Of course, we ask why, sometimes numerous times a day . . . and we may not find out "why" this side of heaven, but we are allowing good to come out of this tragedy.  Below are just a few e-mails I have received from others who learned about "breath play from our web pages.  These are just a few we have received from other parents that e-mailed me after they found out their children knew about breath play.  Do you know if your children do or your children's friends? 

April 26, 2005
In shocking disbelief and shaking fingers, I sit here typing this. I just sat my ELEVEN year old daughter down, who attends a private CHRISTIAN school, and began a conversation about this breath thing, and she said, "Oh, you mean 'breath play' mom?" I almost FELL out of my chair. I guess in her school about a month ago, a 6th grade boy was doing this 'breath play' in the classroom - using his hand against his throat. He was standing up and just fell to the floor. They called an ambulance and did CPR and he survived - with permanent lung damage. . .I can only imagine how many children in this school are now playing with this. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to protect these children. But, I will pray . . .
JodiR

April 24, 2005

Loni, Thank you for sharing.  I shared your story with a family at church whose son has been playing breathing games.  They had NO IDEA he was doing this until I told them.  You have saved 2 sons this week - theirs and mine.  Thank you so very ,very much.  Dawn

This a mom wrote on her blog, after seeing our blog, Journaling Through the Valley

You Just Never Know

I was surfing the net the other night, following links that led me into diverse blog territory.

Yeah, I was spreading my wings a bit when I came upon this. This Memorial page, which is part of a blog entitled, Journaling Through The Valley, caught my attention and I began to read about a sixteen year old boy, from what seems to be a wonderful Christian family, who has recently gone to be with the Lord because of a game called "breath play." Matthew's story saddened me so.

I have two teenage boys who I know extremely well, we talk about everything. I knew that this game was not something they had ever been introduced to or, of course, I would have heard of it. So as worrisome as this game may be, I was more concerned for the family that was now dealing with a terrible loss. I read through the page and just as I was finished reading through some of the links from their page, my husband walked past the computer. I stopped him to talk about what I had just read. I'm sure it was the fact that eight youngsters had died from this game just within one fifty mile radius that made him call the boys into the room.

"Have you ever heard of a game called Breath Play?"

"No."

"Um, no."

"Are you sure? It has something to do with cutting off your air passage until you pass out."

"Oh, is that the name of it?"

I was shocked to hear those words!

Both of the boys were already acquainted with it, although neither knew that it was considered a game or that it was intended as a way of getting a high. One of the boys from my older son's Christian high school had tried to talk him into trying it. Niko is pretty level headed and told the boy it was stupid. But Kyle, my younger son, never the one to turn down a dare, had been talked into trying it by an older boy both of them play with quite frequently. I was devastated. How could this be?
We talk very often with our boys about their need to care for their bodies, which is the temple of God, and to keep it pure and unsullied. We talk about the evils of smoking, drugs, and pre-marital sex. It's extremely frustrating to think there are things that we, as parents, are unaware of and thus unable to warn our children about.

I am so thankful that Loni had the strength and love for others in her heart to make this information available to the Internet world. Her blog was the catalyst to a very informative conversation that night, and I believe both of my boys will consider, what might seem like, silly suggestions from friends much more seriously now.

Thank you Loni, I'll keep your family in my prayers.