Honoring Gage Howard: A Mother's Mission to Turn Grief into Giving

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, MO—On what would have been Gage Howard’s 24th birthday, his mother, Jenny Howard, spent the day not in sorrow, but in service. Gage, who tragically passed away from a fentanyl overdose in April 2024, was remembered through a series of generous acts across the community—an effort Jenny calls “Giving for Gage.”

Jenny delivered cupcakes to a boy celebrating his own birthday, provided free haircuts at Shorty’s Clip Joint – Barbershop, and handed out glow-in-the-dark bracelets inscribed with the phrases “Your Story Is Not Over” and “Forever 23.” It was a day filled with light, meant to counter the darkness that had once overshadowed her son’s struggles with addiction.

For Jenny, the pain of losing her son remains immeasurable, but she refuses to let his story be forgotten. “At the end of the day, you can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved,” she said. “But I can keep his memory alive and make sure that his life, and even his passing, means something.”

A Life Marked by Struggles—and Love

Gage’s battle with addiction started at a young age. Growing up in Blue Springs, he faced challenges that many in the community might not have seen from the outside. After struggling in school and losing his girlfriend to an overdose in 2020, his substance use escalated from prescription pills to fentanyl. “Truthfully, that was the day I lost my son,” Jenny recalled.

Despite multiple stints in rehab, Gage struggled to find stability. In late 2023, he was in a sober living facility in California when he was prescribed Xanax—despite his history of addiction. That decision proved fatal. Thinking he was taking a strong dose of the anti-anxiety medication, he unknowingly ingested a lethal amount of fentanyl.

Jenny remembers the phone call that changed her life forever. “They tracked us down to tell us he was gone. And then we had to figure out how to bring his body home,” she said. “Nothing prepares you for that.”

Finding Purpose in Pain

Instead of letting grief consume her, Jenny is using her experience to advocate for addiction awareness and recovery. “In Gage’s world, everything was so dark,” she said. “I want to bring some light to people who are still fighting, to families who are struggling, and to those who feel forgotten.”

Beyond Gage’s birthday, Jenny is planning more community outreach efforts. On April 25, the anniversary of his passing, she hopes to organize another day of giving. She also has her sights set on August, which marks Overdose Awareness Month. “Last year, there was nothing happening for overdose awareness in our area,” she said. “I want to change that.”

One of the initiatives she hopes to establish is a back-to-school haircut event for children whose families may not be able to afford them. “Gage loved getting haircuts. It was one of his favorite things,” she said. “If we can offer that to kids in need, in his name, it would mean everything.”

Keeping Gage’s Spirit Alive

Jenny is also preparing to speak publicly about addiction and its devastating impact. “I visit recovery centers, and I bring a large photo of Gage. I don’t tell them right away that he’s gone,” she explained. “I let them get to know him first. And then, at the very end, when I say he didn’t make it, the room just goes silent. Because they realize—it could be them.”

She’s also considering starting a support group for parents who have lost children to addiction. “The more I talk, the more I find people who have been through the same thing,” she said. “Maybe if we all come together, we can heal together.”

Through it all, Jenny holds onto the signs she believes Gage sends her—a butterfly appearing at the right moment, a comforting dream, or a message hidden in something as simple as a license plate reading “At Peace.”

Her work is just beginning, but she’s determined to ensure Gage’s story lives on—not as one of tragedy, but as one of hope. “I don’t want the world to forget him,” she said. “His story is not over.”