Wendy Steward's home is filled with memories of her daughter Alyssa, who died from a heroin overdose at just 21-years-old.
"Her funeral two years ago, was on her 21st birthday," explained Steward.
Now every year on Alyssa's birthday, Steward and her family release balloons in her memory. This year more than 80 balloons went up in the sky.
"We needed to celebrate her birthday in a way that wasn't so sad," said Steward.
One of those balloons landed in Ohio, traveling more than 400 miles.
"This woman would've been 23," says Maureen Black of the Ohio Valley. She's the woman who discovered the balloon in her yard and texted the number on the card to Alyssa's mom Wendy.
After Alyssa's death her mother created The Red Balloon Group which helps parents cope after losing a child to addiction.
"If I'm helping others, that's helping me. That's how I deal with my grief because that's how Alyssa would want it," explained Steward.
She's partnered with the non-profit United We Can. Steward says the real way to tackle addiction is to break down the stereotype.
"We have to stop judging people, we have to get rid of the stigma of addiction," said Steward.
She's hoping by helping others cope she can raise awareness that addiction can happen to anyone.
