So often times the death of a close loved one can understandingly numb us to the larger realities of our surrounding society.

It’s laudable then that Eva Holland, a Cincinnati, OH, resident and mother of two, has chosen to harness the tragic and intimate experience of losing her husband of 11 years to a relapsed heroin addiction earlier this month as a teaching moment. This past Thursday, Eva posted on Facebook and Instagram a picture of her family posed next to the open casket of her husband, Mike.

“He was once so happy and full of life. He was a great son, brother, friend but most importantly he was a great dad. He loved those kids more than anything,” Eva wrote on the original post. “But as we all know sometimes life gets tough and we make some wrong choices.”

Feel free to click on the slideshow to read some more of Eva’s heartbreaking, inspiring and informative words in the wake of her viral image.

Holland Family
Having lost her husband to a heroin overdose, Eva Holland hopes that by taking her experience public, she can help others understand the gravity of drug addiction. Eva Holland, Facebook