lady Dawn Moore

I'm a mom. Hopeless is the immediate word that comes to mind; the second is powerless.
Powerless is the feeling you have as a parent when losing a child. Powerless over something I
could not control; illness, opioids, death, and loss.
Tiarra lived with chronic pain and mental and behavioral health conditions; all treatable. Never
did I request to aid my child to an early death. After her loss, I cleaned her apartment with large
amounts of prescribed medication; some fully packaged, including Narcan. There was enough
medication to fill a king-size bed in the bag.
She was prescribed to death. Her death doesn't have to be in vain. Sadly, my wife, I, and my
family experienced a second loss.
On February 21, 2023, we lost our second daughter from cardiac arrest from an illicit substance.
She was also unresponsive and not breathing at home in bed. She never recovered from the
loss of her sister. The emotional pain of loss for siblings is often unbearable and unnoticed. She
missed her sister. She spoke and journaled about the emotional pain of a sibling often. On
President's Day, we received the call. We are and were devastated.
The nondisclosure of our second daughter's name is to protect her minor children, ages 1 and 8.
The stigma associated with individuals who use prescribed medications-or illicit drugs who
experience medical emergencies such as an overdose are victims.
Please support the effort of placing a permanent memorial. A place where Maryland's parents,
community, and visitors can understand our elected officials has taken actionable steps to
support parents, loved ones, families of loss, and the community. We have a virtual memorial
wall with shared photos and one with names. It's accessible virtually to view, upload, and share
information. I would be honored to have the opportunity to discuss how we can move the wall
forward with a permanent structure.
Again, Mrs. Moore, with your support, families will embrace a sense of healing and belonging.
Our voices will not be silent nor absent, and our children, loved ones, and families are not
forgotten. Tiarra's photo and the virtual frame are below, and the link for the virtual wall is also
listed.
In the interest of children, parents, families, and the community,
Tiffinee Scott, MD State Lead
tscott@mpacmd.org