Matt's Last Call: Surviving Our Protectors

When Julie Zielinski's fun-loving, Marine, Sheriff Deputy son commits suicide, her world comes crashing down.

Questions flood her mind: How could she have stopped this? What next? and mostly, why? As Julie grieves her son in Matt's Last Call: Surviving Our Protectors, she reflects on the life he lived and the memories she will hold onto forever.

For instance, the time his captain allowed him a leave from the Marine Corps in order to spend time with his ill grandfather in Hawaii. Or remembering what he looked like in his oversized baseball cap and uniform.

Her energetic son turned into a man who loved nothing more than his family and country. With memories from Matt's father, friends, and family, the memoir will surely pull at your heartstrings.

As Julie reflects on the death of her firstborn son, she informs parents and children of the dangers of suicide, the difficulty of coping, the pain of everyday life, and lastly the days that happiness returns, even if just a little bit.

You may purchase a copy of Matt's Last Call: Surviving Our Protectors from:

Julie's website, Amazon.com, Hastings Bookstore, in Wenatchee, WA., Encouraging Words, in Wenatchee, WA or contact me via email or facebook.

Purchase price is $13.99 + tax and shipping and handling depending on your location.

Matt's Last Call, would be a helpful read for anyone dealing with a crisis situation with a family member or friend, or just wants to be prepared for the unexpected.

May God Bless each and everyone of you this Christmas Season.

Concerns Of Police Survivors

My husband and I have just returned from our annual winter meeting of C.O.P.S. (Concerns Of Police Survivors). It is probably the best C.O.P.S. meeting I have ever attended. Every year since I became the Suicide Liaison more suicide survivors have attended. This year we had three new survivors join us. It is a very hard step to take but these new people were welcomed with open arms. They felt accepted and loved and all participated in the activities. Line Of Duty Deaths and Law Enforcement suicides are both horrible. Unfortunately, suicide deaths are looked upon as being both selfish and destructive. People do not understand what a law enforcement officer sees/ goes through on a daily basis. We think of law enforcement officers as tough and strong and devoid of feelings. Wrong. We all have feelings that need to be expressed. If no one is willing to help them they often see no way out. As I have said before, I am out to save lives. Another person who attended our meeting was John Marx, executive director of CopsAlive. I was honored November 2012 to do a podcast with John on the topic of surviving the suicide of my son who was a sheriff's deputy. We are both on the same page with saving lives and plan on working together in some fashion. Our President, Troy, welcomed the suicide survivors and mentioned how important it is to include everyone in C.O.P.S. I am the only Suicide Liaison for C.O.P.S. in the United States. That has to change. It is a problem we can no longer ignore.

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ who died for us to take away our sins so that we may have eternal life. Because of His unfailing love He paid a debt (for my sin) He did not owe, because
I owed a debt I could not pay. He gave me three beautiful children and grandchildren and a husband for which I am so grateful. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. May God Bless each and everyone of you.

Compassion for Survivors

Recently, I spent time with my cousin in Arizona. She was telling me about her trip to Italy with her fiancé. They met a couple and spent most of their time with them. They returned home and kept in contact with them since they seemed to have a lot in common. Two weeks after they returned home the couples son/stepson took his life. My cousin shared a little bit about the young man. He had had a troubled life, went in the military and was trying to get his life together. The stepmother was distraught since she had become very fond of her stepson. This couple had a trip to Hawaii planned with some good friends. Shortly before the trip, their friends backed out indicating the grieving couple needed time alone to recover. This hurt the couple to the core. At that time in their lives they needed their friends' support and understanding. As you can imagine, the focus of the vacation turned inward to nothing but grief. For most people, there is nothing worse than being alone during times of tragedy. We need friends not only to grieve with but to engage in normal living. Even worse, those "friends" seemed to want nothing to do with the couple upon their return from Hawaii. Matt's Last Call: Surviving Our Protectors, written to save lives. It is about my son, an athlete, SGT. in the United States Marine Corps and a Chelan County Sheriff Deputy who took his life due to a failed relationship. It is a Biography & Autobiography, Law Enforcement, Self-help/ Death, Grief, Bereavement. It can be purchased on my website, http://mattcutshort.tateauthor. It is my hope that you show compassion for survivors of suicide or other tragedy--you may be their only path back to the land of the living.

Fall

Today looks like a beautiful day but wouldn't you know the wind has come up and I feel like I am blowing off the hill. We went from no spring to a good HOT summer and back to rain and now wind. The leaves are beginning to turn colors, which is always beautiful but I once again long for summer. My life has changed so much in the last eight years with the death of my son. If it isn't hot and sunny I  can easily find myself back in that dark hole trying to climb out. Lucky for me I am so busy I don't have much time to go back to that place. I will be heading back to California  promoting my book, going to a COUGAR football game in Arizona and maybe catch up on some much needed sleep. As much as I would rather have my son back I am enjoying sharing  Matt's Last Call: Surviving Our Protectors. I believe Matt would be proud of what I have accomplished and helping others is what he was all about. It is amazing how many people are hurting and I see it every time I go to an event. I hope all listen to my story, invite Jesus Christ into their lives and begin living again. HE is the only way to eternal life.

Suicide Prevention

I just returned from Shelton, WA and the Mason County Suicide Prevention Training hosted by Sheriff Casey Salisbury. Bob Douglas, executive director and founder of the National Police Suicide Foundation was the main speaker. He gave me the opportunity to speak before a group of law enforcement officers concerning my book, Matt's Last Call: Surviving Our Protectors." It was a great opportunity for me since law enforcement, first responders and the military are my passion on the subject of suicide. It was a large group of men and women, very friendly and easy to talk with. In fact, I met a man who was stationed at Bangor Naval Base the same time as Matt. He wasn't sure if he had met Matt but thought he recognized the name. It was so fun meeting everyone. Sheriff Salisbury was like my new best friend; we had lunch together and  he kept saying how he knew he had met me but couldn't figure out where. It turned out to be the Law Enforcement Academy graduation in Burien. A friendship developed with his beautiful mother as well. I also met three officers from Salem, Oregon. Great ladies. One I had met several weeks earlier on the phone. This training was to teach this law enforcement  officers how to recognize those contemplating suicide and to help them. It was pro-active training about early warning signs, how to communicate with a suicidal officer, and the issues and responsibilities of officers and agencies when a suicide occurs.Of course, my area was as a survivor and how to break the Blue Wall of Silence. As a survivor I do not want anyone to go through what I live on a daily basis. Suicide affects so many people who are left behind: mother, father, siblings, nieces, nephews, grandparents, law enforcement families, military families, church family, friends and the list goes on and on........We all need to work together to stop suicide and help one another.

Fall is Fast Approaching

Fall is fast approaching and I am not ready for it. I love summer and the heat but I guess I don't have a choice. We have had a great summer minus the multiple rain, wind and thunder and lightening storms. With fall approaching I find myself busier than ever with Matt's Last Call: Surviving Our Protectors. I have had multiple successful book signings and now I am onto interviewing and being interviewed. I had the privilege to interview the Chief of Patrol for Chelan County Sheriff's Office, Mike Harris, for my four hour presentation. I did a ride-along with him with the camera rolling. There were times of oops.....followed by laughter as we each lost our train of thought. Multiple takes and back to work we both went. Later, I received a glowing testimony of their marriage from Chief Mike's wife, Bets, who was unable to be at the video session.  A huge thank you to both of them. Thursday I will be interviewed by Chris Hansen of KPQ radio during the  It's ok to talk segment. Saturday I will be at Saddlerock EPC speaking and discussing Matt's Last Call: Surviving Our Protectors. Next week I head out to speak with a fantastic man, Robert Douglas, Executive Director of the National Police Suicide Foundation. Into October I will be speaking at the Faith Lutheran Church. Hastings will have me signing again October 12. I have many different things going so there is a lot of preparation involved.